Andrae Crouch
Encyclopedia
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award
-winning American
gospel
singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer
, and pastor
.
, California
.
Andrae's parents managed a dry cleaners. His father, Benjamin Crouch, also had a street ministry, and ministered in hospitals and in prison. Andrae was eleven years old when his father was invited to preach at a small church in a farming community. The church didn't have a pastor so the bishop invited Andrae's father to become the pastor. That first Sunday, Andrae's father asked him to come up front. He said, "Andrae, if God gave you the gift of music to play and sing for him would you do it for his glory all your life?" Andrae said, "Yeah daddy." A couple of weeks later, his father asked him to come up as the congregation was singing. He said, "If you're gonna play, play." Andrae found the key, and started to play the piano. As he got a little older, he started to write songs, and lead a choir. Until he was fourteen, he had a stuttering problem—so he let his sister talk for him in public.
Singers (COGICS) in 1960, which included Billy Preston
. The COGICS were the first group to record the song "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power."
While attending Valley Junior College in California for a career in teaching, he was called to the ministry and formed The Disciples in 1965, along with Perry Morgan, and Bili Thedford. The group became a frequent attraction at "Monday Night Sing" concerts in southern California put on by promoter Audrey Mieir. Mieir would introduce Crouch to Tim Spencer of Manna Music Publishing who would be the first to publish one of his songs ("The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" which was written by Andrae at age 15 but tossed in the trash because he thought it poor. Sister Sandra thought differently and salvaged it.) In turn, Spencer helped launch their recording career by introducing the group to Light Records
founder Ralph Carmichael
. Sherman Andrus
and Reuben Fernandez were added to the group in time to record their first album, Take The Message Everywhere, in 1968. They were subsequently replaced by Andrae's twin sister Sandra in 1970. Sherman Andrus went on to join the Imperials
. In 1972, singer Danniebelle Hall
, trumpet
er Fletch Wiley, Harlan Rogers, Hadley Hockensmith and drummer Bill Maxwell joined the Disciples. Many support singers, Kathy Hazzard, Bea Carr, and James Felix were part of the Disciples entourage. Bili Thedford and Danniebelle left for a solo careers.
At the urging of Carmichael, Crouch began to record his compositions in 1968 with the group's debut album Take the Message Everywhere releasing in 1969. In 1972, the Disciples appeared on network television's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
. By 1985, they had also performed at the Hollywood Bowl
and Carnegie Hall
and toured 68 countries. Crouch's most popular songs from this period include "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "Through It All," "Bless His Holy Name" and "My Tribute". Their contemporary gospel sound reached beyond the traditional African American
base and touched a racially and musically diverse audience.
The Disciples disbanded in 1979 and Andrae' continued on with his solo career with an ensemble Howard Smith
, Linda McCrary, Tata Vega
and Kristle Murden as well as with the Andrae' Crouch Singers. Joe Sample
, Wilton Felder, Dean Parks, David Paich, Phillip Bailey, Stevie Wonder
other secular artists were featured on all of Crouch's major recording sessions. Crouch had a gift of bringing out unique voices in solos on his projects including El Debarge
on "The Lord is my Light" or Tata Vega
on "Oh it is Jesus". He has co produced with Bill Maxwell solo projects for The Winans, Danniebelle Hall and Kristle Murden. Several musical acts and solo performers covered his more popular works, including Elvis Presley, further expanding Crouch's musical influence. In 1995, he was featured in the Warren Chaney
docudrama
, America: A Call to Greatness
.
In 2006, Crouch released Mighty Wind
, a 40th anniversary album featuring guest performances by Marvin Winans
, Crystal Lewis
, Karen Clark Sheard
, and Lauren Evans
.
movement of the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, helped bring about contemporary Christian music
, and began to bridge the gap between black and white Christian music
. Though sometimes criticized for diluting the Gospel message by using contemporary styles, his songs have become staples in churches all around the world and recorded by mainstream artists such as Elvis Presley
and Paul Simon
.
