Remembering Andrae Crouch, Dead at 72

Christianity Today ^ | January 8, 2015 | Robert Darden

[xzins]

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 from the Church sometimes hurt, but he soldiered on.

Then again, we’ve never been shy about shooting our wounded in CCM, have we?

So, with his untimely passing, what should you know about the musical legacy of Andrae Crouch? Besides the fact that he wrote the standard “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power” (commonly called “The Blood”) at age fourteen, of course.

And perhaps you already know that Elvis recorded one of his songs, that Paul Simon’s live show included “Jesus is the Answer” for years, and that his compositions are featured in a host of white and African American hymnals.

But what you need to know is that Andrae Crouch was musically and lyrically fearless, endlessly inventive, always searching for better ways to express the Gospel in music.

Perhaps that fearlessness came from growing up in the Compton area of Los Angeles. Perhaps it came from a life spent in the Church of God in Christ, the most musically adventuresome of all Protestant denominations, which embraced electric guitars and drum kits when other denominations were splitting over whether or not to have pianos in the sanctuary.

[xzins]

The Church of God in Christ pastors that I knew in the military, and their chaplains, were all solid believers in Jesus Christ, and their sermons demonstrated that.

It’s good to hear Crouch came out of that denomination.

[xzins]

RIP, Brother Crouch. The blood will never lose its power.

[Tennessee Nana]

I heard him sing through it all years ago..

He wrote thaty song himself..

Through it all Through it all
I learnt to trust in Jesus I learnt to trust in God

[left that other site]

RIP, Brother Andre.

[xzins]

Andre Crouch on youtube at a Billy Graham crusade in 1975

Through It All

[tflabo]

One of the first christian songs when I first believed..
Take me back... Andrae Crouch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d_0ETntXW4

[PetroniusMaximus]

“On November 12, 1982, Crouch was arrested in Los Angeles on a charge of possessing cocaine and dangerous drugs. Sheriff’s deputies stopped him for erratic driving and discovered a powdered substance in the vehicle which he said was instant chicken soup powder. Crouch consented to a search and was found to be carrying a vial of the alleged drugs in his pocket. He was arrested and released several hours later on $2,500 bail. Crouch maintained that the alleged drugs belonged to a friend who had been staying in his apartment. Police declined to press charges.”

[xzins]

Watch post #6

[Jemian]

My husband and I had My Tribute sung at our wedding.

[tang-soo]

Soon and Very Soon ...

[grandpa jones]

I hate to hear this. Our Church youth group used to sing many of his songs...
RIP Andrae Crouch, coming home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFAvjWgmy0&feature=youtu.be

[kvanbrunt2]

here’s one His blood will never lose it’s power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068hjYWkkPo

[JesusIsLord]

Yes, Christians can and do fall to weakness and sin. Thank God for His amazing grace. All I know is that Andre’s music and anointing has blessed my life. I thank God for the man and his ministry. Christianity is not about being perfect. It’s not about performing to meet someone’s standard. It’s not about keeping the law of Moses. It’s about being saved by grace, through faith, with the blood and righteousness of Jesus, our Redeemer. It’s not our righteousness that saves us, it’s Jesus’ !

[Scrambler Bob]

M4L

[Patriot Babe]

RIP Andrae, you will be missed but we know you are home with our Heavenly father.

Growing up my family and I would attend his concert whenever Andrae Crouch and the Disciples would come to Oakland. It was the Oakland Paramount Theater in which he would perform. Daddy would take his tape recorder and tape the concert and I still have them. What a great performance, I’m just glad to have seen him.

Something funny on the side here. My mom was crazy for him. When we attended one of his concert here in Oakland, California. My mom (who was in her 50’s) went to the back of the theater to wait for him to come out from the back to get to his limo. I had to been like 11 years of age watching all this. My mom got behind a crowd near the door and everyone was shouting his name to come out. Well my mother also shouted but she shouted “ANDREW! ANDREW!” I’m like who is Andrew? The woman in front of her turned to her with the expression “Who in the hell is Andrew?” LOL He finally comes out and signs autograph on his way to the limo and my mom desperately wanted to meet with him. She went in front of the limo and got on top of the hood and she sat there with a police telling her “maam please get off the hood the limo needs to leave”. My mother said no until she talked to him. Meanwhile on the side I saw my father and my uncle just simply walked up to the back seat window and shook hands with Andrae. I realize my mom help my father and uncle to meet Andrae instead of her. LOL

Again RIP Andrae

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Vendome]

“Don’t Give Up”.

I sang back up to him twice in the 80’s in Tulsa.

Rest in Peace.

[annieokie]

I had that song sung at my son's funeral, because it spoke to his many years and surgeries from brain tumors and his courage through his faith to carry on with his life. Now I cry every time I hear it for it speaks to me as well.

Through it all........I learned a lot, very humbling.

[CPT Clay]

Wow, I’ve met him. Rip