Free Republic

Andrae Crouch, a legendary gospel performer, songwriter and choir director whose work graced songs by Michael Jackson and Madonna and movies such as "The Lion King," has died. He was 72. Crouch died Thursday afternoon at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he had been admitted Saturday after suffering a heart attack, said his publicist, Brian Mayes. Crouch and his sister, Sandra Crouch, lived in the Pacoima area of Los Angeles, Mayes said. They were pastors at the New Christ Memorial Church in the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando. Born in San Francisco, Crouch wrote his first gospel tune at...

In 1972, I saw—for the first time—Andrae Crouch and the Disciples performing “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,” “Soon and Very Soon,” “My Tribute,” “Through It All,” and “Bless His Holy Name.” I was both mesmerized and a little frightened. That’s his music on the soundtrack to The Color Purple (where he earned an Oscar), the Broadway musical The Lion King, and the pop songs “Man in the Middle” and “Like a Prayer.” Not surprisingly, great swathes of the religious audience voiced their displeasure. How dare he combined Saturday night with Sunday morning? As he told interviewers, the criticism...

Legendary gospel music singer, songwriter and choir director Andrae Crouch who had been ailing for some time, died Thursday after reportedly suffering a heart attack. He was 72. Crouch, who also served as pastor of the New Christ Memorial Church in Los Angeles, California, along with his sister, Sandra Crouch, died at Northridge Hospital Medical Center where he had been admitted since Saturday, according to his publicist, Brian Mayes, in an Associated Press report. The prolific songwriter whose career spanned more than 50 years after writing his first song at 14, won seven Grammys from The Recording Academy. In a...