Sherman Andrus (born June 23, 1942) 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 forty gospel albums to date.[1]
Andrus began in gospel music by singing with his mother's gospel group [1] in his boyhood hometown of Mermentau, Louisiana.[2] 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).[3] 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 gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with an appearance on late night television's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Andrus would tour with the group through 1970.[4]
Andrus joined The Imperials in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. He sang as baritone and co-lead singer along with Terry Blackwood. He appears on their albums Imperials (1972), Imperials LIVE (1973), Follow the Man with the Music (1974), Grammy winning No Shortage (1975), and Just Because (1976). He then join with Blackwood to form a contemporary duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company. That pairing would release six albums from 1977 to 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.[5]
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.[2] Sherman studied music at Southern University, now resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with his wife Winnie.[citation needed] Their son, Sherman Jr., died on August 28, 2013,[6] and was survived by his wife, Mary; their son, Patrick Sherman; and daughter, Samantha.
In April 2002 Sherman joined with longtime friend, Lonny Bingle, to form Andrus and Bingle. Together they have written all of the songs on both of their releases with the most current, "A Servant's Heart," in 2013. In September 2016 they will be doing a "Live" album benefitting the Youth and Police Initiative in Spokane, Washington. They are currently touring and writing music for their fourth album entitled "Seize the Moment" scheduled for release in 2017.
^Brothers, Jeffrey (1999) CCM Creative Ventures, Nashville : CCM Books, 1st ed. ISBN not listed in CIP data. P. 18 "Hot Hits: 20 Years of Charts, Artist Bios and more"
^Powell, Mark Allan. (2002) Hendrickson Publishers, Inc: Peabody, MA, 1st ed. ISBN1-56563-679-1. P. 39 "Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music"
January 01, 1970
sherman, andrus, born, june, 1942, american, gospel, singer, probably, best, known, broke, color, barrier, becoming, first, african, american, lead, singer, mainstream, christian, music, group, imperials, been, very, prolific, artist, been, involved, another, . Sherman Andrus born June 23 1942 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 forty gospel albums to date 1 Sherman Andrus Sr Born 1942 06 23 June 23 1942 age 81 GenresGospel contemporary ChristianOccupation s SingerInstrument s VoiceYears active1964 presentWebsitewww wbr shermanandrus wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Partial discography 3 Video 4 ReferencesBiography editAndrus began in gospel music by singing with his mother s gospel group 1 in his boyhood hometown of Mermentau Louisiana 2 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 3 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 gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with an appearance on late night television s The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Andrus would tour with the group through 1970 4 Andrus joined The Imperials in February 1972 replacing the departing Greg Gordon He sang as baritone and co lead singer along with Terry Blackwood He appears on their albums Imperials 1972 Imperials LIVE 1973 Follow the Man with the Music 1974 Grammy winning No Shortage 1975 and Just Because 1976 He then join with Blackwood to form a contemporary duo Andrus Blackwood and Company That pairing would release six albums from 1977 to 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 5 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 2 Sherman studied music at Southern University now resides in Oklahoma City Oklahoma with his wife Winnie citation needed Their son Sherman Jr died on August 28 2013 6 and was survived by his wife Mary their son Patrick Sherman and daughter Samantha In April 2002 Sherman joined with longtime friend Lonny Bingle to form Andrus and Bingle Together they have written all of the songs on both of their releases with the most current A Servant s Heart in 2013 In September 2016 they will be doing a Live album benefitting the Youth and Police Initiative in Spokane Washington They are currently touring and writing music for their fourth album entitled Seize the Moment scheduled for release in 2017 Partial discography editSources 7 8 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 2003 Merry Christmas From Sherman Andrus 2002 Think Upon These Things Andrus and Bingle 2013 A Servant s Heart Andrus and Bingle 2017 LIVE Andrus and BingleVideo edit1987 Toymaker s Dream soundtrack 1999 He Touched Me The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley 2002 New Orleans Homecoming solo on Precious Lord Take My Hand 2002 Let Freedom Ring A Few Good Men 2006 Elvis Lives The 25th Anniversary Concert recorded 2002 References edit a b http www shermanandrus com Biography2 html paragraph 1 Retrieved June 17 2008 a b http www shermanandrus com Biography2 html paragraph 4 Retrieved June 17 2008 Brothers Jeffrey 1999 CCM Creative Ventures Nashville CCM Books 1st ed ISBN not listed in CIP data P 18 Hot Hits 20 Years of Charts Artist Bios and more http www shermanandrus com Biography2 html paragraph 2 Retrieved June 17 2008 http www shermanandrus com Biography2 html paragraph 3 Retrieved June 17 2008 Sherman Andrus Jr Obituary 2013 the Oregonian 1 permanent dead link Powell Mark Allan 2002 Hendrickson Publishers Inc Peabody MA 1st ed ISBN 1 56563 679 1 P 39 Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sherman Andrus amp oldid 1168948501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
