Andraé Crouch Passed Away!

The godfather of urban gospel passed away.

On Friday, the urban gospel world lost a legendary singer and talent. Andrae Crouch passed away and there's an outpouring of sympathy from his family and many friends. Of course, we here at Journal de la Reyna send our condolences to the family of Andraé Crouch.

Crouch was considered the godfather of modern day urban gospel.

Crouch was known for his compositions "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and "Soon and Very Soon". In secular music, he was known for his collaborative work during the 1980s with Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Quincy Jones as well as conducting choirs that sang on the Michael Jackson hit "Man in the Mirror" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer".

Crouch was noted for his talent of incorporating contemporary secular music styles into the gospel music he grew up with. His efforts in this area were what helped in paving the way for early American contemporary Christian music during the 1960s and 1970s.

Crouch's original music arrangements were heard in the films The Color Purple and Disney's The Lion King, as well as the NBC television series Amen. Awards received by him include seven Grammy Awards, being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.

Crouch was hospitalized in early December 2014 for pneumonia and congestive heart failure. As a result, his December tour was postponed.

He was hospitalized again on January 3, 2015 in Los Angeles, as the result of a heart attack. Crouch died five days later at Northridge Hospital Medical Center on January 8, 2015, at the age of 72.

On the same day, his sister, Sandra, released the following statement: "Today my twin brother, womb-mate and best friend went home to be with the Lord. Please keep me, my family and our church family in your prayers. I tried to keep him here but God loved him best."

Following Crouch's death, Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith told Billboard Magazine, "...I'll never forget hearing Andraé for the first time. It was like someone had opened a whole new world of possibilities for me musically. I don't think there is anyone who inspired me more, growing up, than Andraé Crouch. The depth of his influence on Christian music is incalculable. We all owe him so much and I'll forever be grateful for the times we got to work together."