The Need Of Prayer-Inez Andrews

Gospel legend-Inez Andrews (1929 - 2012), was born Inez McConico in Birmingham, Ala. The daughter of a Baptist preacher and a sanctified singing mother, who died when she was two years old. She sang in the junior choir in her father's church, and locally as a soloist. She was a friend of Alex Bradford, and Dorothy Love Coates. For a short time she sang with the Raymond Rasberry Singers and intermittently substituted in the Original Harmonettes. It was Ms. Coates who recommended Ms. Andrews to the Caravans. In the late 1950's James Cleveland was serving as pianist for the Caravans persuaded Inez to move to Chicago and join the Vans. She remained there and Chicago became her home base for her performing career, until her death. Inez was a demure contralto bottom, with a mammouth range; that when clear exhibits a mezzo-soprano coloration. Inez had a slow, majestic delivery characteristic of presiding bishop. Inez's first hit with the Vans was "Soldiers In The Army", other hits followed: "Mary Don't You Weep", "I'm Not Tired Yet", "Make It In", "He Won't Deny Me" and "I'm Willing". These hits made Inez one of the major stars of gospel's golden age. In the 1960's Inez left the Vans to form her own group the Andrewettes (which also included another Vans member Josephine Howard). With this group she toured Europe in 1965. Inez briefly returned back to the Vans in 1967 for another recording session with them, before starting her solo career. In 1968 Inez released her first solo album "Close To Thee", that was followed by in 1970's with "Lord Don't Move That Mountain", the song topped gospel playlists everywhere and crossed over to the R&B singles charts where it peaked at number 48 in 1973. Reportedly the song eventually sold a million copies and temporarily made Andrews the hottest gospel singer in the country. Inez continued to record from the 70's well into the 90's as a soloist artist. In 2006 she rejoined the Vans for a new album "Paved The Way". On December 19, 2012, Inez called Mary for the last time, took off her running shoes, and went home to find comfort with the Master.