Andraé Edward Crouch, famed gospel
singer-songwriter, producer, and arranger, left this earth on January 8, 2015
at the age of 72. He had recently suffered from pneumonia and congestive heart
failure, and was hospitalized following a heart attack on January 3.
Andraé wrote his first gospel song
at the age of 14. His first gospel group, the Church of God in Christ Singers,
included Billy Preston on keyboards. He began his recording career in 1968,
while singing with The Disciples. Perhaps his most famous composition is “Soon
and Very Soon,” initially recorded while with The Disciples. His primary focus
was on religious music, but he notably collaborated with such popular artists
as Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Elton John.
Andraé 's solo career began in
1979, during which period he worked with Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Phillip
Bailey, and El DeBarge. Crouch's original musical arrangements were featured in
the films The Color Purple and The Lion King. He composed the
theme song for the situation comedy Amen, in 1986.
Pastor Crouch's 40th anniversary
album released in 2006 showcased guest performances by fellow gospel greats
Karen Clark Sheard and Marvin Winans. His many collaborations as producer
and/or arranger with musicians, both secular and religious, are too numerous to
mention.
Crouch has been honored with seven
Grammy awards, he has been inducted into the gospel music hall of fame, and in
2004 he was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been
honored by the NAACP, ASCAP, and Billboard.
Andraé was known in some circles
as the father of modern gospel music. He will be missed.
Andraé Edward Crouch [1942 – 2015]
© 01/11/2015
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