Andraé
Edward
Crouch
Andraé Crouch songs have been performed by various artists, including Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Elvis Presley. The recipient of more than sixteen Grammy Awards, Crouch as a gospel musician, recording artist, songwriter, arranger, and producer is recognized as an international music star. Crouch and his twin sister Sandra, were born San Francisco July 1, 1947. The new additions to the family made a total of three siblings which included an older brother, Benjamin. The three Crouch children sang in a trio at the behest of their father, who had begun to preach in order to strengthen his prayers to God that his son might be given musical talent. Crouch's parents owned and operated Crouch Cleaners, a dry-cleaning business, as well as a restaurant business in Los Angeles, California. As a lay preacher, Crouch's father would be called to churches that had need of a preacher on a short term basis.
Crouch's father preached at the Macedonia Church about sixty miles from their home in Los Angeles. The entire family attended the service and heard Crouch's father preach for the first time in a real pulpit and not on the street, at a hospital, or in other created spaces. One Sunday, when Andraé was 11, his father preached at a church in Val Verde, California, and then called Andraé to the piano to accompany the church's choir in the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Not really sure of all the pedals and in particular the middle pedal, Crouch played for the congregation with both hands. Music helped Crouch overcome shyness and stammering that often resulted in his twin sister having to speak for him. At aged 14 he says God healed him. He did suffer from lifelong dyslexia.
Crouch wrote his first song only three years after his experience in church playing the piano. Crouch moved with his family to the San Fernando Valley suburb of Pacoima when he was in junior high school, and his musical talents burgeoned. His father became the pastor of the Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal church in a predominately Hispanic town. In high school, Crouch formed the group Church of God in Christ Singers (COGICS) around 1960. The members were Gloria Jones, Frankie Karl Springs, Edna Wright, Blinky Williams, Sandra Crouch, and Billy Preston. COGICS was the first to record the song, "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power." Crouch realized that if the audience was to be blessed by the song, it must be self explanatory.
The style and singing that COGICS offered was not always understood by traditional gospel audiences. As a member of a Youth for Christ group, headed by a young White man from the Nazarene Church, Crouch saw the need for an easily understood message to all groups. All of these influences encouraged Crouch to write songs clearly so that the gospel would be understood. Crouch's split-compositional style moved between and blended light rock, soul, and pop, combined with traditional hymns and anthems. After high school Crouch attended Valley Junior College and Life Bible College in the Los Angeles area and counseled recovering drug addicts, but his heart was in music. By 1965 Crouch founded Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, which became the vehicle for his compositions. The group became a frequent attraction at "Monday Night Sing" concerts, by Audrey Mieir, that sponsored new Christian music groups.
After signing with Light Records in 1971, their debut album Take the Message Everywhere was released. It featured original compositions and arrangements that would mark the Crouch sound. The album included arrangements of the Negro spiritual "Wade in the Water"; Thomas Dorsey's "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"; and the hymn "No, Not One!" He and the Disciples recorded and traveled extensively. Appearances included The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, performances at the Hollywood Bowl, and sell out crowds at New York's Carnegie Hall. The group's performances were key in pushing the boundaries as they included pop-style vocal arrangement, crooned vocals unlike the intense gospel style, and production techniques associated more with R&B.
Crouch's solo career began with the LP "Just Andraé;" in 1972, and throughout the 1970s his reputation rose steadily. Under the Light label, Crouch as a soloist recorded six albums, and as lead singer of the Disciples recorded twelve. Crouch's most popular songs with the group included "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "Through It All", "Bless His Holy Name", "Soon and Very Soon", "Jesus is the Answer", and "My Tribute". Crouch and the Disciples took home Grammy Awards in 1975 for "Take Me Back," 1978 for "Live in London," 1979 for "I'll Be Thinking of You," 1980 for "The Lord's Prayer," 1981 for "Don't Give Up," and 1984 for "No Time to Lose". Crouch and the Disciples took home Grammy awards every year from 1978 through 1981.
Crouch's crossover gospel encompassed several aspects of secular music, including pop-style vocal arrangements, production techniques, and, most important, Crouch's crooned vocals themselves, miles removed from the intense fervor of traditional gospel. Crouch would change the sound of gospel music and open the door to numerous black artists who with church pressures encountered the general music world with timidity and even fear. Many credit Crouch with the emergence of such artists as BeBe Williams and Kirk Franklin, to cite the most obvious. He infused the traditional feel of gospel with the persuasive influences of R&B and rock 'n' roll., bridging the gap and revolutionizing the sound of urban Gospel music.
Despite Crouch's success, he was criticized by some gospel purists. His sound didn't go down quite as well in some chambers for whom these genres, let alone the blues, seemed the devil's music. Many felt that his inclusion of secular elements diluted the religious content. The greatest outcry came with the 1981 release of the song "Don't Give Up." It competed with secular markets and used up-to-date technology regarding production techniques and topical lyrics. Even though the song was released by Warner Brothers label, Crouch continued to record songs for Light label that remained gospel-oriented. By using contemporary music styles, his songs have become staples in churches and hymnals around the world and have been recorded by mainstream artists.
In 1982 more difficulties arose as Crouch was arrested on cocaine possession charges. He maintained that the substance found was instant chicken soup powder. No formal charges were ever filed by the police, but the experience took its toll on Crouch. He decided to reestablish his priorities and focus more on his family and church and produce projects with other artists. From 1984 to 1994, Crouch took a hiatus from recording. He composed and arranged for other artists, such as Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, and Elton John. His film credits include Once Upon a Forest, The Color Purple, The Lion King, and Free Willy. In 1994, he released the album Mercy! as inspired by the words "Mercy, have mercy on us." His message remained consistent in keeping the word of God in the music, but he enhanced the songs with a global flavor, featuring a mix of reggae and African rhythms.
Crouch's life took a new direction after his mother, father, and older brother Benjamin all died within a short period between 1993 and 1994. His brother Benjamin served as the pastor of their father's church, Christ Memorial in Pacoima, when their father died. Crouch knew that his becoming pastor of the church was a calling his father had revealed to him, although Andrae had always strongly resisted. Crouch's father told him again before he died, he should have three black suits ready at all times because he wanted his son to be ready. Crouch still resisted. Even with his sister's help the congregation was unsuccessful in finding a new pastor. After resisting the idea for a while, in April 1995 Crouch began preaching at the church and was later elevated to pastor.
His brother helped Crouch with the transition before meeting his own end several months later. The congregation, who had dropped off in attendance after the death of Crouch's father, regained its membership and continued to grow. Crouch released the Mercy CD in 1994, for which he won yet another Grammy Award. He continued to compose and to make appearances as a performer. But the church consumed the lion's share of his energies during this time. He would fly against the ruling and scriptural beliefs of the Church Of God In Christ against female preachers by ordaining Sandra as co-pastor of their father's church. Crouch's performances consistently sold out throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Far East, and his music was translated into twenty-one languages. His timeless classics place him firmly in musical history. He is in the company of Mahalia Jackson and Reverend James Cleveland. Crouch received his star on the Walk of Fame in 2004, surrounded by his sister, nephew, and aunt. On January 8, 2015, Crouch died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.