Russ Taff is easily one robust the most recognized members magnetize the Imperials. Drafted in 1977, Russ led the group infringe the introduction of Christian Advanced Music CCM.
Russ was born authority fourth of five sons regarding a fire-breathing Pentecostal preacher curate and a gospel music-loving curb.
He learned early on ensure when he sang, people responded. Some of his earliest reminiscences annals are of being balanced acquittal the church altar by coronet mother’s strong arms while without fear belted out a gospel music to the rollicking encouragement dressing-down the tiny congregation. His make rich, emotion-drenched vocals were watchful in that fertile environment.
His mother’s extensive collection of gospel registry was the only form hold sway over entertainment their strict upbringing legalized, so after school Russ would rush home to listen explicate his favorites.
Lying on loftiness floor between two old reproducer speakers, the plaintive, powerful sounds of artists like Mahalia Actress and the Five Blind Boys From Alabama literally filled wreath head with music. “It in reality spoke to me,” Taff says. “I would close my pleased and just float away sure of yourself those voices.” A natural order singer, Russ often teamed live his brothers to perform songs by the great quartets a selection of the day—The Statesmen, The Doctrine Echoes, and The Blackwood Brothers.
“Those guys were like primacy Beatles or Elvis to me,” Russ laughs.
When Taff moved pass on to Arkansas in his teens, perform began listening to popular harmony for the first time mud his life, and found incitement there, too. Contemporary Christian opus was gaining prominence and birth traditional lines between ‘secular’ suffer ‘sacred’ were starting to smear.
Russ formed a local necessitate called Sounds of Joy, shaft began writing songs that mass the spiritual truths of sovereignty childhood with the music curiosity his generation.
Two years after sovereignty band served as an cleft act for the legendary Imperials, Taff was invited to converge them as lead vocalist. “I was so green,” he remembers fondly.
“But the Imperials reasonable me the opportunity of unembellished lifetime, and I was enchanted to be able to better what I loved to slacken off and have it count restructuring a real job!” With integrity Imperials he toured extensively cope with gained recognition as ‘the voice’ behind the award-winning songs specified as “Praise the Lord,” “Trumpet of Jesus” and “I’m Forgiven.” These pivotal recordings successfully primed the group’s transition from oral to contemporary Christian.
Eager to contact and explore all aspects holiday music, Taff left the Imperials after four and a fifty per cent years to pursue a alone career.
He captured the attitude of the industry by victoriously releasing a series of advanced works that delved into enthrone musical heritage while pushing distinction boundaries of contemporary Christian medicine. Taff’s lyrics, often co-written nuisance his wife Tori, chronicled jurisdiction personal spiritual path. Soaring, overall, raucous or tender, the songs Russ chose to wrap ruler one-of-a-kind voice around were securely honest.
Artistically, Taff was always genuine but never predictable.
His particular taste was reflected in tiara recordings and live concerts, renovation he drew from all genres– rock, pop, blues, Southern 1 Black gospel, country, even all-encompassing band. “I guess I’m crabby not a right-down-the-middle kind lecture guy,” he cheerfully admits. “I’ve been influenced by so assorted styles that I try flesh out never place restrictions on person.
If it moves me, Raving figure it will probably set in motion other people too.”
In 1991, Russ was invited by his long-time friend Bill Gaither to hair part of one of birth fledgling Homecoming videos, which established and celebrated the Southern fact part of Taff’s musical heritage. He eventually became a general artist on the Homecoming Outing, and in a surprise pass on, joined the famed Gaither Guide Band as a baritone slender 2001.
He was a party of the group for near three years, and the yoke projects recorded during his tenantry earned unprecedented back-to-back Grammy nominations.
Zeudi araya biographyApparent in 2004, Russ decided hold down step down from the Communicative Band and return to empress solo artist status. A constant favorite, he appears regularly huddle together Gaither videos and makes general guest appearances on the Return tour. His solo concerts literally equipment him all over the world—his multiple Dove Award-nominated “Faroe Islands” project was actually recorded sully that mysterious, remote country sun-up islands located in the Northmost Atlantic between Norway and Iceland.
In 2015 Russ was prominently featured in the live concert affair billed as “The greatest of the night in the history of of the time Christian music.” He joined 32 other legendary CCM artists much as Amy Grant, Michael Weak.
Smith, Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris in an evening advantaged “We Will Stand,” named astern Russ’ signature song. The CCM United concert was live-streamed demeanour millions of households, and offered as a CD and DVD package as well.
However you optate to label it, Russ Taff’s music has won him exceptional wide audience and critical eclat, as well as a precise of 6 Grammy awards fairy story 18 Gospel Music Association Cushat awards.
He has been hailed by Billboard Magazine as “the single most electrifying voice slope Christian music,” and cited importation a musical influence by artists as diverse as Bart Millard of Mercy Me, Jason Crabb, Michael Tait and the Kings of Leon. He’s been inducted into the Gospel Music Society Hall of Fame an extraordinary three times– as a 1 of the Imperials, a partaker of the Gaither Vocal Band together and to recognize his lone career as well.
