Andrae Edward Crouch
Andrae Edward Crouch was the son of preacher Benjamin Crouch and his wife, Catherine. When he was 11, Andrae was invited by his father, then a lay preacher on part-time assignments, to play the piano for a church choir performing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” At the age of 14, he wrote his first Gospel composition. Crouch graduated from San Fernando Senior High School in San Fernando in 1960. In 1964 at the age of 22, Crouch became the pastor of Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ in Pacoima following his father’s death.
The senior Crouch had previously led the congregation. Although he had studied elementary education and worked as a counselor for recovering drug abusers, he was driven to a musical career. He formed the Disciples in the mid-1960s and released his first album, “Take the Message Everywhere,” in 1971. In 1972, he launched his solo career with “Just Andrae” while continuing to tour with the Disciples. His most successful album “Keep on Singing” was also released in 1972. Crouch and the Disciples won their first Grammy Award in 1978.
In the 1970’s, he would travel around the world, playing at Billy Graham crusades, performing at both Carnegie hall and Royal Albert Hall. For many, it was their introduction to contemporary Black gospel music. Crouch emerged as one of the most popular gospel artists in the United States writing, arranging and recording over 700 singles and more than 45 albums. In 1980 Crouch received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist. In addition, he has won eight Grammy Awards and was nominated for 20.
By the early 1980s, his success at merging gospel music with pop was drawing criticism as well as plaudits. Many church traditionalists felt he was losing touch with the old ways of gospel music. Some of whom felt that his use of secular styles diluted the religious content of his lyrics. But Andrae felt that he can give people a beautiful message, with pop, rock, funk, jazz or disco or anything that will make it appealing. Crouch enthusiastically veered from the traditional, and many stars took note. Elvis Presley recorded Crouch’s “I’ve Got Confidence” in 1972, and Paul Simon did “Jesus Is the Answer” for a 1974 album.