Andraé Crouch

Equally gifted as a singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, Andrae Crouch was one of the most successful gospel artists of the 1970s, much to the consternation of genre purists at the time, who resented his appropriation of rock riffs and showmanship. In the long run, however, Crouch's inclusive approach has proven to be perhaps the single most influential force in contemporary gospel music, and nearly every gospel artist from the '80s on has owed him a substantial debt.