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 Andrae Crouch, songwriter, arranger, pastor, recording artist, producer and living legend of Gospel, has been the inspiration for umpteen dozens of reknowned Gospel artists, including Donnie McClurkin and The Winans, to name only two.  Crouch's collaborations with everyone from Steven Spielberg to Michael Jackson, from Disney to Quincy Jones have made him a household name.His legendary artistry as the driving force behind Andrae Crouch & The Disciples, The Andrae Crouch Singers, and also simply a solo artist are well-known. His songs (including "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "Soon and Very Soon", "Jesus Is The Answer" and "My Tribute") are standards in any church hymnal, in any denomination. On June 5, 2004, 8-time Grammy winner Andrae Crouch was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Crouch joins only two other Gospel artists —Mahalia Jackson and Rev. James Cleveland on the Walk of Fame, and was awarded the 2,256th star on the famous sidewalk. Gospelflava.com spoke with Andrae Crouch about the honor and about his songwriting and new ventures. Gospelflava.com: Can you tell us your thoughts on being honored with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame: Andrae Crouch: It was a surprise, quite a surprise. Not many Gospel artists have gotten a star. Mahalia Jackson did years ago, and James Cleveland, and they’re the only ones. So I was privileged to be the next one on there. It was a gigantic perk from the Lord. Gospelflava.com: Of course, this honor is a wordly one, with the heavenly awards waiting us still in heaven. Andrae Crouch: You know what, my father used to always tell us to wear compliments and to wear what the press says about you, loosely. The Bible tells us not to think more highly about ourselves than what we really are. I still feel like I’m the same guy. And I'm  excited about the attention that this will provide us to talk more about the Lord. The Lord opens the door, provides us with another vehicle to share God, to share Jesus Christ. I’m about that, without trying to sound super-religious. I know where my talent comes from. I say to God, use me to the maximum, use me to the maximum. So I’ll give it everything I got.Gospelflava.com:God has obviously given you many opportunities to work with artists that few artists —let alone Gospel artists— get to associate with. Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Elton John.... Andrae Crouch: God says in his Word that if we are faithful over a few, that he will make us ruler over many. That's when God can trust you, when you know from where your help comes. It doesn't come from the hills, it comes from God. My help comes from the Lord. It is nothing that we can put our hands on, it’s a supernatural God thing when we can be trusted just to do what he has commanded us to do. Nobody’s perfect, but we do have a perfect foundation. If we do mess up, we don’t run away from the altar, we run TO the altar, saying "God I praise you for that, for this" and "God, I messed up." "If you make yourself available, and if you are striving, he won’t do anything else but bless you. And the blessings are sometimes not what we think. He will overwhelm with things you don’t even know about, with things that you’ve even forgotten were on your heart, and that you had asked Him about. You'll say, 'wow, God you didn’t forget about that!!' I’m overwhelmed that God just continually blesses. Since I’ve been pastor of the church [Christ Memorial Church in Los Angeles], I’ve had four forms of cancer, and God has healed me each time. I wouldn’t want to wake up in the morning without saying thank you for another day. Depression could have set in. Gospelflava.com: What would you classify as the most memorable moments in your career? Andrae Crouch: There was the time when I won my first Grammy —that was exciting, something that I didn’t really expect. Also, when I was asked to write songs for The Color Purple, that blew me away. I was calm about it, and agreed to do it, and then when no-one could see, I just turned around, telling God, “Yes!!” So I got from Him to go home, sit at the piano, and He gave me 13 songs. They liked them all, and used about 7 of them in the movie. But the major thing now is that I have finally got to a place where I have surrendered everything. I don’t want anything but Him. I’ve explored, but I have come to the conclusion that my life I live for Him and for Him only. I told him, Yes Lord, for everything. Gospelflava.com: Would you say that you have a particular secret in songwriting? Andrae Crouch: The secret is to be honest with the writing. I don’t just write a song because I think it’s lyrically hip. If it’s not in the Word, if I can’t verify it in the Word, if you’re writing to pay the bills, it will pass away. People will [only] be changed by the Word. Don’t give a pity party for the way you feel, but stick to what the Word says you will be.  My dad used to tell me not to use any trendy effects, to just stay close to the mic, and then your songs will have staying power. He also used to tell me to give the people at least two chances to hear the lyrics in a song. So that's what I try to to, to make the song repeat the words so you know them. The music is married to lyrics. The people gotta hear the lyrics, and understand what I’m saying. They may not understand the message at first, but they will hear the lyrics. And maybe the understanding comes later.Gospelflava.com: When you have a gift, such as you obviously have been given, do you find that you have to work at it, or does it just flow out of you? Andrae Crouch: Well, about 90% of my songs just flow out. On my new album coming out, about 70% of those songs were written in middle of sermon I was giving. I just start singing it. I’ll give the band the chords with lead-in notes, and we go from there. It's interesting, I had never actually seen [my songwriting] process until a lady from the church videotaped me, and then sent me the video. I had never seen myself write songs, I had never seen the process. But she said, "Pastor, you need to see this." I watched it, and it is like a spiritual beam or something just goes on, it was amazing. I laughed and I cried. When I write a song, it's almost like I hear it sung already, because I hear it. I'll say, no, that’s not the right chord, try again. I’m writing a chorus right now, and it says, “Didn’t I tell you I can do miracle, I can do the impossible, so why do you act so surprised when you see a miracle before your eyes." God wants us to be amazed, but not surprised, when he does what He says He will do. Faith is believeing that He is going to do what he says. Gospelflava.com: What can you tell us about this new album you have coming up? Andrae Crouch: It will be titled Mighty Wind, and includes some some wonderful guests, including Crystal Lewis, Marvin Winans Sr., Karen Clark-Sheard and Fred Hammond. It was recorded at our church, New Christ Memorial, as a live recording, and was recorded in such as way that every church can do the same. Then the Lord had me change it, so that we could add some studio-recorded songs as well. That's something that allows us to add some more character to the album. The album will be on my own label, Slave Records, and we're negotiating areas of distribution right now. Andrae Crouch shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. God is still pouring in, and He is still pouring out. Check out more photos from the ceremony honoring Andrae Crouch's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.    
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