2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the musical ministry of Andrae Crouch, a major milestone in a career that has redefined the impact of gospel music for all time. Over the course of those four history-making decades, Andrae has done more than any other artist in living memory to bring the power, majesty and pure elation of great gospel to hungry hearts around the world.
Supremely talented, intensely dedicated and enormously influential, he has faithfully offered the timeless message of God's love to nations and generations with a freshness, originality and authenticity that have earned him a unique and enduring place in the annals of inspirational music.
His accomplishments are immeasurably enhanced with the release of his long-waited new Verity Records debut album, Mighty Wind. Two years in the making and featuring 14 stunning selections, including both new songs and inspired renditions of beloved classics, Mighty Wind is, simply put, an exuberant celebration of a man and his music, both which have enriched the lives and stirred the spirits of millions.
But Mighty Wind is more than just a celebration of a lifetime's journey. It also points the way to a new musical chapter in Andrae's ever unfolding artistry. Unlike his previous solo projects, Mighty Wind was, from its inception, created to be purely inspirational. “Styles and tastes change,” Andrae says, of the guiding spirit behind his first studio album of newly recorded music since 1997's acclaimed Pray. “Yet the message of the gospel never changes. I try to bring that truth into a contemporary setting, through melody and rhythm and lyrics that will draw people in. But I guess you could say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And God's truth is always the same: yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
It's a truth that finds uplifting expression on a collection that clearly stands as a new high water mark for an artist who has consistently gone from strength to strength over the course of more than thirty albums. Awe-inspiring and infused with deep devotional power, Mighty Wind was produced by Andrae, along with accomplished collaborator Luther “Mano” Hanes and features an A-list assembly of supporting musicians and vocalists, including such notable special guests as Pastor Marvin Winans, Fred Hammond, Tata Vega, Crystal Lewis, and Karen Clark-Sheard.
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