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10 things you never knew about Andraé Crouch
Andrae Crouch, a legendary gospel performer, songwriter and choir director passed on at 72 years
Andraé Crouch. He was a legendary gospel performer, songwriter and choir director, died at 72 years last week. Crouch was rushed to a hospital after falling ill in his shower, writes and Agencies.
Andraé Edward Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Crouch was only 14 when he wrote his first gospel hit. Since then, his music has resonated across generations and cultures. You may remember Soon and Very Soon, The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, and My Tribute (To God Be the Glory).
He was born Andraé Edward Crouch on July 1, 1942 in San Francisco, California, along with his twin sister, Sandra, to parents Benjamin and Catherine (neé Hodnett) Crouch.
But did you know that gospel music’s most celebrated artiste had a stuttering problem? His twin sister, Sandra, had to speak for him. It started when Andrae was just three years old. He once narrated: “I was on my way to get some ice cream right down the street from where my folks had a business, and a guy picked me up and started running with me. And we’d always say, “If anybody ever kidnapped us, we would scream and beat them up.” And here this guy was running with me. I couldn’t say anything. My folks saw him carry me across the street ‘cause they heard me let out a yell and the guy dropped me. I remember then is when I started stuttering.
Between 1992 and 1994 his father, mother and older brother Benjamin, died of cancer. Following his father’s death, he took over as Senior Pastor at Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ in Pacoima, California, the church founded by his parents, serving alongside his twin sister Sandra.
Crouch began to sing in his dad’s California church, forming his music group there.
Crouch directed the choirs that sang on Madonna’s Like a Prayer and Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror.
Crouch was the third gospel performers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (in 2004).
7. His choir, The Disciples, sang background for Madonna’s song Like a Prayer. Crouch helped Michael Jackson arrange the King of Pop’s 1987 hit song, Man in the Mirror.
He also arranged music for the 1985 film The Color Purple — which earned him an Academy Award nomination — and Disney’s The Lion King in 1994.
He won many awards incuding the dove and Grammys. Crouch collaborated often with his twin sister, who sang with him, acted as his manager and led with her brother a California ministry begun by their parents. Crouch worked with other gospel heavyweights like the Winans.
Despite a lifelong struggle with dyslexia, to create, he would make drawings that allowed him to grasp the concept. For the Jackson song, he drew a mirror with an image in it. Crouch once told The Associated Press in 2011, “I memorised everything through sight, the shape of the word.” “Some things that I write, you’ll see a page with cartoon pictures or a drawing of a car or a flag. I still do it on an occasion when a word is strange to me.”
Five renowned songs
He’s worthy. Recorded in 1983 by Sandra Crouch and Friends, He’s Worthy is a staple of contemporary gospel music, particularly for female choirs.
Can’t nobody do me like Jesus. Billy Graham called him the greatest hymn writer. The song is a pillar of contemporary gospel, performed often in churches; and yet, Crouch works the number like a Motown star, with a sweating, open-shirted, suave look – complete with gold chain and chest hair – that would look as at home on Marvin Gaye or Isaac Hayes.
Man in the mirror. In addition to Crouch‘s choir performance with Michael Jackson at the Grammy’s, in the Man in the mirror video, Crouch also arranged this single, which hit No 1 on the US charts when it was released in 1987.
The force behind the power. This song is a convergence of major musical talent from black America. The Stevie Wonder-produced song was performed live by Diana Ross and the Crouch twins. The song was also performed live in 1992 for the 50th birthday of Muhammad Ali.
Let the church say amen.The death of Whitney Houston was felt in the African American gospel music family. Houston came up in the church, and was memorialised in this live recording at her funeral with Marvin Winans performing one of Crouch’s most famous ballads, Let the Church Say Amen.
Awards won
Crouch won seven Grammys
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
