Russ Taff
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Russell "Russ" Taff (born November 11, 1953) is an American gospel singer and songwriter. 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 (1977–81). 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".
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)
- 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
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
- 1982: More Than Music #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)
- 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: 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
| 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"[1] |
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 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
- 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
External links
|
|---|
| | | | Studio albums |
- Jake Hess & The Imperials
- Introducing The Illustrious Imperials
- Happy Sounds of The Imperials
- Sing Inspirational Classics
- To Sing is the Thing
- New Dimensions
- Now
- Love Is the Thing
- Gospel's Alive and Well
- Time to Get It Together
- Imperials
- Follow the Man with the Music
- No Shortage
- Just Because
- Sail On
- Heed the Call
- One More Song for You
- Priority
- Christmas with the Imperials
- Stand By the Power
- Side By Side
- Sing the Classics
- Let the Wind Blow
- This Year's Model
- Free the Fire
- Love's Still Changing Hearts
- Big God
- Stir It Up
- 'Til He Comes
- It's Still the Cross
- I Was Made for This
- The Lost Album
- Back to the Roots
- Still Standing
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