On May 17th, gospel pioneer and legend Andraé Crouch will return to the music marketplace with his newest album, The Journey.

Before that, however, Associate Editor Troy Lilly takes a minute to speak with the man, himself.  They chat about Andraé’s new album, his new choir competition and how he feels about gospel hip-hop.  Plus, some random bits of trivia about him!

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Troy: Thank you so much for joining me. How are you?

Andraé: Good! Sitting down in warm California where there’s no snow, there’s no cold weather. (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs) Well it’s been very cold here…sometimes as low as 15 degrees! It’s the complete opposite here. But I know your time is valuable, so let’s get right into it.

Andraé: Ok.

Troy: First, you’ve got a new album project entitled The Journey, which is coming out on May 17th. Tell me more about it.

Andraé: Well, I think it’s really a great description of where I am right now as far as my head and my spirit. I almost wish it was a double album, because it’s not all I want to say and it’s not all I have to say.

Troy: Oh yeah?

Andraé: But like anything else, you know, you do things gradually so people can get what you’re trying to tell them.

Troy: Of course.

Andraé: I probably could write two or three more verses to each song because there is still so much I have to say on the topics I’ve written about this time.

But Mano Hanes, who’s a monster of a keyboard player and arranger, was my co-producer. There’s a very interesting story behind how he and I originally started working together.

Troy: Do tell!

Andraé: I had the opportunity of meeting him after I heard some work that he had done, and I didn’t know that he was trying to get to me. He didn’t I was trying to get to him!

We met and he called me “Dad” and he called my twin sister, Sandra, “Auntie” because he had been listening to me since he was a kid. We just hit it off, and he can play stuff just like me. But most importantly, he loves the Lord. That’s the main thing we share in common.

Troy: That’s awesome.

Andraé: It really was quite awesome, because he reminded me of songs that I written but never recorded. He’s wonderful to work with and he has patience. He’s always in the mode of learning. He understands what I’ve tried to say with my music.

Troy: When it comes to the style of music on The Journey, does the vintage, jazzy feel of the lead single “The Promise” carry through the entire album?

Andraé: Yes, most of the songs will be like that. And then some will be… very picturesque.

Troy: I like that.

Andraé: Then there are some like a song on there called “Let the Church Say Amen.”

You know how sometimes a pastor may be preaching to his congregation and they may not agree with something he has said? Well at the end of this song, it talks about how you can’t change the Word that God has delivered through leadership, but you’ve got to accept and ultimately agree with it. Thus, ‘let the church say amen.’

Troy: Wow.  That’s a good message.

Andraé: That’s the only way in churches that we can grow. If God has put something on a pastor’s heart, we’ve got to be on one accord.

Troy: As one of the original innovators of the modern contemporary gospel movement, what do you think of the hip-hop influence on gospel in the last 20 years?

Andraé: I personally have always believed when God gives me an idea, he wants me to spread it as much as possible. I believe that He deals with me in multiplication. I don’t just want them to buy it and bop and rock to it, but I like for it to get into their hearts and become a part of them.

“On Earth as it is in Heaven”… when God gives us something to write, we want it to be something that He said so that it will last.

Troy: Right.

Andraé: Now, we have some kids rapping here at my church and I always tell them if you have a distinctive style that may not be in the church at all, you’re limited in the direction of that song. I think people receive more when it’s repetitious. So what I tell the kids is to remember to write a song, a melody … something that will allow the song to live on without you.

Troy: Indeed.

Andraé: When you get done rapping and beating, no one can deliver the rap lyrics exactly the way you can. But if you’ve incorporated singing into it, the song has a better chance of being remembered and even recorded by other people later on, so the song lives on even after the initial popularity fades.

Troy: Well, one way that you will be able to directly influence some of the younger generation and help develop their unique gifts are with “The Promise” Choir Competition.  Can you tell me about that?

Andraé: Yes! The choirs will be doing their own versions of my single “The Promise.” It’s quite possible we may get versions of the song with rapping, or just different interpretations.

Troy: So, this isn’t like a choir version of BET’s Sunday Best, or is it?

Andraé: Oh, they’re going to submit their performance digitally to http://andraecrouch.com. Then we’ll select the best submissions and travel to cities in the U.S. and also Puerto Rico, and a panel of judges will select 10 choirs to compete on the show.

Troy: Ok, I see.

Andraé: And some of the choirs may not be the “winners” per se, but I believe we’ll find some gems in the process, you know?

Troy: Oh, definitely, diamonds that just need a bit of molding or mentoring.

Andraé: Yes.

Troy: I think it’s a great way to bring young and old musical genius together and create the best of both worlds.

Andraé: Certainly, certainly.

Troy: So, let me just say this. You know you’re a super star. (Laughs)

Andraé: (Laughs)

Troy: You have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You’ve recorded with Madonna and Michael Jackson, and contributed music to the films like The Color Purple. But I want to know, what’s something you love or enjoy that we don’t really know?

Andraé: Well, my sister, Sandra, always jokes and tells people that I like to sky dive! But that’s a joke. (Laughs)

Troy: (Laughs)

Andraé: But I love animals… the kinds that I can have in my own house, you know? (Laughs)

Troy: Right! (Laughs)

Andraé: I have four dogs…. an English bulldog, two Chihuahuas, and a Chinese Powder Puff. Birds run me crazy because they tweet all night long. But I tell ‘em, “go ‘head and talk if you want to.”

Troy: Alright!

Andraé: I love the outdoors, too, especially water and boats. I have friends with big yachts and things, but I don’t buy them because I don’t wanna take care of no boat.

But most of all, I love people and love to travel. We’ve traveled to 72 countries and I’ve got friends all across the world. When we first got started way back, people who traveled with us would just sing and go back to their rooms. But I like to meet the people and experience the culture.

Troy: Yeah, you have to!

Well, I’m so glad to have had the chance to speak with you.  It’s awesome to tap into the man behind the music as well.  And I know people are looking forward to hearing the new music!

Andraé: Thank you I enjoyed talking to you, indeed. May the Lord bless and prosper you and the work you guys are doing.

Troy: Likewise, sir.

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Be sure to look out for Andraé’s new album, The Journey, which is set to be released on May 17. The newest single “The Promise” is already available on iTunes, Amazon or Wal-Mart.com.

And if you’re thinking about entering Andraé Crouch’s “The Promise” Choir Competition, presented by Riverphlo Entertainment, the details can be found below:

• Who Can Enter: All church and community choirs in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. All participants must be at least 18 years old.

• When: The competition runs from February 15 through June 30, 2011.

• What You Have to Do: Go to http://riverphlo.com/contest and register to download the sheet music to “The Promise.” Record audio and/or video of your choir performing “The Promise,” and finally, upload the media onto the contest page.

• What You Win: The Grand Prize winning choir will receive a two-song deal with Riverphlo Entertainment; both songs will be produced by Andraé Crouch and Mano Hanes; the choir will have an opportunity to appear with Andraé in various local and national media engagements, both Andraé and Mano Hanes will conduct a music workshop on songwriting and producing at the winning choir’s church; and the choir will also receive music and sound equipment from a leading music supplier.

For the complete list of contest rules and eligibility, visit http://riverphlo.com.