Andraé Crouch – My Tribute

Andraé Crouch went to be with the Lord on January 8. You can read about his accomplishments if you just google his name. But let me share my personal insights as someone who knew him.

I first heard Andraé Crouch and his band, The Disciples, in the early ’70s. I loved his progressive Gospel/R&B style. He was truly an innovator that had a unique gift from God. It was not just his music, amazing as it was, but the fact that God worked mightily through him. When you went to hear him sing, it was part concert, part revival meeting. Anytime I heard he was playing, I would go and hear him.

He was at the peak of his career. Yet, for some unknown reason, he became a personal friend. I was just a young preacher starting a church in Riverside, California. It was 1975 and Andraé was performing around the world to packed-out audiences, but I asked him if we would come and sing for our little church on a Sunday. To my great delight he said yes! We had an old, upright, slightly out of tune piano and Andraé sat down and sang some of his classic songs.

And those songs were amazing!
“I’ve Got the Confidence”
“The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”
“Through It All”
“Take Me Back”
“Jesus Is the Answer”
“My Tribute”

I worked with Andraé a number of times through the years and we had him out for our Raleigh, North Carolina, Crusade in 2007. I had not spoken with him for a while and was sitting down with Linda McCrary and some other friends and we started singing some Andraé Crouch songs. Linda had been one of Andraé’s backup singers. They were shocked to find out that I knew all the lyrics! Linda had his phone number and asked, “Would you like to talk to Andraé right now?” Of course I agreed and she rang him up and the Gospel legend and I talked a bit about old times. This was a few months ago.

I, for one, will miss Andraé Crouch and I thank God he took time and made room in his life for me.