Russ Taff

Russ Taff
Background information
Born	November 11, 1953(1953-11-11)
Origin	United States
Genres	Contemporary Christian, gospel, southern gospel
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, speaker
Years active	1974–present
Associated acts	The Imperials, Gaither Vocal Band
Website	RussTaff.com

Russell Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American gospel singer who is originally from Farmersville, California. Taff later then moved to Arkansas where he graduated from Cutter-Morning Star High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Taff has one of the most recognizable voices in Christian music. He has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop rock, traditional Southern Gospel, contemporary country music, and Rhythm and blues. He first gained recognition as lead vocalist for The Imperials (1977–1981). One of his best-known performances is the song "Praise The Lord". He has also been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band, and occasionally tours with Bill Gaither in the Homecoming series. As a solo artist and songwriter, Taff is known for the 1980s anthem "We Will Stand".

Taff and his wife, Tori, have two daughters: Maddie Rose and Charlotte.

Discography

Solo albums

Year	Album	US Christian	Record Label	Record Producer(s)
1983	Walls of Glass	5	Myrrh	Bill Schnee
1985	Medals	2		Jack Joseph Puig
1987	Russ Taff	2
1989	The Way Home	1		Darrell Brown, James Hollihan, Jr., Taff
1991	Under Their Influence	5		James Hollihan, Jr., Taff
1992	A Christmas Song	6	Sparrow	James Hollihan, Jr.
1995	Winds of Change		Reprise	Hollihan, Randy Scruggs, Taff
1999	Right Here, Right Now		Benson	James Hollihan, Jr., Taff
2007	Now More Than Ever	41	Spring Hill	Hollihan, Barry Jennings, Michael Sykes, Taff
2010	Another Sentimental Christmas			James Hollihan, Jr.
2011	Faroe Islands			Jákup Zachariassen, Óli Poulsen, Kristoffur Mørkøre

Compilations

• 1994 We Will Stand (Yesterday & Today) (Myrrh)
• 2003 The Best of Russ Taff (Spring Hill)

With The Sounds of Joy

• 1974 YHWH (Shalom Records)

With The 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 With The Imperials (Dayspring/Word)
• 1981 The Very Best of The Imperials (Dayspring/Word) Compilation
• 1986 Old Fashioned Faith (Dayspring/Word) Compilation
• 1996 Legacy 1977-1988 (Word Records) Compilation
• 2006 The Lost Album (Word Records) (originally recorded in 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 Home Of The Lord"
• 1983 More than a Feelin' Koinonia (Sparrow) "Give Your Love", "Divina"
• 1984 Dancing with Danger Leslie Phillips (Myrrh) "Strength of My Life"
• 1984 The Praise In Us-A Word Family Praise Album Various Artists (Myrrh) "Simple Song For A Mighty God"
• 1985 The CAUSE - "Do Something Now"
• 1985 Lulu Roman Smith "King of 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 About That Name"
• 1990 Stolen Moments - John Hiatt (A&M)
• 1990 Through Flood & Fire - Sparks "Jesus Rescues Me" (Reunion)
• 1990 Our Christmas (Word) "Silent Night"
• 1990 Handel's Young Messiah (A&M) "He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd" with Sheila Walsh
• 1991 For Such a Time 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 of All"
• 1992 Above And Beyond O'Landa Draper & The Associates (Word) "Wipe A 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 This Morning? - The Johnson Sisters with Russ Taff (Canaan)
• 1993 Lead Me Not - Lari White (RCA)
• 1993 Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams - various artists (Thirsty Ear/Chaos)
• 1995 Beyond December - First Call (Warner Alliance)
• 1996 Way I Should - Iris DeMent (Warner Bros.)
• 1997 Misguided Roses - Edwin McCain Band (Atlantic)
• 1998 Alabama Song - Allison Moorer (MCA)
• 1998 The Apostle original soundtrack (Rising Tide) "There Ain't No Grave 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 soundtrack (Verity) "Raven and the Dove"
• 2000 Child of the Promise original cast recording (Sparrow) "The Mary I Know", "Mary Recitative", "Zacharias Recitative", "Nothing Ever Happens To A Shepherd"
• 2000 Hands of Time Anthony Burger (Daywind) "I Wish We'd All Been Ready"
• 2000 Ordinary Day Jeff and Sheri Easter (Spring Hill) "One Way"
• 2001 Press On - Selah (Curb)
• 2001 Supernatural - The Raphaels (Track Records)
• 2001 Press On Selah (Curb) "Were You There"
• 2002 Traveling Light: Songs from the 23rd Psalm (Brentwood) "Let It Flow"
• 2002 Edge of the World Randy Stonehill (Fair Oaks) "We Were So Young"
• 2005 Hymned No. 1 Bart Millard (of MercyMe) (INO/Epic) "Precious Lord, Take My Hand"
• 2006 Stand Avalon (Sparrow/EMI) "We Will Stand"

