Among African-Americans, Wikipedia notes Andraé Crouch as a founding presence in CCM. Crouch’s beginnings in music are related in Wikipedia this way: “His father, Benjamin Crouch, also had a street ministry and ministered in hospitals and in prison. When [Andraé] Crouch was 11, his father was invited to preach at a small church in a farming community. The church didn’t have a regular pastor so the bishop asked Benjamin to fill the post. The first Sunday, Benjamin asked his son to come up front and asked, ‘Andraé, if God gave you the gift of music to play and sing for Him, would you do it for His glory all your life?’ Crouch said, ‘Yeah, Daddy.’ Weeks later, Benjamin summoned his son again as the congregation sang, with: ‘If you’re gonna play, play.’ Crouch found the key and started to play the piano. He soon began to write songs and lead a choir.”
(July 2014)
