Andrae Crouch, legendary gospel figure, performer, songwriter and choir director has died. He was 72.
(July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015)
His publicist, Brian Mayes announced the death of the icon and said Crouch passed away Thursday afternoon at Northridge Hospital Medical Centre, where he had been admitted Saturday after a heart attack.
He is one of a handful of Gospel artists with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
During his career spanning over more than a half-century, Crouch recivieved a total of 7 Grammys. The Recording Academy said in a statement that he was "a remarkable musician and legendary figure" who was "fiercely devoted to evolving the sound of contemporary, urban gospel music." His work graced songs by Michael Jackson (Man in the Mirror) and Madonna (Like a Prayer) and movies such as "The Lion King". Andrae Crouch worked on Madonna's
"Crouch was an innovator, a path-finder, a precursor in an industry noted for its conservative, often derivative approach to popular music," Robert Darden wrote for Christianity Today. "He combined gospel and rock, flavored it with jazz and calypso as the mood struck him and the song called for it."
Andrae was a pioneer in gospel music who was best known for bridging the worlds of church and mainstream music for more than 50 years and is aptly referred to as the Father Of Modern Gospel.
Some of Crouch's most beloved songs were "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "Soon and Very Soon", “Let the Church Say Amen” and “My Tribute”.
Source: CNN and Associated Press.
Links:
Associated Press: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a770ef97326244d2bb8133d37361fc96/andrae-crouch-legendary-gospel-figure-dies-72
CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/08/showbiz/andrae-crouch-obit/
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