Andrae Crouch

Andraé Crouch was a legendary American gospel singer whose many recordings garnered seven Grammy Awards and other prizes and whose powerful voice over a 50-year career also made him popular in the secular music world. He collaborated with artists including Elton John, Quincy Jones and Stevie Wonder, contributed arrangements to major motion pictures and led choirs that appeared on best-selling recordings by other stars.

Born in San Francisco, he first sang and played piano during church services where his father was a preacher. He wrote what would become one of his most successful songs, 'The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power', at the age of 15 and established the Church of God in Christ Singers in 1960. In 1965 he formed The Disciples with Perry Morgan, Reuben Fernandez and Bili Thedford and they performed across South California. Christian songwriter and producer Ralph Carmichael signed The Disciples to a recording contract and an album, 'Take the Message Everywhere' debuted in 1968. Crouch's twin sister Sandra joined the group for two more albums, 'Keep On Singin'' and 'Soulfully', and they became popular in concert and on television.

When The Disciples disbanded in 1979, Crouch went on to enjoy a hugely successful solo career that continued almost until his death. Crouch recorded with many artists such as Joe Sample and Pearl Bailey and conducted the choirs that sang on 'Man in the Mirror' by Michael Jackson and 'Like a Prayer' by Madonna. He wrote arrangements for the soundtracks of the films 'The Color Purple' (1985) and 'The Lion King' (1994) and the American television sitcom 'Amen' (1986). He released a 40th anniversary album titled 'Mighty Wind' in 2006 and his final album was 'Live in Los Angeles' in 2013. Following his death from a heart attack at the age of 72, Billboard Magazine said his "immense talent and kind heart dissolved musical boundaries and earned the respect of peers in every genre".