Solo Singles

Year	Single	US Country	Album
1983	"We Will Stand"		Walls of Glass
1985	"I'm Not Alone"		Medals
1995	"Love Is Not a Thing"	53	Winds of Change
	"One and Only Love"	51
	"Bein' Happy"	66

Video

Long-form Videos

• 1992 Russ Taff: A Christmas Song (Sparrow)
• 2001 I Do Believe Gaither Vocal Band "One Way"
• 2006 Ernie Haase & Signature Sound "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand"
• 2007 The Best of Russ Taff From the Gaither Homecoming Series
• 2007 Timeless: Concert of Faith & Inspiration
• 2009 Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Volume 1 "Born Again", "Heartbreak Ridge And New Hope Road", "Knowing You'll Be There"
• 2009 Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Volume 2 "The Really Big News", "When The Rains Come"

Concept Music videos

Year	Video	Director
1985	"I'm Not Alone"
	"Not Gonna Bow"
1989	"Winds Of Change"
	"I Cry"
1991	"Life's Railway to Heaven"
1995	"Love Is Not a Thing"	Deaton-Flanigen Productions
	"One And Only Love"

Gaither Homecoming video performances

• 1998: Down by the Tabernacle "The Tabernacle", "I Saw The Light"
• 1998: Rivers of Joy "We Will Stand"
• 1999: I'll Meet You on the Mountain "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand"
• 2000: Good News "When He Set Me Free"
• 2000: Irish Homecoming "Ain't No 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 Gospel Music"
• 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming "The Workshop Of 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 Than 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 My Heart "Jesus Is The Best Thing"
• 2011: Alaskan Homecoming "Somebody’s Coming", "We Will Stand"
• 2011: Majesty "I Shall Wear A Crown"

Awards and honors

Grammys

With The Imperials

• 1977 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Sail On
• 1979 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Heed the Call
• 1981 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Priority

Solo

• 1983 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Walls of Glass
• 1991 Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album for Under Their Influence

GMA/Dove Recognition

As member of The Imperials

• 1977 - Male Group of the Year
• 1979 - Male Group of the Year
• 1980 - Male Group of the Year
• 1981 - Male Group of the Year
• 1981 - Song of the Year - "Praise The Lord"
• 1981 - Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1982 - Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1998 - The Imperials were inducted into the GMA's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. All five original members, Jake Hess, Armond Morales, Gary McSpadden, Sherrill Neilsen & Henry Slaughter, as well as Joe Moscheo, Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, Jim Murray, and Russ

Solo

• 1984 - Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1986 - Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year - Medals
• 1989 - Rock Album of the Year - Russ Taff
• 1989 - Recorded Music Packaging of the Year - Russ Taff

With the Gaither Vocal Band

• 2003 - Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (Nomination)
• 2003 - Country Album of the Year (Nomination)

See also

Dove Award for Song of the Year
Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary

References

• Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music; Powell; pp 46, 47; Hendrickson Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (August 2002) ISBN 1565636791 ISBN 978-1565636798
• Resource Publications, "The Christian Music Directories" formerly "The Recording Locator" - http://www.rpinet.com/cmd.html
• http://www.theimperials.com - The Imperials Official Website
• http://www.gaithernet.com - Gaither Homecoming & Gaither Vocal Band Website
• http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/taff_russ/artist.jhtml - Russ Taff on CMT.com

Sources

• Alfonso, Barry (2002). s The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
• Gaither, Bill (2008). Gaither.com
• Jones, Kim (2008). About.com
• Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
• Mansfield, Brian (2005). Allmusic.com
• TPE Interview (2006). Today's Pentecostal Evangel

External links

• Russ Taff's Official Website
• The Imperials Official Website
• Gaither Homecoming Website