Inez Andrews

Gospel Singer, Songwriter. She was the singer for "The Caravans", leader of "The Andrewettes", and whose solo recording of Doris Akers' "Lord, Don't Move This Mountain" was a gospel and R&B hit. One of Gospel's foremost songwriters, she had many of her songs attain cross-over success. She started singing at the age of 7, with her first professional experience began in the Birmingham's Carter Choral Ensemble in Alabama. In 1952, she was asked her to join the Gospel Harmonettes, a well-known women's quartet led by Dorothy Love Coates and shared the stage with gospel legends like Brother Joe May, Queen C. Anderson, Sallie Martin, Roberta Martin, Raymond Raspberry, Robert Anderson and Rev. James Cleveland. It was Cleveland who informed Albertina Walker of the Caravans about Andrews. During this period, she began honing her songwriting skills, penning tunes such as, 'I'm Not Tired Yet', 'God Said So', 'What Will Tomorrow Bring', 'I'm Willing To Wait', and 'Your Friend'. It was with the Caravans that she recorded 'Mary Don't You Weep', which earned them a Gold Record and later became Gold for Aretha Franklin and James Cleveland on the 'Amazing Grace' album. During this period she formed her own group called The Andrewettes. Working with a young Billy Preston and Andre Crouch, she recorded 'A Letter to Jesus' using a sermonette that became a pop radio hit. After a successful career with the Caravans, Andrews went solo completely in 1971 and had huge success with her crossover Gold hit, 'Lord Don't Move the Mountain'. She recorded five albums with ABC Records and later completed three successful albums with the Savoy label. In addition, she recorded albums for Jewel Records, Ichiban Records, Spirit Feel Records and her last album with Word Records, Raise Up a Nation. In 2002, Andrews was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame. She later released a reunion album with The Caravans, Albertina Walker, Dorothy Norwood, and original soprano Delores Washington, entitled Paved the Way in 2006.