Died On This Date (January 8, 2015) Andrae Crouch / The Father of Modern Gospel Music
themusicsover Andrae Crouch
July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015
Andrae Crouch was a Gospel music pioneer in that he almost single-handedly crossed it over to the mainstream over the course of his career. Crouch took to music at an early age, and had already written his first Gospel song by the time he was 14. In 1960, he formed his first group, the Church of God in Christ Singers, that also counted Billy Preston as a member. That lead to the Disciples which lasted until 1979, when Crouch went on to his successful solo career. His best known songs are “My Tribute (To God Be the Glory),” “Soon and Very Soon,” and “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power.” Over the years, Crouch collaborated with the likes of Elton John, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Madonna (to name just a few). He also contributed original music to several films and television shows, most notably, The Lion King and The Color Purple, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination. Throughout a career that spanned nearly 50 years, he won seven Grammys, four Dove Awards, and numerous other accolades. Andrae Crouch was 72 when he died on January 8, 2015 while in the hospital after suffering a heart attack five days earlier.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus at Bob Dylan Examiner for the tip.
What You Should Own
Mark Fisher was an esteemed British architect whose contribution to popular music came by way of tour stages he designed some of the biggest tours in history. His highlights include the Rolling Stones‘ 1989 Steel Wheels 1994 Voodoo Lounge stages, U2‘s 2009 360 stage, and Pink Floyd‘s 1980 The Wall stage. He also developed stages for tours by Madonna, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Williams and Lady Gaga to name a few. Mark Fisher died in his sleep while in hospice care on June 25, 2013. He was 66.
Donna Summer was a world-renowned American R&B singer who hit her stride during the disco era. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Summer, with her mezzo-soprano vocal range, needed very little studio trickery for her vocals. Coming of age in Boston during the early ’60s, Summer spent countless hours listening to records by and imitating the likes of the Supremes and Martha & the Vandellas. By then she had already been singing in church gospel groups. As the ’60s rolled on, Summer discovered the powerhouse vocals of 
Rich Fitzgerald was a greatly respected music industry professional who took his tireless passion for music and made a successful career out of it. Raised in Seattle, Washington, it was the young Fitzgerald who was likely turning his classmates on to the newest records. He went as far, it has been said, as creating his own pop charts and distributing them to his friends. Fitzgerald began his career working for Capitol Records there in Seattle, and by the mid 1970s, he was employed by one of the hottest new labels at the time, RSO Records, where he played a role in the success of such artists as the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb, and Eric Clapton with whom he would build a lifelong business and personal relationship. He was also directly involved with the pop culture phenomenons known as Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Fame while at RSO. He went on to work for Network, Geffen, Reprise, and Warner Bros. Fitzgerald eventually rose to the position of Vice President of Promotions while at Warner Bros. where he helped such future stars as Madonna, Prince, Green Day, and the Pretenders get their first records played on radio. During his final years, Fitzgerald was working directly with Clapton. Rich Fitzgerald was 64 when he died of esophageal cancer on August 15, 2011.
DJ AM first came to prominence in the late ’90s rock band, Crazy Town, whose “Butterfly” was a radio hit in 2001. A popular DJ with celebrities, he’s been known to play parties for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna and Will Smith. In recent years DJ AM was collaborating with Travis Barker of Blink 182. The two survived a horrific private plane crash on September 19, 2008 while four others were killed. In 2005, DJ AM was engaged to Nicole Richie but the engagement was later called off. Adam Goldstein was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28, 2009. The coroner’s report later made public that Goldstein died of acute intoxication, or accidental overdose of various drugs including cocaine, Xanax and OxyContin.