According to one legend in the genre modern gospel is losing its impact because many of today’s artists are showing greater concern about their record sales.
Music icon, Kirk Franklin, believes that since the death of Andrae Crouch there hasn’t been another gospel artist who has transcended race and cultural barriers the way he did.
Franklin, who owns gospel label Fo Yo Soul and Sirius XM radio station is one the world’s most successful gospel artists state that gospel artists were not having the same impact as Crouch, because they’ve taken their eyes off the goal: “His pen became the sword that erased racial and cultural barrier,” he said. “No matter your colour or denomination, the soundtrack of your church life was Andrae Crouch.
Today's worship leaders, though, are too busy trying to get the record deal, the applause, a higher church salary, and that crossover song?
Our music doesn't affect people the way it used to. It doesn't create movements like it did during Andrae's time.”
Seven-time Grammy winner, Crouch, revolutionised gospel music in the 1970s, giving it a power and verve that propelled him out of the church and into the mainstream, although he really never left the church either.
He died in January, aged 72.
