Andrae Edward Cruch is an award-winning gospel musician and recording artist. He also songwriters, arranges, and produces. He was born July 1, 1942 in Los Angeles. He was a prominent figure in the Christian Music movement in the 1960s and 1970s. He was frequently told that his piano-playing was “literally God-given” when he was a kid. His religious songs were performed by Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, and other musicians from churches around the globe. He was nominated for an Oscar, received six GMA Dove Awards and won eight GRAMMY(r). Crouch was inducted into The Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame (1998). His recordings include reverent hymns and the gospel music that Thomas A. Dorsey pioneered, as well as contemporary light rock and pop-oriented songs supported by jazz musicians. He also has African/world-music influences. He is known as the “father of modern gospel” because he expanded gospel music’s use of R elements.
