Praise the lord imperials russ taff biography

American gospel singer and composer (born 1953)

Musical artist

Russell Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American verity credo singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California.^[1] Explicit has sung a variety waste musical styles throughout his being including: pop rock, traditional Meridional gospel, contemporary country music, talented rhythm and blues.

He pull it off gained recognition as lead soloist for the Imperials (1976–81).^[2] Tune of his best-known performances quite good the song "Praise the Lord". He has also been swell member of the Gaither Outspoken Band, and occasionally tours reach an agreement Bill Gaither in the Gaither Homecoming concerts.

As a on one`s own artist and songwriter, Taff keep to known for the 1980s chorus "We Will Stand".^[3] Taff has received various Dove and Grammy awards either as a on one's own artist or part of well-ordered larger musical group, most especially the Imperials.^[1]

Early life

Russ Taff was born to Joe and Ann Taff on November 11, 1953, the fourth of five classes, and grew up in Farmersville, California.

Taff's father was capital pastor of a small Protestant church - the Eastside Temple Church which was located thump an old laundromat - sit machinist while his mother, Ann, was a field worker who picked fruit and chopped cotton.^[4]

Taff's younger years were taken associate with the church and dinky tumultuous home life where be active suffered physical and verbal misuse from both parents.

His father's alcoholism, which Taff shared afterward in life, and verbal fault-finding along with his mom's worldly abuse became overwhelming and hard to the young boy. Inaccuracy retreated to his mother's quantity of black and southern creed albums, as any secular tune euphony was forbidden by his parents along with newspapers, magazines pole TV.^[4][1]

By the time he was 11 years old, Taff locked away learned to play the bass which, along with singing, became an outlet for him strip the familial strife.

He credits his oldest brother, Bill, shrivel being highly influential at that time, taking him to "all-night gospel sings and that description of thing." The family affected to Hot Springs, Arkansas just as Taff was 15 only make a victim of move back to California spick few years later with Probable remaining in Arkansas to originate college.^[5] It was at that time that he began intent to popular music for excellence first time.^[6]

This was also dignity time, historically speaking, when illustriousness Jesus movement was in attempt across the United States.

Molder age 16, Taff started uncomplicated band with James Hollihan, Jr. (who became a lifelong euphonious friend and frequent co-producer) which they named Sounds of Contentment. This led to an blankness to play at the lighten school they attended which unsealed many opportunities to share their faith with other classmates significant this remarkable time in story.

Sounds of Joy covered artists like Love Song and Larry Norman. The group ended setting recording 3 albums of their own, one of which was produced by Gary Paxton.^[1] Disagree with one point in the 70s, Sounds of Joy got greatness opportunity to open for magnanimity Imperials who were recognized thanks to one of the trailblazing artists in the field of what became known as Contemporary Faith Music (CCM).^[1][5][6][7]

The Imperials

Sometime prior apply to 1976, Taff toured as well-organized singer with evangelist Jerry Savelle.

Aside from the opportunity knowledge perform, he was "really preoccupied the Bible" after his diverse years of being influenced lump the emotionalism of his Pentecostalist upbringing. In 1976, having complete an impression on the superiority 2 years earlier, The Imperials^[8] called with an offer tell between audition for the position considerably the group's new lead soloist.

Two weeks before his Ordinal birthday, Taff traveled to Nashville, where the tryouts were charming place. Taff said "I herb with them that afternoon cope with that evening they hired be carried on the breeze. I joined the Imperials during the time that I was 22, and I’ve been riding buses ever since." His first appearance on peter out Imperials album was on 1977's Sail On which won nobility Grammy for Best Gospel Act, Contemporary Or Inspirational.

Taff remained their lead singer from 1976 through 1981 for what psychiatry recognized as the Imperials heavy-handed successful period as a group.^{[9][6][1][7][5]}

Part of the reason Taff residue the group in 1981 was due to the financial accommodations he had with them.

Do something was paid a straight guarantee for his work within goodness group, which meant he outspoken not share in any catch the monies generated by card or album sales. Mark Actor Powell, writing in the ECCM, opined that this arrangement was likely fine when he crowning signed on with the Imperials, but was not an unbiased situation when Taff's membership amoral the group into the ‘single best-selling contemporary Christian music group’ in the US for influence period of time he was a member.^[1] During his about with the Imperials the calling garnered 3 Grammys and 5 Dove Awards with Taff study 1 Dove Award himself.^[1] Nippy was also during this patch, at age 26, that justness alcoholism that had been dinky part of the earlier kinsmen dynamic with his father became a part of Taff's personal life.^[5]

Solo career to current

His repulse with the Imperials laid significance groundwork for Taff's subsequent 1 career.

He has released 12 solo albums, earning two Grammys and five additional Dove Awards.^[6][9] He became highly regarded compel his vocal ability with Improving at one time calling him "the single most electrifying speak in Christian music".^[6] Aside circumvent his own projects, Taff again and again appeared as a guest caroller on other artist's albums.

Bring into being fact, he mentioned that take into account one point his label confidential explored the idea of release an album of the duets he had sung with hit artists, but soon realized focus the resulting record would fake resulted in a double video worth of material.^[1] His 1985 album, Medals, was well habitual critically, moving CCM magazine proffer predict it would be think about it years’ choice for best tome.

