Reverend Ike

Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II (June 1, 1935 – July 28, 2009), better known as Reverend Ike, was an American minister and evangelist based in New York City.

[2][3] Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II was born in Ridgeland, South Carolina to parents from the Netherlands Antilles, and was of African and Indo (Dutch-Indonesian) descent.

[citation needed] Known popularly as "Reverend Ike", his ministry reached its peak in the mid 1970s, when his weekly radio sermons were carried by hundreds of stations across the United States.

[citation needed] In 1972, The New York Times described his church service:[5] "Close your eyes and see green," the minister exhorted.

From the red‐carpeted stage of what was once a Loew's movie palace at 175th Street and Broadway, Reverend Ike evoked giggles from the predominantly black congregation.

[citation needed] Ike made a guest appearance on Hank Williams, Jr.'s single "Mind Your Own Business", a number one country music hit in December 1986.

One time, he was watching Reverend Ike, a famous black evangelist, who was saying, "Let me tell you guys, it doesn't matter, it's whatever gets you through the night."

The "Palace Cathedral" is now known as the United Palace (2014). It is used as a live music venue as well as a church, and is still owned by the United Church Evangelistic Association.