Crouch is also credited with revolutionizing the sound of urban Gospel music. Crouch was instrumental in bringing Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Jessy Dixon
and The Winans
to Light Records, all enjoying successful gospel music careers. His influence has extended to countless artists like BeBe
and CeCe Winans
, The Clark Sisters
, Wintley Phipps
, Anointed
and Israel Houghton
.
In 1996, Crouch's songs were the impetus for the Grammy Award
- winning CD, Tribute: The Songs of Andraé Crouch (released on Warner Bros. Records), which featured a range of artists performing some of his classic songs including , the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Take 6
and Michael W. Smith
.
Andraé and his sister, Sandra considered Michael Jackson
as a dear friend for many years, whom they loved and greatly respected. In 1987, the Andraé Crouch Choir sang background vocals along with Siedah Garrett
, Glen Ballard
, and The Winans
on Jackson's hit single, "Man in the Mirror
" from the Bad
album. The Andraé Crouch Singers were also featured on the songs, "Keep the Faith" and "Will You Be There
" from Jackson's 1991 Dangerous
album. Andraé and Sandra also did the choir arrangement for those songs. On Jackson's HIStory
: Past, Present and Future, Book I project in 1995, the Andraé Crouch Choir chants climacticly in a dramatic interaction with Jackson on "Earth Song
." Crouch's composition, "Soon and Very Soon" was performed at the public memorial service for Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
in Pacoima, California, the church founded by his parents. He serves alongside his twin sister, Sandra
. He is cousin to music critic Stanley Crouch
.
s, four GMA Dove Awards, and ASCAP, Billboard
and NAACP Awards. In 2004, he became the only living Gospel
artist — and just the third in history — to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
.
On November 11, 2011, Sandra and Andrae Crouch were granted an honorary "Artist-in-Residence" Award by the International Center of Worship for Global Day of Worship Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
:
, Madonna
, Quincy Jones
, Mika
(We Are Golden), Diana Ross
, Elton John
, Rick Astley
(Cry For Help) and Prefab Sprout
. Crouch co-wrote the title song to CeCe Winans' award-winning Throne Room
album in 2003.
Television:
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
.
Early years
Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Andrae's parents managed a dry cleaners. His father, Benjamin Crouch, also had a street ministry, and ministered in hospitals and in prison. Andrae was eleven years old when his father was invited to preach at a small church in a farming community. The church didn't have a pastor so the bishop invited Andrae's father to become the pastor. That first Sunday, Andrae's father asked him to come up front. He said, "Andrae, if God gave you the gift of music to play and sing for him would you do it for his glory all your life?" Andrae said, "Yeah daddy." A couple of weeks later, his father asked him to come up as the congregation was singing. He said, "If you're gonna play, play." Andrae found the key, and started to play the piano. As he got a little older, he started to write songs, and lead a choir. Until he was fourteen, he had a stuttering problem—so he let his sister talk for him in public.
Music career
Crouch's first group was the Church of God in ChristChurch of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
Singers (COGICS) in 1960, which included Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
. The COGICS were the first group to record the song "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power."
While attending Valley Junior College in California for a career in teaching, he was called to the ministry and formed The Disciples in 1965, along with Perry Morgan, and Bili Thedford. The group became a frequent attraction at "Monday Night Sing" concerts in southern California put on by promoter Audrey Mieir. Mieir would introduce Crouch to Tim Spencer of Manna Music Publishing who would be the first to publish one of his songs ("The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" which was written by Andrae at age 15 but tossed in the trash because he thought it poor. Sister Sandra thought differently and salvaged it.) In turn, Spencer helped launch their recording career by introducing the group to Light Records
Light Records
Light Records was a gospel record label founded in 1966 by Ralph Carmichael as a joint venture with the Waco, Texas-based Word Records.-History:...
founder Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael
Ralph Carmichael is a composer and arranger of both secular pop music and contemporary Christian music, being regarded as one of the pioneers of the latter genre...
