Soon and Very Soon: The Transformative Music and Ministry of Andra? Crouch

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 Andra? 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.

Author: Robert F. Darden, Stephen M. Newby
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 03/31/2025
Pages: 440
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.82lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.48w x 1.31d
ISBN: 9780197748121


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/01/2025 pg. 100

About the Author
Robert F. Darden is Emeritus Professor of Journalism at Baylor University and the founder of the Black Gospel Music Preservation Project. He is the author of more than two dozen books and former Gospel Music Editor for Billboard magazine.

Stephen M. Newby holds the Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship as Professor of Music and serves as Ambassador for Black Gospel Music Preservation at Baylor University.