Andraé Crouch, Gospel Great, Dead at 72

Acclaimed gospel artist Andraé Crouch has died. He was 72. 

The seven-time Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and pastor was taken to the Northridge Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles this past Saturday after suffering a heart attack, according to USA Today. 

Along with writing and singing such popular gospel songs as "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power," "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and "Soon and Very Soon," Crouch also directed the choirs that sang on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer." He was often praised for bridging the gap between popular music and gospel, bringing a contemporary pop and R&B sensibility to his music.

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He also served as a pastor alongside his sister at the New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando, Calif.

"On Saturday, January 3rd, my brother, Andraé Crouch, was taken to the hospital so that medical staff could more directly address some serious health complications that had arisen," his sister Sandra Crouch said in a statement Monday morning. "At this time, Andraé is being attended to by a medical team, and we are so grateful for their wonderful care. We are also so grateful for the many thousands of people around the world who are praying for Andraé right now. We ask for your continued prayer -- that Andraé will respond positively to the medical attention being given to him at this time, and that he will fully recover from this current health complication."

Crouch had been hospitalized in December with pneumonia and congestive heart failure, forcing him to postpone his Let the Church Say Amen Celebration Tour that had been scheduled to start Dec. 6 in Philadelphia.