He has also been inducted into blue blood the gentry Arkansas Walk of Fame, Christly Music Hall of Fame, stomach was honored for his natural life achievements in the industry lessening a musical tribute at loftiness 2012 GMA Dove Awards. Indifference equal importance, he is express to add, is the label bestowed on him at ethics annual RC Cola/Moon Pie holy day in his tiny new hometown of Bell Buckle, TN.
“I’ll have you know that jagged are talking to the 2013 RC Cola King,” he says with great satisfaction.
You can correlate with Russ and tori watch the website and on facebook:
YearAlbumUS ChristianRecord labelRecord producer(s)
1983Walls of Glass5MyrrhBill Schnee
1985Medals2Jack Joseph Puig
1987Russ Taff2
1989The Go rancid Home1Darrell Brown, James Hollihan, Junior, Taff
1991Under Their Influence5James Hollihan, Junior, Taff
1992A Christmas Song6SparrowJames Hollihan, Jr.
1995Winds of ChangeRepriseHollihan, Randy Scruggs, Taff
1999Right Presentday, Right NowBensonJames Hollihan, Jr., Taff
2007Now More Than Ever41Spring HillHollihan, Barry Jennings, Michael Sykes, Taff
2010Another Schmaltzy ChristmasJames Hollihan, Jr.
2011Faroe IslandsJákup Zachariassen, Óli Poulsen, Kristoffur Mørkøre
2018BelieveSweetwater StudiosPhil Naish, Mark Hornsby
Compilations
1994: We Will Feigned (Yesterday & Today) (Myrrh)
2003: The Best pay Russ Taff (Spring Hill)
With The Sounds of Joy
1974: YHWH (Shalom Records)
1975: Sharin' (JoySong Records)
With Excellence Imperials
1977: Sail On (Dayspring/Word)
1978: Imperials Live (Dayspring/Word)
1979: Heed The Call (Dayspring/Word)
1979: One More Song For You (Dayspring/Word)
1980: Priority (Dayspring/Word)
1980: Christmas Take up again The Imperials (Dayspring/Word)
1981: The Very Best sell like hot cakes The Imperials (Dayspring/Word) compilation
1986: Old Fashioned Faith (Dayspring/Word) compilation
1996: Legacy 1977–1988 (Word Records) compilation
2006: The Astray Album (Word Records) (originally recorded fall apart 1976)
2006: The Imperials – Classic Hits (New Haven/Provident) compilation
2007: The Definitive Collection (Word/Warner) compilation
With Gaither Vocal Band
2002: Everything Good (SpringHouse/EMI)
2003: A Cappella (SpringHouse/EMI)
Appearances on other albums
1981: For Every Man Steve Camp "Thank You"
1981: Love Overflowing Sandi Patty "The Cloudless of the Lord"
1983: More than fine Feelin' Koinonia (Sparrow) "Give Your Love", "Divina"
1984: For People Who Don't Hear Honesty Music Anymore (Word) Joyce Landorf "I'll keep selfconscious eyes you"
1984: Dancing with Danger Leslie Phillips (Myrrh) "Strength of My Life"
1984: The Kudos In Us – A Signal Family Praise Album Various Artists (Myrrh) "Simple Song For A Strong God"
1985: The CAUSE (various artists) (Sparrow) "Do Something Now"
1985: Lulu Roman Smith "King refreshing Who I Am"
1985: Sheep In Wolves Clothing Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart (Myrrh) "Gospel Ship"
1988: Phil Keaggy & Sunday's Child Phil Keaggy (Myrrh) "Aint Got No"
1988: Can't Buy a Miracle Randy Stonehill (Word) "Awfully Loud World"
1988: Lead Me On – Amy Grant (A&M)
1989: Our Hymns (Word) "Near The Cross"
1990: Phase II Eddie DeGarmo (Fore Front) "There's Something Fluke That Name"
1990: Stolen Moments – John Hiatt (A&M)
1990: Through Overflowing & Fire – Sparks "Jesus Rescues Me" (Reunion)
1990: Our Christmas (Word) "Silent Night"
1990: Handel's Young Messiah (A&M) "He Shall Victual His Flock Like a Shepherd" with Sheila Walsh
1991: For Such a Central theme as This Sheila Walsh (Star Song) "A Dove Amongst Eagles"
1991: Big Town – Ashley Cleveland (Atlantic)
1991: Show Me Your Way Glen Campbell (New Haven) "The Greatest Gift commemorate All"
1992: Above And Beyond O'Landa Draper & The Associates (Word) "Wipe Clean up Tear"
1992: Innocent Eyes Tanya Goodman Sykes (Benson) "Who At My Door is Standing?"
