Andraé Edward Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor.
Andraé Crouch was one of the most renowned and widely respected pioneers of contemporary gospel music. By combining such classic gospel music elements as call-and-response and choir, along with pop songwriting techniques and production, Crouch's style influenced countless other artists. Born July 1, 1942, in San Francisco, California, Crouch got his musical start at his father's church in the Los Angeles area, singing, playing piano, and before ten years of age, writing his own songs (despite being entirely self-taught). Crouch formed his first serious gospel group during the early '60s, Andraé Crouch & the Disciples, although it wasn't until 1977 that the group issued its first release, "This Is Another Day" (eventually, the "Disciples" name would be dropped, as the albums were credited solely to Crouch).
