Legendary gospel singer, composer and producer Andrae Crouch has passed on at age 72. On Thursday, 8th January, 2015, his publicists announced the news of his demise.
He had been hospitalized at the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in
the Los Angeles area since the 3rd of January, following a heart
attack. Crouch had health issues in recent years, including diabetes and
cancer. Last month, he was hospitalized for pneumonia and congestive
heart failure and had to cancel a tour.
The seven-time Grammy winner was inducted into the Gospel Music
Association Hall of Fame in 1998. His songs were recorded by Elvis
Presley and Paul Simon, he collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan,
Elton John, Quincy Jones and Diana Ross, and he was a backup singer on
several Michael Jackson songs. Crouch was one of only a handful of
gospel performers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Some of Crouch’s most beloved songs were “The Blood Will Never Lose
Its Power” and “Soon and Very Soon,”. He also arranged music for the
1985 film “The Color Purple” — which earned him an Academy Award
nomination and Disney’s “The Lion King” in 1994.
Crouch and his twin sister, Sandra Crouch, also a singer, lived in
the Pacoima area of Los Angeles. They were pastors at the New Christ
Memorial Church in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando. Crouch
followed his father, who founded the church in 1951, and brother, who
died in April 1996, to become the pastor at the church.
