A giant loss in the music world. Widely referred to as ‘The father of modern gospel music’, pioneer musician Andraé Crouch brought a contemporary pop and R&B melodic sensibility to gospel music. He bridged the worlds of church and mainstream music in a career that spanned more than fifty years.
He led the choirs that sang on such hits as Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror and Madonna’s Like a Prayer. As a songwriter, he wrote several gospel favorites, most notably The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power, My Tribute (To God Be the Glory) and Soon and Very Soon, a song sung at Michael Jackson’s public memorial service.
Elvis Presley recorded Crouch’s I’ve Got Confidence for his 1972 gospel album He Touched Me, and Paul Simon recorded his Jesus Is the Answer on 1974’s Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’. Crouch also became the go-to vocal arranger for Los Angeles recording sessions that needed a gospel sound, working not only with Jackson and Madonna but also Elton John, Quincy Jones, The Commodores, Diana Ross and Ringo Starr.
Crouch’s gospel albums often featured guests from the R&B and jazz worlds, including Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge, Wilton Felder and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey. Chaka Khan, Sheila E. and vocal group Take 6 appeared on his most recent album, 2011’s The Journey.
His recordings brought him seven Grammys, and Crouch also received an Academy Award nomination for his arranging work on the 1985 film The Color Purple.
He is survived by his twin sister, Sandra.
Rest In Peace.
photo by Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andraé_Crouch
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-andrae-crouch-dies-20150108-story.html
http://youtu.be/a3aSK6jRGk8