A Tribute to Andraé Crouch

Good morning people who work for ACL/Live Nation/ C3 as the copy-writers for the website.  I know you religiously read my blog and hang on my every word.  After noticing that you have nothing written for this particular entry to the Festival, I thought I'd just help you out and prepare one for you. Please feel free to use it on your website.  Will work for VIP access.  :)

Andraé Crouch was a legend in the world of contemporary gospel music.  Born in 1942 in San Francisco, Crouch began writing and performing gospel music as a self-taught teenager.  In 1965, Crouch formed a gospel group called The Disciples, and over the course of fifteen years, the group released seven albums with well-regarded classic songs such as "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power."

After his time with The Disciples, Crouch continued a prolific run of music composition and released twelve more albums until his final album, 2013's Live in Los Angeles.  Over those years, he won seven Grammy awards, including Best Soul Gospel Performance (1975, 1984), Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (1978, 1979, 1981), and Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational (1980).  His songs were recorded by gospel greats as well as secular stars such as Paul Simon and Elvis Presley.  Aside from his massive tours around the world and sold out shows in the U.S., Crouch also appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson twice.

In addition to his leading role in the modern gospel movement, Crouch produced or arranged compositions for pop artists such as Michael Jackson, Elton John, Madonna, and Diana Ross.  Along with his backing choir, Crouch appeared in global chart-toppers like Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror."

Crouch also worked with television and motion picture scores and soundtracks.  He wrote "Maybe God's Trying to Tell You Something," from the Color Purple, and was nominated for an Academy Award.  He also composed and arranged on the Lion King soundtrack.

Unfortunately, in late 2014, Crouch was hospitalized with pneumonia and forced to cancel a tour. Soon thereafter, he was hospitalized again and died on January 8, 2015 from a heart attack.  Crouch was 72. His funeral and memorial services were attended by a laundry list of gospel luminaries as well as secular stars such as Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones.

The ACL website provides no details at all about who will be doing the tribute to Crouch, one could hope that it will be some of the top-shelf folks who appeared on the Grammy-winning 1996 tribute album called "Tribute: The Songs of Andraé Crouch."  Here is his most popular song, with an all-star choir, called "My Tribute (To God be the Glory)"