Andraé Crouch, 72, known as the "father of modern gospel," died Jan. 8 in the Los Angeles area after being hospitalized for a heart attack.
The singer — a seven-time Grammy award winner who collaborated with artists like Elton John, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon — was hospitalized for a heart attack Jan. 3, reports NPR.
"We've lost a true pioneer and he will be missed," said Jason Crabb, a fellow award-winning gospel artist, according to The New York Times.
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart is blocked. This blockage is most commonly the result of a plaque — normally made of built up fat and cholesterol — in the arteries.
Heart attacks are not always fatal. According to the Mayo Clinic, treatment for heart attacks has improved greatly in recent years.
The risk of heart attack in men rises after the age of 45. Other risk factors include tobacco use, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.
According to The New York Times, Crouch had recently faced other health problems like diabetes and cancer.
