{"id":533,"date":"2024-04-11T23:36:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T03:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=533"},"modified":"2024-04-12T11:21:54","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T15:21:54","slug":"tribute-sandra-crouch-a-powerful-force-in-gospel-music-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/04\/11\/tribute-sandra-crouch-a-powerful-force-in-gospel-music-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribute: Sandra Crouch, a Powerful Force in Gospel Music and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sandra Crouch, who passed away at age 81 on March 17, was widely known as the twin sister of gospel legend Andra\u00e9 Crouch. But the artist, whose talents included songwriting, percussion, producing, directing choirs, and arranging vocals, also carved her own path and left her own indelible mark on gospel and the entire music industry.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Sandra Crouch image courtesy of Bil Carpenter, Capital Entertainment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“What can I say? I’m sad, but rejoicing because Sandra Crouch will be missed,\u201d said CeCe Winans, noted as the bestselling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time. \u201cShe made such an impact here on earth. I know she will be received with a glorious welcome.”<\/p>\n

Together, Andra\u00e9 and Sandra formed a powerful bond with the group Andra\u00e9 Crouch and the Disciple, releasing such classics as \u201cTake Me Back,\u201d \u201cSoon and Very Soon,\u201d \u201cThrough It All,\u201d \u201cMy Tribute (To God Be the Glory)\u201d and \u201cJesus is the Answer,\u201d which was covered by more than 75 artists, including Paul Simon.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a strong presence in everything (Andra\u00e9) did,\u201d said Ken Ehrlich, former executive producer of the Grammy\u00ae Awards, noting that Sandra was key in organizing the impressive choirs for the telecasts in the 80s. She \u201cshined from the back,\u201d said award-winning gospel artist and producer Donald Lawrence: \u201cShe loved seeing others win\u2026Her support for her brother Andra\u00e9 was something I can\u2019t explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even as she supported her brother, Sandra Crouch also did session work as a percussionist. Among the notable recordings she played on were The Jackson 5\u2019s \u201cI Want You Back,\u201d Neil Diamond\u2019s \u201cTap Root Manuscript\u201d which featured \u201cCracklin\u2019 Rosie,\u201d and Janis Joplin\u2019s \u201cPearl\u201d that featured \u201cMe and Bobby McGee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bil Carpenter, a longtime friend of the Crouches and author of \u201cUncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia\u201d remembers that Sandra, being a supportive sister, had an integral role in one of gospel music\u2019s greatest songs.<\/p>\n

“When Andra\u00e9 wrote \u2018The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power’, he thought, \u2018This has nothing to it,\u2019 Carpenter said. \u201cHe was writing and to him, it sounded corny. He threw it in the trash. She took it out of the trash and said, \u2018This is something.\u2019\u2026That laid the foundation for everything that came after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donnie McClurkin, who first met the Crouches as a child in 1971, considered them spiritual mentors; \u201cThroughout my career in gospel music, her impact and influence in gospel music is legendary! She was and is a true legend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond shaping the world of gospel, the Crouches were called on to organize choirs for the biggest names in rock and pop music, including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Madonna. Carpenter said their participation in songs such as \u201cLike a Prayer,\u201d \u201cMan in the Mirror\u201d and \u201cYou Are Not Alone\u201d caused controversy in the church at the time, but others felt like they were modeling a Savior who faced his own accusations of worldly associations. They also wrote \u201cHeaven Belongs to You\u201d and sang \u201cMaybe God is Trying to Tell You Something\u201d for the movie \u201cThe Color Purple.\u201d\u00a0 That led to other scores for films including Disney\u2019s animated classic \u201cThe Lion King\u201d and \u201cFree Willy.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a solo artist, Sandra was credited with saving Light Records from financial bankruptcy with the success of her 1983 award-winning project she funded and produced with her money. \u201cWe Sing Praises\u201d included the songs \u201cHe\u2019s Worthy,\u201d \u201cThere is Power in the Blood,\u201d and \u201cWe Need to Hear From You.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a social media video<\/a> \u201cWhy Sandra Crouch Matters,\u201d singer-songwriter Dara Starr Tucker noted subsequent Light Records releases that might not have happened if the label had failed; \u201cWithout Sandra, we might not have had the Winans\u2019 \u2018Tomorrow\u2019 album, might not have had the first five Commissioned albums. Walter Hawkins’ \u2018Love Alive III\u2019 didn’t come out until 1984, so we might not have had that either.\u201d<\/p>\n

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From left, Andra\u00e9 Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Robert Shanklin and Michael Jackson. Image courtesy of Bil Carpenter, Capital Entertainment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sandra Elaine Crouch will be memorialized on April 16-17. Services will include a musical tribute on April 16 featuring El DeBarge, Donnie McClurkin, David & Nicole Binion, and Erica & Tina Campbell (Mary Mary). On April 17, Pastor Marvin Winans will attend the homegoing service where Crouch will be eulogized by her spiritual son and Assistant Church Pastor, Kenneth J. Cook.<\/p>\n

Pastor Winans, a musical pioneer himself with his group The Winans, said that Andra\u00e9 and Sandra both \u201cmade an undeniable impact\u2026. Their consistency in preaching Jesus and exhorting listeners, it was very clear which they side were on. There will be a void for sure. They made a difference.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sandra Crouch, who passed away at age 81 on March 17, was widely known as the twin sister of gospel legend Andra\u00e9 Crouch. But the artist, whose talents included songwriting, percussion, producing, directing choirs, and arranging vocals, also carved her own path and left her own indelible mark on gospel and the entire music industry.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":683,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[119],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-news"],"yoast_head":"\nTribute: Sandra Crouch, a Powerful Force in Gospel Music and Beyond<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sandra Crouch, who passed away at age 81 on March 17, was widely known as the twin sister of gospel legend Andra\u00e9 Crouch.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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