In 1982 and ’83, Light Records was about to go bankrupt. Despite having artists like Andrae Crouch and Walter Hawkins, Ralph Carmichael’s legendary label couldn’t pay its bills. In his autobiography, Carmichael writes that at a crucial moment Andrae’s twin sister Sandra Crouch walked in his office and delivered an album she had paid for herself – We Sing Praises, recorded live at their father Bishop Benjamin Crouch’s church, Christ Memorial Church of God in Christ.
We Sing Praises was a major hit – and Carmichael always credited Sandra for saving the label. One of the featured songs on the LP is “He’s Worthy,” a dramatic praise and worship song with many of the singers best-known for their work with brother Andrae – Linda and Howard McCrary, Jean Johnson, Rose Banks and others. It doesn’t sound like anything else upon its release in 1983 and remains a landmark in gospel music today.
MUSIC: Sandra Crouch, We Sing Praises LP, “He’s Worthy,” Track, 1, Side 1
I’m Robert Darden … “Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments” is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.