'Father of Modern Gospel' Andrae Crouch dies at 72

Andrae Crouch, a legendary gospel singer, composer, and producer who worked with some of the biggest names in music over the course of his career, died Thursday. He was 72.

Crouch and his sister, Sandra Crouch, were pastors at New Christ Memorial Church in the Los Angeles area. Crouch wrote his first gospel song at the age of 14, The Associated Press reports, and his songs were eventually recorded by Elvis Presley and Paul Simon. Crouch worked with Michael Jackson on "Man in the Mirror," "Will You Be There," and "Earth Song," and led the choir on Madonna's "Like a Prayer."

Crouch was a seven-time Grammy winner and his composition work for The Color Purple was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1998, Crouch was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and he is one of the few gospel performers to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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