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Title details for Soon and Very Soon by Robert F. Darden - Available

Soon and Very Soon

The Transformative Music and Ministry of Andraé Crouch

by Robert F. Darden
Stephen M. Newby
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The first biography of arguably the most influential gospel artist of the 20th century, brought to life through interviews with his collaborators, friends, and family Gospel singer and seven-time Grammy winner Andraé Crouch (1942-2015) hardly needs introduction. His compositions-"The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "Through It All," "Jesus is the Answer," "Soon and Very Soon," and others-set the gold standard for gospel music and remain staples in modern hymnals today. He is often spoken of in the same "genius" pantheon as Mahalia Jackson, Thomas Dorsey, and the Rev. James Cleveland and was lauded as "the foremost gospel singer of his generation" by former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama upon his death in 2015. In Soon and Very Soon, authors Robert Darden and Stephen Newby celebrate the countless ways that Crouch indelibly changed the course of gospel and popular music. Not least among them was Crouch's progressive pursuit to address the sociopolitical issues of his time, including AIDS, prejudice, abuse, housing insecurity, and addiction. With his twin sister Sandra, Crouch served as minister of the church their father founded and ministered to individuals experiencing these issues despite ongoing criticism from some church members. Crouch's group "The Disciples" were the first bi-racial musical ensemble in gospel music and performed in a range of venues from mega-churches to Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall, in addition to network television programs ranging from Soul Train to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to Saturday Night Live. In doing so, Crouch and his Disciples introduced jazz, funk, classical, calypso, Latin and other musical elements into gospel. By the peak of his career, Crouch's influence was so pervasive that he recorded, performed with, and composed for some of the most powerful names in popular music, including Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Little Richard, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna. To illuminate the vivid world in which Crouch lived, Darden and Newby include interviews with surviving musicians, collaborators, friends, and family members, complete with musical analysis of Crouch's compositions and lyrics. As a major intervention in gospel and popular music studies, Soon and Very Soon tells the fascinating and dynamic story of one of the true giants in American popular music.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 3, 2025

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780197748145

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780197748145
      • File size: 48571 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      March 1, 2025

      As key figures in Baylor University's Black Gospel Music Preservation Project, Darden (Nothing but Love in God's Water) and Newby are among the most appropriate authors to address the life and music of Andra� Crouch (1942-2015), a quintessential purveyor of gospel music from the late 1950s to the 21st century. They trace his development from early experiences in California's vibrant Church of God in Christ religious and musical communities, through touring and concerts with ensembles, including appearances on The Tonight Show and at Carnegie Hall, to his creative explorations melding gospel, soul, and R&B styles. Crouch attempted to reach as broad an audience as possible with a spiritual message while collaborating with superstars such as Michael Jackson and Madonna on diverse projects. Every song on each of his numerous albums (including specifics about lyrics, musical aspects, and production) is carefully discussed. Interviews with Crouch's colleagues provide valuable context. Extensive chapter notes and select photographs are included. VERDICT Little has been available heretofore about Crouch other than his 1974 autobiography Through It All, so Darden and Newby are to be commended for this title, likely to become the definitive exploration of this influential artist.--Barry Zaslow

      Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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