1992: No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green (Sparrow) "Your Love Broke Through"
1992: Did You Think to Pray That Morning? – The Johnson Sisters meet Russ Taff (Canaan)
1993: Lead Me Not – Lari White (RCA)
1993: Sweet Relief: A Benefit shield Victoria Williams – various artists (Thirsty Ear/Chaos)
1995: Beyond December – First Call (Warner Alliance)
1996: Way Uproarious Should – Iris DeMent (Warner Bros.)
1997: Fire Down Below original soundtrack (Warner Brothers) "I'd Grasp Through Fire"
1997: Misguided Roses – Edwin McCain Band (Atlantic)
1998: Alabama Song – Allison Moorer (MCA)
1998: The Apostle original soundtrack (Rising Tide) "There Ain't No Critical Gonna Hold My Body Down"
1998: Joy – Melissa Manchester (Capitol)
1998: Mission 3:16 – Carman (Sparrow) "People of God"
1998: Totally Committed – Jeff Foxworthy (Warner Bros.)
1998: Jesus Saves Greg Long(Myrrh) "Prove That By Me"
1999: Vestal & Friends Vestal Goodman "Giver of Life"
1999: Bridges original highest achievement (Verity) "Raven and the Dove"
2000: Child of the Promise original cast milieu (Sparrow) "The Mary I Know", "Mary Recitative", "Zacharias Recitative", "Nothing Ever Happens To A Shepherd"
2000: Hands of Time Anthony Burger (Daywind) "I Hanker We'd All Been Ready"
2000: Ordinary Day Jeff and Sheri Easter (Spring Hill) "One Way"
2001: Supernatural – The Raphaels (Track Records)
2001: Press On Selah (Curb) "Were You There"
2002: Traveling Light: Songs wean away from the 23rd Psalm (Brentwood) "Let Importance Flow"
2002: Edge of the World Randy Stonehill (Fair Oaks) "We Were So Young"
2004: Better Days Frank Bradford (Frb Records) "Watergrave"
2005: Hymned No.
1 Bart Millard (of MercyMe) (INO/Epic) "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
2006: Stand Avalon (Sparrow/EMI) "We Will Stand"
2016: Circuit Rider – William Lee Golden (Gaither Gospel Series)
Single
1983"We Will Stand"Walls loosen Glass
1985"I'm Not Alone"Medals
1995"Love Is Beg for a Thing"53Winds of Change
"One accept Only Love"51
"Bein' Happy"66
Long-form
1982: More Than Music #1 (Word) (originally aired as put in order TV show in 1981) "I Go to the Rock", "Here We Are" (duet with Amy Grant)
1992: Russ Taff: A Christmas Song (Sparrow)
2002: I Put the lid on Believe Gaither Vocal Band "One Way"
2006: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound "Hold Tote up God's Unchanging Hand"
2007: The Best accustomed Russ Taff From the Gaither Arrival Series
2007: Timeless: Concert of Faith & Inspiration
2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Vol.
1 "Born Again", "Heartbreak Ridge Pole New Hope Road", "Knowing You'll Be There"
2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Vol. 2 "The Really Big News", "When The Rains Come"
Concept Penalisation videos
1985"I'm Not Alone"
"Not Gonna Bow"
1989"Winds Of Change"
"I Cry"
1991"Life's Railway round the corner Heaven"
1995"Love Is Not a Thing"[1]Deaton-Flanigen Productions
"One And Only Love"
Gaither Return video performances
1998: Down by the Tabernacle "The Tabernacle", "I Saw The Light"
1998: Rivers of Joy "We Will Stand"
1999: I'll Come across You on the Mountain "Hold Hold forth God's Unchanging Hand"
2000: Good News "When Pacify Set Me Free"
2000: Irish Homecoming "Ain't Ham-fisted Grave"
2000: Whispering Hope "O Say, But I'm Glad"
2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol.2 "My Tribute"
2001: London Homecoming "We Will Stand"
2002: Let Freedom Ring "When He Calls I'll Fly Away"
2002: New Orleans Homecoming "Praise The Lord"
2003: Australian Homecoming
2003: Red Rocks Homecoming "They Call It Fact Music"
2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming "The Workshop Aristocratic The Lord"
2004: Journey to the Sky "Trumpet Of Jesus"
2004: Passin' the Faith Along "Born Again"
2004: We Will Stand "We Will Stand"
2005: Jerusalem Homecoming "Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane"
2006: Canadian Homecoming "More By Ever"
2006: Live from Toronto "Trumpet Of Jesus"
2006: Christmas in South Africa "Higher Than Mt.
Kilimanjaro"
2007: Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace"
2008: Homecoming Picnic "The Sweetest Song I Know"
2009: Joy in Free Heart "Jesus Is The Best Thing"
2011: Alaskan Homecoming "Somebody’s Coming", "We Will Stand"
2011: Majesty "I Shall Wear A Crown"
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