| Sherman Andrus, Sr. | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Date: | June 23, 1942 |
| Instrument: | Voice |
| Genre: | Gospel, contemporary Christian |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Years Active: | 1964–present |
| Associated Acts: | Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, The Imperials, Andrus, Blackwood and Company |
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 a very prolific artist who has been involved in one way or another with forty gospel albums to date.[1]
Andrus began in gospel music by singing with his mother's gospel group in his boyhood hometown of Mermentau, Louisiana.[2] His next step came with a band called COGICs named after the denomination of the church that the band's founder, Andraé Crouch, attended (Church of God in Christ).
Andrus continued his association with Crouch as he formed the popular contemporary Christian music act Andraé Crouch and the Disciples in 1964. That group would not only gain notoriety within the gospel music field for merging funkier rhythms with the gospel message but a measure of fame outside of gospel fandom with an appearance on late night television's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Andrus would tour with the group through 1970.[3]
Andrus joined The Imperials in February 1972, replacing the departing Greg Gordon. He 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 join with Blackwood to form a contemporary duo Andrus, Blackwood and Company. That pairing would release six albums from 1977 to 1984.
Andrus began a solo career in 1986 which continues today. In 1997 he joined, sponsored by Elvis Presley Enterprises, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Elvis's death. Andrus and other original musicians and backing singers appeared alongside live video recordings of Presley to successfully recreate a 1970s-era Presley concert appearance.[4]
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.[5] Sherman studied music at Southern University, now resides in the greater Oklahoma City area with his wife Winnie.[6]
In April 2002, Sherman joined with longtime friend, Lonny Bingle, to form Andrus and Bingle. Together they have written every song on their first two releases, with the most current, "A Servant's Heart," in 2013.
In September 2016 Andrus and Bingle will be doing a live album benefitting the Youth and Police Initiative in Spokane, Washington. They are currently touring and writing music for their fourth album entitled "Seize the Moment" scheduled for release in 2017.
Very sadly, their son Sherman Jr. died on August 28, 2013,[7] just 44 years old. Survivors included their daughter-in-law Mary, and grandchildren Patrick, Sherman and Samantha.