Raised by Christian parents with a profound love of ’60 s, ’70s, and ’80s gospel music, I was thoroughly steeped in that same music as a child. One of my earliest memories is of a Bryan Duncan concert, riding on my daddy’s shoulders so I could see the stage. Gospel music was always present in my home, through the good times and the hard ones, and few groups shaped my faith as powerfully as The Imperials and Andrus, Blackwood, and Co. from the 1970s and 1980s.
Breaking Barriers in Gospel Music
The Imperials were among the first gospel groups to break into a new musical space in the 1960s, helping launch what we now call contemporary Christian music. For the first time, people realized Christian music could be culturally relevant, musically current, and still give glory to God. I’m still deeply in love with their music today, especially their work from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.
Growing up in later and much more diverse decades, his presence in The Imperials never struck me as unusual or groundbreaking . . . it wasn’t until I grew older that I fully understood just how significant that moment in gospel music history truly was.
In 1972, The Imperials hired African American singer Sherman Andrus, formerly the lead singer for Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, becoming the first interracial gospel singing group in America. In Sherman’s words, it was time “to boldly go where no black man had gone before.” That journey eventually included singing with The Imperials when they served as backup for Elvis Presley. What I wouldn’t give to have witnessed one of those gospel jam sessions with Elvis.
Pause for a moment and think about that timeline. Only four years separated 1968 and 1972. The Civil Rights Act was signed into law on April 10, 1968, just one week after the devastating assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Four years can feel like both an eternity and the blink of an eye. With the end of segregation, new possibilities emerged. A gifted Black Christian man joined an all‑white gospel group in 1972. That moment carried the promise of better things to come. It was a beginning.
A Voice That Shaped My Faith
For me, Sherman Andrus is the face and voice of The Imperials, alongside bass singer Armond Morales (may he rest in the arms of Jesus) and Russ Taff. But Sherman has always been the voice for me. I can’t imagine The Imperials without him shining during those pivotal years from 1972 to 1977. His voice was authoritative, spiritually compelling, and foundational to the sound that raised me.
In 1977, Sherman Andrus and Terry Blackwood left The Imperials and formed the duo Andrus, Blackwood, and Co. Together, they served as co‑lead vocalists from 1977 to 1984. They quickly became a powerhouse in Christian music, releasing six albums and scoring multiple number‑one hits during their time together.
On April 2, 1998, Sherman Andrus was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame . . . and can we get an amen and a hallelujah for that? He was honored both as a valued member of The Imperials and as a founding member of Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, which also happened to be my mother’s favorite gospel group when she was growing up.
A Legacy That Continues to Sing
There is something profoundly powerful about gospel music from the 1970s and 1980s . . . music that didn’t merely comfort, but formed convictions and anchored faith. It remains my favorite era of the genre. When I’m grieving or distressed, I often return to these songs. The music of The Imperials and Andrus, Blackwood, and Co. helps me cry cleansing tears, refreshes my soul, and gently renews my walk with God. This musical legacy remains.
Sherman, congratulations on celebrating your 84th birthday this June.
You touched this woman’s heart when I was a little girl. Your years with The Imperials and Andrus, Blackwood, and Co. continue to shape my life today. Discovering your solo albums during Covid was a gift I never expected and one I deeply treasure.
Even though you may no longer be regularly touring, the fruit of your faithfulness remains. Your voice, your courage, and your willingness to step into new and uncomfortable spaces helped open doors for others and pointed countless hearts toward Jesus.
Thank you for sharing the love of Christ so generously and so well. You truly have been a trailblazer—and your legacy continues to sing.