{"id":4561,"date":"2015-01-09T08:07:28","date_gmt":"2015-01-09T16:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peewee.com\/?p=4561"},"modified":"2015-01-09T08:37:49","modified_gmt":"2015-01-09T16:37:49","slug":"gospel-legend-pastor-andrae-crouch-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peewee.com\/2015\/01\/09\/gospel-legend-pastor-andrae-crouch-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"Gospel Legend and Pastor Andra\u00e9 Crouch Dies"},"content":{"rendered":"

A giant loss in the music world. Widely referred to as ‘The father of modern gospel music’, pioneer musician Andra\u00e9\u00a0Crouch 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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

He led the choirs that sang on such hits as\u00a0Michael Jackson’s\u00a0Man in the Mirror<\/i>\u00a0and Madonna’s\u00a0Like a Prayer<\/i>. As a songwriter, he wrote several gospel favorites, most notably\u00a0The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power<\/i>, \u00a0My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0Soon and Very Soon<\/i>, a song sung at Michael Jackson’s public memorial service.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elvis Presley\u00a0recorded Crouch’s\u00a0I’ve Got Confidence<\/i>\u00a0for his 1972 gospel album\u00a0He Touched Me<\/i>, and Paul Simon recorded his\u00a0Jesus Is the Answer<\/i>\u00a0on 1974’s\u00a0Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’<\/i>. 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\u00a0Elton John, Quincy Jones, The\u00a0Commodores,\u00a0Diana Ross\u00a0and\u00a0Ringo Starr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crouch’s gospel albums often featured guests from the R&B and jazz worlds, including\u00a0Stevie Wonder, El DeBarge,\u00a0Wilton Felder\u00a0and\u00a0Earth, Wind & Fire’s\u00a0Philip Bailey.\u00a0Chaka Khan,\u00a0Sheila E.\u00a0and vocal group\u00a0Take 6\u00a0appeared on his most recent album, 2011’s\u00a0The Journey<\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

His recordings brought him seven Grammys, and Crouch also received an Academy Award nomination for his arranging work on the 1985 film\u00a0The Color Purple<\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He is\u00a0survived by his twin sister, Sandra.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rest In Peace.<\/strong><\/p>\n\"Andrae\n

photo by\u00a0Brian van der Brug\/Los Angeles Times<\/p>\n

LOOK:<\/strong>\u00a0http:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/morning-mix\/wp\/2015\/01\/08\/reports-gospel-legend-andrae-crouch-dead-at-72\/<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andra\u00e9_Crouch<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/entertainment\/music\/posts\/la-et-ms-andrae-crouch-dies-20150108-story.html<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/music\/2015\/01\/08\/andrae-crouch-gospel-music-pioneer-dies\/21262183\/<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/youtu.be\/a3aSK6jRGk8<\/p>\n