. Sherman Andrus
Sherman Andrus
Sherman Andrus is an American Gospel singer, who is probably best known as the man who broke the "color barrier" by becoming the first African-American lead singer of a mainstream Christian music group...
and Reuben Fernandez were added to the group in time to record their first album, Take The Message Everywhere, in 1968. They were subsequently replaced by Andrae's twin sister Sandra in 1970. Sherman Andrus went on to join the Imperials
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
. In 1972, singer Danniebelle Hall
Danniebelle Hall
Danniebelle Hall , gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter.-Early life:Danniebelle Hall was born in Pittsburgh, PA the fourth of eight children. She was born to William Butler Jones and Danniebell Jones. Danniebelle learned to play piano at the age of three. She played piano for her...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er Fletch Wiley, Harlan Rogers, Hadley Hockensmith and drummer Bill Maxwell joined the Disciples. Many support singers, Kathy Hazzard, Bea Carr, and James Felix were part of the Disciples entourage. Bili Thedford and Danniebelle left for a solo careers.
At the urging of Carmichael, Crouch began to record his compositions in 1968 with the group's debut album Take the Message Everywhere releasing in 1969. In 1972, the Disciples appeared on network television's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
. By 1985, they had also performed at the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
and Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and toured 68 countries. Crouch's most popular songs from this period include "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "Through It All," "Bless His Holy Name" and "My Tribute". Their contemporary gospel sound reached beyond the traditional African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
base and touched a racially and musically diverse audience.
The Disciples disbanded in 1979 and Andrae' continued on with his solo career with an ensemble Howard Smith
Howard Smith
Howard Smith may refer to:*Howard Smith , U.S. film director, journalist, broadcaster; Academy Award winner for feature-length documentary, 1972*Howard Smith , British ambassador and Director General of MI5, 1979–1981...
, Linda McCrary, Tata Vega
Tata Vega
Táta Vega is an American vocalist whose career spans theater, film, and a variety of musical genres.-Early life:...
and Kristle Murden as well as with the Andrae' Crouch Singers. Joe Sample
Joe Sample
Joseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an American pianist, keyboard player and composer.He is one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 .- Biography :Sample began playing the piano...
, Wilton Felder, Dean Parks, David Paich, Phillip Bailey, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
other secular artists were featured on all of Crouch's major recording sessions. Crouch had a gift of bringing out unique voices in solos on his projects including El Debarge
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
on "The Lord is my Light" or Tata Vega
Tata Vega
Táta Vega is an American vocalist whose career spans theater, film, and a variety of musical genres.-Early life:...
on "Oh it is Jesus". He has co produced with Bill Maxwell solo projects for The Winans, Danniebelle Hall and Kristle Murden. Several musical acts and solo performers covered his more popular works, including Elvis Presley, further expanding Crouch's musical influence. In 1995, he was featured in the Warren Chaney
Warren Chaney
Warren Herbert Chaney, Ph.D. is an American executive, author, filmmaker, behavioral scientist, entertainer, businessman and a pioneer in early television. In a career spanning four decades, Chaney wrote fifteen books, fourteen screenplays, and seventy-eight professional and nonprofessional...
docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
, America: A Call to Greatness
America: A Call to Greatness
America: A Call to Greatness is a 1995 docudrama feature from Paige-Brace Cinema, chronicling United States history from its inception through the 20th century. It stars Charlton Heston, Mickey Rooney, Deborah Winters, Peter Graves, Jane Russell, and Rita Moreno among others and was written,...
.
In 2006, Crouch released Mighty Wind
Mighty Wind
Mighty Wind is an album that was released to celebrate gospel musician Andrae Crouch's 40th year of recording gospel music. Crouch was able to get many well-known gospel singers to guest star on the project including Marvin Winans , Karen Clark-Sheard , Fred Hammond and Crystal Lewis .-Track...
, a 40th anniversary album featuring guest performances by Marvin Winans
Marvin Winans
Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
, Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
, Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark Sheard
Karen Clark-Sheard is an American gospel four-time Grammy Award winning singer, musician, and songwriter. The youngest daughter of pioneering gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark, Sheard began her career as a member of the Grammy-Award winning, gospel legendary female group, The Clark Sisters...
