ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997                TAG: 9701030017
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES
SOURCE: ANNIE SHOOMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAMILY TRADITION - GRAMMY-WINNING GOSPEL SINGER ADAPTS TO LIFE AS PASTOR

Every time he brought home a Grammy, it was another award for the Lord. But he was not winning any souls.

Andrae Crouch turned to preaching because it was time. But still today, when he's in the pulpit, his feet tap and his body sways to the music.

As pastor of Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, the eight-time Grammy winner is one year into a family tradition started by his late father and brother.

``Although I've written a thousand songs about him, I feel like I have met God in a way that I've never known him before,'' he said. ``God gave me excellence in music. My ears became skilled from what I heard. Now I can pass on what I've heard to my congregation.''

His Pentecostal church in Pacoima, a northwest Los Angeles suburb that is predominantly Hispanic, is a spiritual oasis from crime and gangs. Crouch wants Hispanics to become a part of the mostly black congregation.

``Black, Hispanic, white, Asian, it doesn't matter,'' he said. ``All that matters is that they must care about Jesus Christ.''

Crouch's father, Bishop Benjamin J. Crouch, founded the church in 1951. He died of cancer in 1993.

``We lost a lot of the older people when my father left here,'' Crouch said. ``They were expecting me to be him and I'm not.''

Crouch's brother, Pastor Benjamin Crouch Jr., took over, but died only four months later, also of cancer.

For Crouch, the transition from gospel singing to gospel preaching was not an easy one, but he says he just does what comes naturally.

``People never know what to expect in my music,'' he said. ``People don't know what to expect in my church. They just know it will be real. We're carrying on the standard of living for God.''

Crouch, who has been winning Grammy awards since 1974, has toured 58 countries. His music has been translated into 21 languages. His latest Grammy was in 1995 for his pop-contemporary gospel album, ``Mercy.''

He is also a renowned producer, writer and vocal arranger for stars like Michael Jackson.

With his success in the music industry, it is understandable why preaching came so slowly, he said.

He started singing professionally at the age of 14. He says he is about 47, but will not be more specific - out of respect, he says, for his twin sister, Sandra.

The average age of his congregation is about 35. He claims many don't know his music, but they disagree.

Gidgette Myle-Burris, 30, occupied a pew on a recent Sunday, holding her 2-month-old in one arm and a tambourine in the other. Her three other children were on stage in the church's choir.

``He's a blessed man. He's dedicated, compassionate with extraordinary ability,'' she said. ``I knew his music as a child. I won his album at church when I was 6. We wore that album out.''

When Crouch returned from two weeks in Norway in August, the church bulletin board welcomed him home by saying: ``We missed you dearly from the bottom of our hearts, to the depths of our soul. We love you!''

While in Norway, Crouch performed and taught music workshops for church choirs from around the world.

``I taught refreshing things for choir directors that felt stale with what they were doing,'' he said. ``As long as the music has the word of God in it, it's contagious.''

Sounds of laughter and screams of ``Jesus'' and ``Hallelujah'' fill Crouch's church.

``He brings a presence that I can't explain in words,'' said Willie L. Green, 13, of Burbank. ``He's awesome. He brings the spirit alive.''

Crouch's words are more like a musician than a preacher.

``I knew in time I was going to be a pastor,'' he said. ``It was very well-orchestrated by the Lord, but I didn't want to play at the time. It was an arrangement. Once I accepted the arrangement, I went right into it.''

LENGTH: Medium:   80 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Eight-time Grammy winner Andrae Crouch now occupies 
          the pulpit of Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ in Los 
          Angeles, following in a tradition begun by his late father and 
          brother. color.