Russ Taff

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Russ Taff
Taff at the Christian Music Hall of Fame inductions, 2008
Background information
Birth name	Russell D Taff
Born	(1953-11-11) November 11, 1953 (age 67)
Genres	Contemporary Christian, gospel, Southern gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, speaker
Years active	1974–present
Associated acts	Sounds of Joy, the Imperials, Gaither Vocal Band
Website	RussTaff.com

Russell Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American gospel singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California.^[1] 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 (1976–81).^[2] 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 Gaither Homecoming concerts. As a solo artist and songwriter, Taff is known for the 1980s anthem "We Will Stand".^[3] Taff has received various Dove and Grammy awards either as a solo artist or part of a larger musical group, most notably the Imperials.^[1]

Discography[]

Solo albums

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)
• 1975: Sharin' (JoySong 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: For People Who Don't Hear The Music Anymore (Word) "I'll keep my eyes you"
• 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"
• 1984: Vital Signs – White Heart (Home Sweet Home Records/Myrrh) "We Are His Hands"
• 1985: The CAUSE (various artists) (Sparrow) "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) "All Right"
• 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: Fire Down Below original soundtrack (Warner Brothers) "I'd Walk 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 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: 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"
• 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"
• 2008: Fall Like Rain Clint Brown (Tribe Records) "I'm Forgiven"
• 2016: Circuit Rider – William Lee Golden (Gaither Gospel Series)

Solo singles[]

Video[]

Long-form

• 1982: More Than Music No. 1 (Word) (originally aired as a 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 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 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 Doves[]

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: Inducted into the GMA's Gospel Music Hall of Fame (with all five original members: Jake Hess, Armond Morales, Gary McSpadden, Sherrill Neilsen & Henry Slaughter, as well as Joe Moscheo, Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, and Jim Murray)

Solo

• 1984: Male Vocalist of the Year
• 1986: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year for Medals
• 1989: Rock Album of the Year for Russ Taff
• 1989: Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for Russ Taff
• 2016: Inducted into the GMA's Gospel Music Hall of Fame

Nominations with the Gaither Vocal Band

• 2003: Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
• 2003: Country Album of the Year

See also[]

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

References[]

Sources[]

• Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music; Powell; pp 46, 47; Hendrickson Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (August 2002) ISBN 1-56563-679-1 ISBN 978-1565636798
• Alfonso, Barry (2002) s The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
• 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[]

• Official website
• Russ Taff at AllMusic
• The Imperials official website
• Gaither Homecoming website