, and Lauren Evans
Lauren Evans
Lauren Evans is an American singer/songwriter responsible for penning hits by Alexandra Burke and Jordin Sparks.-Early life and career:Lauren Evans grew up in San Bernardino, CA, the daughter of a worship pastor, John Evans, of Maranatha! Music and Promise Keepers. She recorded several popular...
.
Musical influence
Andraé Crouch was a key figure in the Jesus MusicJesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
movement of the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, helped bring about contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
, and began to bridge the gap between black and white Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
. Though sometimes criticized for diluting the Gospel message by using contemporary styles, his songs have become staples in churches all around the world and recorded by mainstream artists such as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
.
Crouch is also credited with revolutionizing the sound of urban Gospel music. Crouch was instrumental in bringing Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, Jessy Dixon
Jessy Dixon
Jessy Dixon was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist, with success among audiences across racial lines. He garnered seven Grammy nominations during his career....
and The Winans
The Winans
The Winans are an American Gospel music quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans.-Members:Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.-Origins:...
to Light Records, all enjoying successful gospel music careers. His influence has extended to countless artists like BeBe
BeBe Winans
Benjamin "BeBe" Winans is a gospel and R&B singer. He is a member of the noted Winans family, most members of which are also gospel artists.-The PTL Club:...
and CeCe Winans
CeCe Winans
Priscilla "CeCe" Marie Winans Love is an American Gospel singer, who has won numerous Grammy and Stellar Awards.-Early life:CeCe Winans was born in Detroit, Michigan, to David and Delores Winans, on October 8, 1964...
, The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters:Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of legendary...
, Wintley Phipps
Wintley Phipps
-External links:* * * * * * *...
, Anointed
Anointed
Anointed is a Contemporary Christian music group from Columbus, Ohio, known for their strong vocals and harmonies, featuring siblings Steve Crawford and Da'dra Crawford Greathouse, along with former members Nee-C Walls and Mary Tiller . Their musical style includes elements of R&B, Pop, Rock,...
and Israel Houghton
Israel Houghton
-Other recordings :* "Champions for Christ" - Hi5 * "Where Are the Fathers?" from He-Motions * "Send Me to the Nations" from A Wing & A Prayer...
.
In 1996, Crouch's songs were the impetus for the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
- winning CD, Tribute: The Songs of Andraé Crouch (released on Warner Bros. Records), which featured a range of artists performing some of his classic songs including , the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Take 6
Take 6
Take 6 is an American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1980 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two...
and Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
.
Andraé and his sister, Sandra considered Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
as a dear friend for many years, whom they loved and greatly respected. In 1987, the Andraé Crouch Choir sang background vocals along with Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett is an American songwriter and singer.-Biography:She appeared as a contestant on Password Plus in 1980.She performed "One Man Woman" on Quincy Jones' Grammy-Award winning "Back on the Block."...
, Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
, and The Winans
The Winans
The Winans are an American Gospel music quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans.-Members:Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.-Origins:...
on Jackson's hit single, "Man in the Mirror
Man in the Mirror
"Man in the Mirror" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson and written and composed by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. It peaked at number one in the United States when released as a single in January 1988 off his seventh solo album, Bad. It is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed songs and...
" from the Bad
Bad (album)
Bad is the seventh studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on August 31, 1987 by Epic/CBS Records, nearly five years after Jackson's previous studio album, Thriller, which went on to become the world's best-selling album...
album. The Andraé Crouch Singers were also featured on the songs, "Keep the Faith" and "Will You Be There
Will You Be There
"Will You Be There" is a song by Michael Jackson which was released in 1993. The song is the eighth single from the 1991 album Dangerous. The song also appeared on the soundtrack to the film Free Willy, of which it is the main theme....
" from Jackson's 1991 Dangerous
Dangerous
Dangerous describes something that encompasses danger. It may also refer to:-Artists:*Dangerous!, an Australian hardcore punk band currently signed to Epitaph Records-Albums:*Dangerous...
album. Andraé and Sandra also did the choir arrangement for those songs. On Jackson's HIStory
HIStory
HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I is the ninth studio album by American songwriter and recording artist Michael Jackson, released on June 16, 1995 by Epic Records. The majority of the album's tracks were written and produced by Jackson...
