Andraé Crouch, who was a pioneer in gospel music, died Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 72.

Andraé Crouch Dies

Crouch had been hospitalized since last Saturday after suffering a heart attack, Brian Mayes told the Los Angeles Times. He’d been ill since last month.

Crouch’s twin sister, Sandra Crouch, said in a statement, “Today my twin brother, womb-mate and best friend went home to be with the Lord. Please keep me, my family and our church family in your prayers.  I tried to keep him here but God loved him best.”

After attending college, Crouch pursued a career in music, forming a group called the Disciples in the 1960s. With the Disciples, Crouch released his first album – Take the Message Everywhere – performed at Carnegie Hall and earned a number of Grammy Awards, starting in 1978.

By the early 70s, Crouch had launched a solo career that he worked on while simultaneously continuing with the Disciples.

In addition to working on his own albums, Crouch produced and arranged for the likes of heavyweights Diana Ross, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Crouch was inducted into the Gospel Music Assn’s Hall of Fame in 1998.

Crouch became the pastor at his father’s Pacoima church in the mid-1990s following his death.