Sherman Andrus

Gospel singer Sherman Andrus is probably best known as the man who broke the "color barrier" in Southern gospel music by becoming the first African-American lead singer of a Southern Gospel quartet while lead singer for The Imperials from 1972–1976. He has been a very prolific artist who has been involved in one way or another with thirty gospel albums to date.http://www.shermanandrus.com/Biography2.html, paragraph 1. Accessed 17th June 2008.]

Andrus began in gospel music by singing with his mother's gospel group in his boyhood hometown of Mermentau, Louisiana.http://www.shermanandrus.com/Biography2.html, paragraph 4. Accessed 17th June 2008.] His next step came with a band called COGICs named after the denomination of the church that the band's founder, Andrae Crouch, attended. (The Church of God In Christ). [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"] 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 well-worn Gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with appearance on late night television's "Johnny Carson Show". Andrus would tour with the group through 1970. [http://www.shermanandrus.com/Biography2.html, paragraph 2. Accessed 17th June 2008.]

Andrus joined the Imperials in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. He recorded as co-lead singer along with Terry Blackwood for their albums "Imperials" (1972),"Imperials LIVE" (1973),"Follow the Man with the Music" (1974),Grammy winning "No Shortage" (1975) and 1976's "Just Because" before joining Blackwood in a new duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company. That pairing would release 6 albums from 1977-1984.

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. [http://www.shermanandrus.com/Biography2.html, paragraph 3. Accessed 17th June 2008.]

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.

Partial discography

Sources: [ [http://www.shermanandrus.com/Store.html Store ] ] [Powell, Mark Allan. (2002) Hendrickson Publishers, Inc: Peabody, MA, 1st ed. ISBN: 1-56563-679-1. P. 39 "Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music"]
* 1974 "I've Got Confidence" (Impact)
* 1976 "Soon Coming" (Shalom/Exodus Records)
* 1978 "How the Years Go By"
* 1982 "Revisited" (Christian World)
* Year? "Caution to the Wind" (Amethyst)
* Year? "Seize the Moment"
* Year? "Hit Me Band Live"
* Year? "Think Upon These Things"
* Year? "Merry Christmas from Sherman Andrus"
* Year? "Living in Paradise"

References