Celebration of Life Services Today and Tomorrow for Grammy Winner Sandra Crouch

The previously announced Celebration of Life services for Grammy® Award winning gospel singer and pastor, SANDRA CROUCH, take place today and tomorrow (April 16-17th)  at Faithful Central Bible Church, 400 West Florence Avenue, Inglewood,  CA 9030.

Singers such as El DeBarge (who led Andraé Crouch's 1994 Top Ten hit, "Lord is My Light"), Donnie McClurkin, David & Nicole Binion, and Erica & Tina Campbell (Mary Mary) are among the confirmed artists and friends who will perform at the musical tribute on Tuesday, April 16^th @ 7 PM. On Wednesday, April 17^th, Pastor Marvin Winans(of the Grammy® winning Winans group), and Bebe Winans are scheduled to attend the homegoing service where Crouch will be eulogized by her spiritual son and Assistant Church Pastor, Kenneth J. Cook.

Sandra Crouch died of complications from radiation for a non-cancerous brain lesion on Sunday, March 17, 2024 @ 1 PST at Northridge Hospital. She and her twin brother, Andraé Crouch , were born on July 1, 1942, in Los Angeles, CA. Their parents, Benjamin and Catherine Crouch founded  Christ Memorial Church C.O.G.I.C. in the San Fernando Valley. The twins formed The COGICS gospel group as teenagers and later formed Andraé Crouch and the Disciples in 1966.

Sandra split her time between the group and as a session percussionist in Hollywood on recordings by a variety of acts such as The Jackson 5, Neil Diamond, Janis Joplin, Gabor Szabo, Mongo Santamaria, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, among others.

In the 1970s, Andraé Crouch and the Disciples were the biggest gospel act in the world with radio hits such as "Take Me Back," "Soon and Very Soon," "Through It All," and "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)." Sandra and Andraé co-wrote, "Jesus is the Answer," a crossover hit on white and black gospel radio stations. It's been covered by over 75 artists  including Paul Simon, and Michael W. Smith. They toured internationally and performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, and at The White House.

In the 1980s,  Crouch composed, and produced  a trio of  best-selling solo LPs that included congregational and gospel radio hits such as "Completely Yes," "He's Worthy,"  "There is Power in the Blood,"  and "We Need to Hear From You." Every album earned a Grammy® Award nomination. In 1984, We Sing Praises earned three and she won in the category of Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female. She also coordinated choirs for various Grammy® Award telecasts such as Michael Jackson's 1988 performance of "Man in the Mirror."   

Over the years, Andraé Crouch began to work on film soundtracks and always included Sandra.

Quincy Jones tapped them to work on The Color Purple. They wrote "Heaven Belongs to You" for it and they sang "Maybe God Is Trying to Tell You Something" on the soundtrack. That led to other scores for the films The Lion King and Free Willy. In addition, the twins assembled choirs that backed artists such as Madonna on "Like A Prayer,"  Diana Ross on "Force Behind the Power," and Michael Jackson on "You Are Not Alone."

After the death of their older brother Pastor Benjamin Crouch in 1998, Andraé and Sandra Crouch co-pastored  New Christ Memorial Church. After Andraé  passed on January 8, 2015, Sandra became Senior Pastor and had been active up until recently.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024

4 PM               Viewing

7 PM               Musical Tribute

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024

11 AM             Celebration of Life /Homegoing Service

In lieu of flowers, please make tax deductible donations to Christ Memorial Church at www.newchristmemorial.org

 

 

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