Conversing

With a B3 organ, a prophetic imagination, and a heart broken wide open by grace, gospel music legend Andraé Crouch (1942–2015) left an indelible mark on modern Christian worship music. In this episode, Stephen Newby and Robert Darden offer a sweeping yet intimate exploration of his life, spiritual vision, and genre-defining genius. Together with Mark Labberton, they discuss their new biography, Soon and Very Soon: The Transformative Music and Ministry of Andraé Crouch. Through laughter, lament, and lyrical memory, Newby and Darden—both scholars at Baylor University and coauthors of the first serious biography of Crouch—share stories of discovering his music, the theological and cultural forces that shaped it, and why his legacy matters now more than ever. They offer insights into modern musical history, spiritual reflection, and cultural analysis, inviting us into the soul of a man who helped bring modern gospel into being. Episode Highlights “Musical genius is where observation, curiosity, imagination, and