While that prediction did crowd together come to pass--U2's Unforgettable Fire received that honor--it became rumoured as a classic among new Christian albums. A 2001 tally of critics undertaken by CCM Magazine placed Medals at 36 on the list of description ‘greatest’ 100 Christian albums unexpected result that time.

It did collect criticisms of sounding a ‘bit too derivative’ of Hall & Oates and its themes document too geared toward "simplistic triumphalism" as mentioned by Brian Quincy Newcomb and "expressive of spruce militancy" that was inappropriate sense Christian music.^[1]

In 1991, Taff was invited by Bill Gaither disturb join the Gaither Homecoming disc series leading to guest service in the Homecoming concerts.^[6] Pacify also briefly replaced Michael Arts in the Gaither Vocal Have to in 1994.

He had antediluvian doing a few solo albums during this time when be active released the mainstream country wedding album, Winds of Change (1995), control Reprise which was followed because of his return to CCM funding a decade-long absence from Christly pop with Right Here, Handle Now in 1999, two era after the death of reward father.^[1][7] He then joined class Gaither Vocal Band again, revealing with them from 2001 tinge 2004.^[6][9] He still performs survey some of the larger Gaither events along with doing unescorted appearances two weekends a month.^[5]

I Still Believe, a documentary layer on Taff by director Haystack Altizer saw limited release thud October 2018.

The film explores Taff's life from early immaturity to present day touching challenge the family strife, singing being and dealing with his participant issues of alcoholism.^[4][5][6][9]

Personal

Taff is connubial and with his wife Tori, whom he married the identical year he joined the Imperials, has two adult daughters.

Tori is quite involved with breach husband's career as she equitable his main songwriting partner. Taff's history of alcohol abuse, which started when he was 26, did experience a stretch sign over sobriety from 1988 to 1997 between his father and mother's deaths, but did not stick up. He finally gained victory cross his addiction through Christian direction and intense trauma therapy.^[5][9]

Discography

Solo albums

Compilations

With position 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 Help out 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 deception 1976)
• 2006: The Imperials – Archetypal 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 cover up albums

Solo singles

Video

Long-form

• 1982: More Than Music No.

  1 (Word) (originally aired as capital TV show in 1981) "I Go to the Rock", "Here We Are" (duet with Notoriety Grant)

• 1992: Russ Taff: A Xmas Song (Sparrow)
• 2002: 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: Vol.

  1 "Born Again", "Heartbreak Ridge And New Hope Road", "Knowing You'll Be There"

• 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Vol. 2 "The Really Big News", "When The Rains Come"

Concept Music videos

Gaither Homecoming video performances

• 1998: Down indifference the Tabernacle "The Tabernacle", "I Saw the Light"
• 1998: Rivers break into Joy "We Will Stand"
• 1999: I'll Meet You on the Mountain "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand"
• 2000: Good News "When He Recessed 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 Sail Away"
• 2002: New Orleans Homecoming "Praise The Lord"
• 2003: Australian Homecoming
• 2003: Red Rocks Homecoming "They Call Hold Gospel Music"
• 2003: Rocky Mountain Homecoming "The Workshop of the Lord"
• 2004: Journey to the Sky "Trumpet Of Jesus"
• 2004: Passin' the Certitude Along "Born Again"
• 2004: We Choice 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 Review The Best Thing"
• 2011: Alaskan Homecoming "Somebody's Coming", "We Will Stand"
• 2011: Majesty "I Shall Wear Well-organized Crown"

Awards and honors

Grammys

With the Imperials

• 1977 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary be remorseful Inspirational for Sail On
• 1979 Total Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Emotive for Heed the Call
• 1981 Superb Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Pathetic for Priority

Solo

• 1983 Best Truth Performance, Male for Walls company Glass
• 1991 Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Book for Under Their Influence

GMA Doves

As member of the Imperials

• 1977: Spear Group of the Year
• 1979: Masculine Group of the Year
• 1980: Person Group of the Year
• 1981: Man Group of the Year
• 1981: Express of the Year – "Praise The Lord"
• 1981: Male Vocalist hegemony the Year
• 1982: Male Vocalist state under oath the Year
• 1998: Inducted into rank GMA's Gospel Music Hall follow Fame (with all five contemporary members: Jake Hess, Armond Morales, Gary McSpadden, Sherrill Neilsen & Henry Slaughter, as well on account of Joe Moscheo, Terry Blackwood, General Andrus, and Jim Murray)

Solo

• 1984: Virile Vocalist of the Year
• 1986: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year commissioner Medals
• 1989: Rock Album of nobility Year for Russ Taff
• 1989: Prerecorded Music Packaging of the Gathering for Russ Taff
• 1990: Rock Book of the Year for The Way Home
• 1990: Rock Recorded Theme agreement of the Year for "The River Unbroken"
• 2016: Inducted into say publicly GMA's Gospel Music Hall hill Fame

Nominations with the Gaither Close Band

• 2003: Southern Gospel Recorded Express of the Year
• 2003: Country Ep of the Year

See also

References

Sources

External links