The definition for the word "legend" is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give semblance of reality, or to the truth.
When we speak of Andraé Crouch, he fits the description of a legend, the narrative of his life would appear an impossible feat and more like a fairy tale. Yet all of what I am going to share is true. I was fortunate enough to meet Andraé at the NAMM Convention several years ago. I was playing one of the new pianos on display, and guess who sat down on the bench and began playing a duet with me? It was none other than Andraé Crouch himself. He was a very humble spirit, yet a musical giant that I never expected to meet up close and personal like this. We continued to play and exchange pleasant conversations for the next hour. As a young teenager growing up in Houston, Texas, I remember one of his songs, "I'll be Thinking of You," was mind-blowing and ahead of its time. To have this legendary music master sit next to me and start playing the piano is a memory I will always cherish.
History reports that Andraé is responsible for uniting black and white churches in America through his music. His songs are now included in hymnals and songbooks around the world. He helped to create and introduce contemporary Christian music during the late '60s and early '70s. He introduced us to artists like Edwin, Walter and Tramaine Hawkins, The Winans, Bee and Cee Winans, and Fred Hammonds, and even helped to bridge the way for Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence and Michael W. Smith, who recently credited him with being the "father of modern gospel music." Andraé was a singer and songwriter whose plaintive, passionate gospel songs knitted religious music to rhythm and blues, and his soul and contemporary balladeering found their way into mainstream pop music.
From the mid-1960s into the '80s, he led the group Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, who performed at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and on The Tonight Show and toured in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. He appeared a handful of times on Saturday Night Live.
Another example of his widely successful tours was Live in London, his eighth album release that won the "Soul/Black Gospel Album" Dove Award in their 1978 awards show, making it the second year in a row the group had won that award. Andraé went on to win seven Grammy Awards. His latest win was with the Mighty Wind album project in 1995.
His best-known songs, often performed with a choir, included "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," a slow, pulsing, bluesy number that he wrote as a teenager. According to an often-told story, young Andraé, who began singing as a boy, wrote his first song, "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power" at a picnic, but, thinking it was no good, crumpled it up and threw it in a wastebasket, where it was rescued by his sister. By the end of the picnic everyone was singing it.
"My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)," which begins with the longing of a torch song and swells to an anthem, and "Soon and Very Soon," which, with its joyous R&B flavor, is one of our favorites (ICOC), were sung by a choir at a public memorial for Michael Jackson. They were both churchy and rocking, and they gave Mr. Crouch a following beyond the realm of gospel fans.