: Past, Present and Future, Book I project in 1995, the Andraé Crouch Choir chants climacticly in a dramatic interaction with Jackson on "Earth Song
Earth Song
"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is the fifth song on the second disc of the album. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious...
." Crouch's composition, "Soon and Very Soon" was performed at the public memorial service for Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Personal life
Between 1993 and 1994 his father, mother, and older brother died in short order. Following the death of his father, Andraé took over as Senior Pastor at Christ Memorial Church of God in ChristChurch of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
in Pacoima, California, the church founded by his parents. He serves alongside his twin sister, Sandra
Sandra Crouch
Sandra Crouch is an American Gospel music performer, drummer and songwriter.-Musical career:She won a Grammy Award in 1985 for "Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female"....
. He is cousin to music critic Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch
Stanley Crouch is an American music and cultural critic, syndicated columnist, and novelist, perhaps best known for his jazz criticism, and his novel Don't the Moon Look Lonesome?- Biography :...
.
Andrae' Crouch & The Disciples
- 1969: Take the Message EverywhereTake the Message EverywhereTake the Message Everywhere is the debut album release for Jesus music/gospel music performers Andraé Crouch and the Disciples.-Side one:# "He Never Sleeps"# "Everywhere"# "The Broken Vessel"# "I've Got It"# "Without a Song"-Side two:...
(Light) - 1971: Keep on Singin'Keep on Singin'Keep on Singin' is the third album release for Jesus music/gospel music performers Andraé Crouch and the Disciples.-Side one:# I Don't Know Why Jesus Loved Me# I'm Gonna Keep On Singin'# I'm Coming Home Dear Lord# Along Came Jesus...
(Light) - 1972: Soulfully (Light)
- 1973: Live at Carnegie HallLive at Carnegie HallLive at Carnegie Hall may refer to:*Live at Carnegie Hall 1963, Bob Dylan's six-song live set.*Live at Carnegie Hall , a 1973 album by singer-songwriter Dory Previn....
(Light) - 1974: Take Me BackTake Me Back (Andrae Crouch album)Take Me Back is the sixth album release for Jesus music/gospel music performers Andraé Crouch and the Disciples.-Side one:# I'll Still Love You# Praises# Just Like He Said He Would# All I Can Say # You Can Depend On Me-Side two:...
(Light) - 1976: This Is Another DayThis Is Another DayThis Is Another Day is the seventh album release for Jesus music/gospel music performers Andraé Crouch and the Disciples. It won the "Soul/Black Gospel Album" Dove Award in their 1977 awards show.-Track listing:# Perfect Peace/My Peace I Leave With You...
(Light) - 1977: Live in LondonLive in LondonLive in London may refer to:*Live in London *Live in London *Live in London , by Amon Düül II, 1973*Live in London *Live in London...
(Light) - 1979: I'll Be Thinking of YouI'll Be Thinking of YouI'll Be Thinking of You is a 1979 Gospel album by Andrae Crouch which was released on the Elektra and Light record labels. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.-Track listing:-Musicians:...
(Light)
Solo recordings
- 1973: Just Andrae (Light)
- 1981: Don't Give Up (Warner Bros.)
- 1982: Finally (Light)
- 1984: No Time to Lose (Light)
- 1986: Autograph (Light)
- 1994: Mercy (Qwest)
- 1997: Pray (Quest)
- 1998: Gift of Christmas (Quest)
- 2006: Mighty WindMighty WindMighty Wind is an album that was released to celebrate gospel musician Andrae Crouch's 40th year of recording gospel music. Crouch was able to get many well-known gospel singers to guest star on the project including Marvin Winans , Karen Clark-Sheard , Fred Hammond and Crystal Lewis .-Track...
(Verity) - 2011: The Journey (Riverphlo Entertainment)
Awards
Andrae Crouch has won numerous awards and honors over the years including seven Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, four GMA Dove Awards, and ASCAP, Billboard
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
and NAACP Awards. In 2004, he became the only living Gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
artist — and just the third in history — to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
.
