Andraé Edward Crouch (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. Referred to as "the father of modern gospel music" by contemporary Christian and gospel music professionals, Crouch was known for his compositions "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)" and "Soon and Very Soon". In secular music, he was known for his collaborative work during the 1980s and 1990s with Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Quincy Jones as well as conducting choirs that sang on the Michael Jackson hit "Man in the Mirror" and Madonna's "Like a Prayer". Crouch was noted for his talent of incorporating contemporary secular music styles into the gospel music he grew up with. His efforts in this area helped pave the way for early American contemporary Christian music during the 1960s and 1970s.

Crouch's original music arrangements were heard in the films The Color Purple and Disney's The Lion King, as well as the NBC television series Amen. Awards and honors received by him include seven Grammy Awards, induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1998, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Gift of Christmas is a Christmas album released by the Grammy Award-nominated group En Vogue. The album was released on October 8, 2002 by Discretion Enterprises. It was produced and arranged by Timothy Eaton, and features the vocals of Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron-Braggs, and new member Amanda Cole (her sole album with En Vogue).

Content

The album includes two bonus versions, a rock and an instrumental version, of the song Jingle Bells. There is also a bonus version of What Child Is This? featured, the vocal version. The song This Christmas is an original En Vogue song, not to be confused and entirely unrelated with the jazz standard This Christmas by Donnie Hathaway.

Track listing