Andraé Crouch

Lore & Background

Crouch collaborated on some of his recordings with Stevie Wonder, as well as other famous artists such as El DeBarge, Philip Bailey, Chaka Khan, and Sheila E. In the 1980s and 1990s, he was known as the "go-to" producer for superstars who sought a gospel choir sound in their recordings. Crouch's original music arrangements were heard in the film The Color Purple and 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.

Reader's Guide

Crouch has been credited as a key figure in Jesus music of the 1960s and 1970s and, as a result, helping to bring about contemporary Christian music into the church. He is also credited with helping to bridge the gap between black and white Christian music and revolutionizing the sound of urban Gospel music. Though sometimes criticized for diluting the Christian message by using contemporary music styles, his songs have become staples in churches and hymnals around the world and have been recorded by mainstream artists such as Elvis Presley and Paul Simon. In 1996, Crouch and his music were honored on the Grammy Award-winning CD, Tribute: The Songs of Andraé Crouch, released by Warner Bros. Records. The album featured a wide range of artists performing Crouch's classic songs and featured the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Take 6, Twila Paris, and Michael W. Smith.

Did You Know?

• Crouch was born on July 1, 1942, in Los Angeles, California. His sister, Sandra Crouch, was born in 1946.
• He wrote his first Gospel song when he was 14 years old.
• Crouch's song "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" was written when he was 14 years old.
• The Andraé Crouch Choir sang background vocals on Michael Jackson's hit single "Man in the Mirror" from the Bad album.
• Crouch composed the theme music of the Sherman Hemsley sitcom Amen, sung by Vanessa Bell Armstrong.