On November 11, 2011, Sandra and Andrae Crouch were granted an honorary "Artist-in-Residence" Award by the International Center of Worship for Global Day of Worship Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Grammy Awards
Crouch has won seven GrammysGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
:
- 1975: Best Soul Gospel Performance Take Me Back
- 1978: Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Live in London
- 1979: Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album I'll Be Thinking Of You
- 1980: Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational "The Lord's Prayer" (collaborative)
- 1981: Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Don't Give Up
- 1984: Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male "Always Remember"
- 1994: Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album Mercy
GMA Dove Awards
- Soul/Black gospel album
- 1977 - This is another day(Light)
- 1978 - Live in London (Light)
- Contemporary gospel album of the year
- 1985 - No Time To Lose (Light)
- 1998 - Pray (Qwest/Warner Bros.)
- Traditional gospel album of the year
- 1993 - With all of my heart; Sandra Crouch and Friends (Sparrow)
- Contemporary gospel recorded song of the year
- 1997 - "Take me back"; Tribute—The Songs of Andrae Crouch (songwriter) (Warner Alliance)
- Inducted into the Gospel Music AssociationGospel Music AssociationThe Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
's Gospel Music Hall of FameGospel Music Hall of FameThe Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
in 1998
Other honors
- Nominated for an OscarAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for The Color PurpleThe Color PurpleThe Color Purple is an acclaimed 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction...
(1985) - NARAS' Inaugural Salute to Gospel Music Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, 2005
- Christian Music Hall of Fame and Museum inductee, 2007
- How Sweet the Sound Living Legend Award, 2012
Production career and other credits
Crouch later worked as a producer or arranger with Michael JacksonMichael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
(We Are Golden), Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
(Cry For Help) and Prefab Sprout
Prefab Sprout
Prefab Sprout are an alternative English pop rock band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, England who rose to fame during the 1980s. Eight of their albums have reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and one of their singles, "The King of Rock 'n' Roll", peaked at number seven in the UK...
. Crouch co-wrote the title song to CeCe Winans' award-winning Throne Room
Throne Room (album)
Throne Room is the sixth studio album by multiple Grammy winning gospel artist CeCe Winans. In comparison for Winans' previous projects, this one is more inspirational with more traditional songs. This was not one of Winans' most commercially successful projects as the only single spawned from the...
album in 2003.
Filmography
Film:- 1985: The Color PurpleThe Color Purple (film)The Color Purple is a 1985 American period drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It was Spielberg's eighth film as a director , and was a change from the summer blockbusters for which he had become famous...
songwriter– "Maybe God's Trying to Tell You Something" - 1993: Once Upon A ForestOnce Upon a ForestOnce Upon a Forest is an animated film produced by Hanna-Barbera in association with HTV Cymru/Wales, Ltd. and released on June 18, 1993 by 20th Century Fox....
songwriter– "He's Gone/He's Back" - 1994: The Lion KingThe Lion KingThe Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
arranger and choral conductor
Television:
- 1982: "The JeffersonsThe JeffersonsThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
" "Men of the Cloth" episode - 1982: "SCTV Network 90" Christmas special
- 1986: "Amen"Amen (TV series)Amen is an American television sitcom produced by Carson Productions that ran from September 27, 1986 to May 11, 1991 on NBC. Set in Sherman Hemsley's real-life hometown of Philadelphia, Amen starred Hemsley as the deacon of a church and was part of a wave of successful sitcoms on NBC in the 1980s...
theme writer, arranger - 1994: "In Search of Dr. SeussDr. SeussTheodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
" as Yertle the TurtleYertle the TurtleYertle the Turtle and Other Stories is a picture book collection by Theodor Seuss Geisel, published under his more commonly-known pseudonym of Dr. Seuss. It was first released by Random House Books on April 12, 1958, and is written in Seuss's trademark style, using a type of meter called anapestic... - 1998: NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
's Cousin SkeeterCousin SkeeterCousin Skeeter is a television show which ran on Nickelodeon from 1998 to 2003. It starred Robert Ri'chard as Bobby, a young boy, whose life changed when his strange cousin Skeeter comes to live with his family. With Skeeter's help, Bobby learns life lessons and tackles the general ups and downs of...