Sherman Andrus
Encyclopedia
Sherman Andrus is an American Gospel singer, who is probably best known as the man who broke the "color barrier" by becoming the first African-American lead singer of a mainstream Christian music group (The Imperials
). He has been a very prolific artist who has been involved in one way or another with thirty gospel albums to date.
. His next step came with a band called COGICs named after the denomination of the church that the band's founder, Andrae Crouch
, attended (Church of God in Christ
). Andrus continued his association with Crouch as he formed the popular contemporary Christian music
act Andrae Crouch
and the Disciples in 1964. That group would not only gain notoriety within the gospel music field for merging funkier rhythms with the well-worn Gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with appearance on late night television's Johnny Carson Show. Andrus would tour with the group through 1970.
Andrus joined The Imperials
in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. He recorded as co-lead singer along with Terry Blackwood for their albums Imperials (1972),Imperials LIVE (1973),Follow the Man with the Music (1974),Grammy winning No Shortage (1975), and Just Because (1976) before joining Blackwood in a new duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company
. That pairing would release 6 albums from 1977-1984.
Andrus began a solo career in 1986 which continues today. In 1997 he joined the tour "Elvis: The Concert", sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis's death. Andrus and other original musicians and backing singers appeared alongside a live recording of Presley to attempt to mimic a 1970s era live Presley appearance.
On April 2, 1998, Sherman Andrus was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, both as a member of The Imperials as well as a founding member of Andrae Crouch And The Disciples. Sherman studied music at Southern University, now resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
with his wife Winnie. Their son, Sherman Jr., his wife Mary, their son Patrick Sherman, and daughter Samantha live in Portland, Oregon
.
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
). He has been a very prolific artist who has been involved in one way or another with thirty gospel albums to date.
Biography
Andrus began in gospel music by singing with his mother's gospel group in his boyhood hometown of Mermentau, LouisianaMermentau, Louisiana
Mermentau is a village in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 721 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Crowley Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. His next step came with a band called COGICs named after the denomination of the church that the band's founder, Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
, attended (Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
). Andrus continued his association with Crouch as he formed the popular contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
act Andrae Crouch
Andrae Crouch
Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
and the Disciples in 1964. That group would not only gain notoriety within the gospel music field for merging funkier rhythms with the well-worn Gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with appearance on late night television's Johnny Carson Show. Andrus would tour with the group through 1970.
Andrus joined The Imperials
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. He recorded as co-lead singer along with Terry Blackwood for their albums Imperials (1972),Imperials LIVE (1973),Follow the Man with the Music (1974),Grammy winning No Shortage (1975), and Just Because (1976) before joining Blackwood in a new duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company
Andrus, Blackwood and Company
Andrus, Blackwood, and Company were one of the first racially integrated groups in Contemporary Christian Music releasing 6 albums between 1977 and 1984. The group was composed of two former members of The Imperials, Sherman Andrus and Terry Blackwood as co-lead vocalists...
. That pairing would release 6 albums from 1977-1984.
Andrus began a solo career in 1986 which continues today. In 1997 he joined the tour "Elvis: The Concert", sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis's death. Andrus and other original musicians and backing singers appeared alongside a live recording of Presley to attempt to mimic a 1970s era live Presley appearance.
On April 2, 1998, Sherman Andrus was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, both as a member of The Imperials as well as a founding member of Andrae Crouch And The Disciples. Sherman studied music at Southern University, now resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
with his wife Winnie. Their son, Sherman Jr., his wife Mary, their son Patrick Sherman, and daughter Samantha live in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Partial discography
Sources:- 1973 I've Got Confidence (Impact)
- 1976 Soon Coming (Shalom)
- 1978 How The Years Pass By (Shalom)
- 1982 Revisited (Christian World)
- 1988 Caution To the Wind (Amethyst)
- 1993 Seize The Moment (Exodus Records)
- 1994 Live: Hit Me Band (Exodus Records)
- 2004 Think Upon These Things - Andrus and Bingle
- Year? Merry Christmas From Sherman Andrus
- Year? Living In Paradise
Video
- 1987 Toymaker's Dream (soundtrack)
- 1999 He Touched Me - The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley
- 2002 New Orleans Homecoming
- 2002 Let Freedom Ring
- 2006 Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert (recorded 2002)