Andraé Crouch

Andraé Crouch  (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor.  Referred to as “the father of modern gospel music” by contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals, Crouch was known for his compositions “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”, “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)”, and “Soon and Very Soon”.  In secular music, he was known for his collaborative work during the 1980s and 1990s with Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Quincy Jones, as well as conducting choirs that sang on the Michael Jackson hit “Man in the Mirror” and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”.  Crouch’s original music arrangements were heard in the films The Color Purple and Disney’s The Lion King, as well as the NBC television series Amen.  Awards and honors received by him include seven Grammy Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  (More from Wikipedia)

 

Other famous Negro spirituals include “Go Down Moses”, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen”, and “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)”.  Some modern songs have the distinct feel of Negro spirituals, such as Andraé Crouch’s “Soon and Very Soon” and James Cleveland’s “I Don’t Feel No-Ways Tired”. 

(March 2015)