Sherman Andrus

Sherman Andrus, Sr.
Born	(1942-06-23) June 23, 1942
Genres	Gospel contemporary Christian
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1964–present
Website	shermanandrus.com

Sherman Andrus (born June 23, 1942) is an American gospel singer, who is probably best known as the man who broke the "color barrier" by becoming the first African-American lead singer of a mainstream Christian music group (The Imperials). He has been involved with 40 gospel albums to date.

Biography

Andrus sang with his mother's gospel group in his hometown of Mermentau, Louisiana. Next he was in a band called COGICs named after the denomination of the church which the band's founder, Andraé Crouch, attended (Church of God in Christ).

Andrus continued his association with Crouch as Crouch formed the popular contemporary Christian music act Andraé Crouch and the Disciples in 1964. The group gained notoriety in the gospel music field for merging funkier rhythms with the gospel message in addition to a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom including an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He toured with the group through 1970. Andrus joined The Imperials in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. Andrus sang as baritone and co-lead singer along with Terry Blackwood. He appears on their albums Imperials (1972), Imperials LIVE (1973), Follow the Man with the Music (1974), Grammy winning No Shortage (1975), and Just Because (1976). He then joined with Blackwood to form a contemporary duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company. They released six albums from 1977 to 1984. Andrus began a solo career in 1986 which continues today. In 1997, he joined Elvis: The Concert, sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. Andrus and other original musicians and backing singers appeared alongside live video recordings of Presley to recreate a 1970s-era Presley concert appearance.

On April 2, 1998, Sherman Andrus was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame twice, as a member of The Imperials and as a founding member of Andraé Crouch and the Disciples. He studied music at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, then he and his wife, Winnie, lived in the greater Oklahoma City area with his wife Winnie, and since has moved to northwestern Washington.

In April 2002, Sherman Andrus and his longtime friend, Lonny Bingle, formed Andrus and Bingle. Together they have written every song on their first two releases including "A Servant's Heart," in 2013. In September 2016, Andrus and Bingle recorded a live album to benefit the Youth and Police Initiative in Spokane, Washington. They toured and wrote music for their fourth album entitled "Seize the Moment" which was to be released in 2017. Sherman and Winnie Andrus' son Sherman Jr. died on August 28, 2013, at 44 years old. Survivors include their daughter-in-law Mary, and grandchildren Patrick, Sherman, and Samantha.

Selected discography

Sources:

• 1973: I've Got Confidence (Impact Records)
• 1976: Soon Coming (Shalom Records)
• 1978: How The Years Pass By (Shalom)
• 1982: Revisited (Christian World)
• 1988: Caution To the Wind (Amethyst Records)
• 1993: Seize The Moment (Exodus Records)
• 1994: Live: Hit Me Band (Exodus)
• 2003: Merry Christmas From Sherman Andrus
• 2002: Think Upon These Things – Andrus and Bingle
• 2013: A Servant's Heart – Andrus and Bingle
• 2017: LIVE – Andrus and Bingle

Video

• 1987: Toymaker's Dream (soundtrack)
• 1999: He Touched Me – The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley
• 2002: New Orleans Homecoming; solo on "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
• 2002: Let Freedom Ring "A Few Good Men"
• 2006: Elvis Lives: The 25th Anniversary Concert (recorded 2002)