Its Christmas Again Lyrics Russ Taff
| Russ Taff | |
|---|---|
 Taff at the Christian Music Hall of Fame inductions, 2008 | |
| Groundwork information | |
| Birth name | Russell D Taff |
| Born | (1953-11-xi) Nov 11, 1953 |
| Genres | Gimmicky Christian, gospel, Southern gospel |
| Occupation(southward) | 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 upwards in Farmersville, California.[ane] He has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop stone, traditional Southern gospel, contemporary country music, and rhythm and blues. He first gained recognition as atomic number 82 vocalist for the Imperials (1976–81).[2] One of his best-known performances is the song "Praise the Lord". He has also been a fellow member of the Gaither Song Ring, and occasionally tours with Bill Gaither in the Gaither Homecoming concerts. Equally a solo artist and songwriter, Taff is known for the 1980s anthem "We Will Stand".[3] Taff has received diverse Dove and Grammy awards either every bit a solo artist or function of a larger musical group, virtually notably the Imperials.[1]
Early life [edit]
Russ Taff was built-in to Joe and Ann Taff on Nov 11, 1953, the 4th of five sons, and grew upwardly in Farmersville, California. Taff's father was a pastor of a small Pentecostal church building - the Eastside Tabernacle Church which was located in an old laundromat - and machinist while his mother, Ann, was a field worker who picked fruit and chopped cotton.[4]
Taff'due south younger years were taken up with the church and a tumultuous home life where he suffered physical and verbal abuse from both parents. His father's alcoholism, which Taff shared subsequently in life, and exact corruption along with his mom's concrete corruption became overwhelming and disruptive to the immature boy. He retreated to his mother's collection of black and southern gospel albums, as any secular music was forbidden by his parents forth with newspapers, magazines and television receiver.[4] [1]
Past the time he was eleven years erstwhile, Taff had learned to play the guitar which, along with singing, became an outlet for him from the familial strife. He credits his oldest brother, Bill, with being highly influential at this time, taking him to "all-nighttime gospel sings and that sort of affair." The family moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas when Taff was 15 only to move back to California a few years afterward with Taff remaining in Arkansas to start college.[5] It was at this time that he began listening to popular music for the starting time fourth dimension.[vi]
This was likewise the fourth dimension, historically speaking, when the Jesus motility was in prove across the U.s.a.. At historic period xvi, Taff started a band with James Hollihan, Jr. (who became a lifelong musical friend and frequent co-producer) which they named Sounds of Joy. This atomic number 82 to an opportunity to play at the high schoolhouse they attended which opened many opportunities to share their faith with other classmates during this remarkable time in history. Sounds of Joy covered artists like Love Song and Larry Norman and ended up recording 3 albums of their ain, ane of which was produced past Gary Paxton.[one] At 1 point in the 70s, Sounds of Joy got the opportunity to open for the Imperials who were recognized equally one of the trailblazing artists in the field of what became known as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).[i] [5] [vi] [7]
The Imperials [edit]
Old prior to 1976 Taff toured as a vocalist with evangelist Jerry Seville. Aside from the opportunity to perform, he was "really studying the Bible" after his many years of being influenced by the emotionalism of his pentecostal upbringing. In 1976, having fabricated an impression on the group 2 years earlier, the Imperials called with an offer to audition for the position as the group's new lead singer. Two weeks before his 23rd birthday, Taff traveled to Nashville where the try outs were taking place. Taff said "I sang with them that afternoon and that evening they hired me. I joined the Imperials when I was 22, and I've been riding buses ever since." His first appearance on an Imperials album was on 1977's Sail On which won the Grammy for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational. Taff remained their lead singer from 1976 through 1981 for what is recognized as the Imperials about successful menses as a group.[8] [six] [1] [vii] [5]
Part of the reason Taff left the group in 1981 was due to the financial arrangements he had with them. He was paid a straight bacon for his work within the group which meant he did non share in any of the monies generated by ticket or album sales. Marker Allen Powell, writing in the ECCM, opined that this arrangement was probable fine when he get-go signed on with the Imperials, but was not an equitable situation when Taff'due south membership turned the grouping into the 'unmarried acknowledged gimmicky Christian music grouping' in the The states for the period of fourth dimension he was a member.[1] During his fourth dimension with the Imperials the group garnered 3 Grammys and 5 Dove Awards with Taff earning 1 Pigeon Honour himself.[one] It was also during this time, at age 26, that the alcoholism that had been a part of the earlier family dynamic with his father showed up in Taff'south own life.[five]
Solo career to electric current [edit]
His time with the Imperials laid the groundwork for Taff's subsequent solo career. He has released 12 solo albums, earning ii Grammys and five additional Dove Awards.[6] [8] He became highly regarded for his vocal ability with Billboard at one time calling him "the single most electrifying vocalization in Christian music".[half-dozen] Bated from his ain projects, Taff frequently appeared every bit a guest vocalist on other artist's albums. In fact, he mentioned that at one point his characterization had explored the idea of releasing an album of the duets he had sung with other artists, merely soon realized that the resulting record would accept resulted in a double disc worth of material.[1] His 1985 album, Medals, was well received critically moving CCM magazine to predict it would be that years choice for best album. While that prediction did not come to pass, U2'south Unforgettable Burn down received that laurels, it became regarded as a classic amongst gimmicky Christian albums. A 2001 poll of critics undertaken by CCM Magazine placed Medals at 36 on the list of the 'greatest' 100 Christian albums at that fourth dimension. It did receive criticisms of sounding a 'bit likewise derivative' of Hall & Oates and it's themes being as well geared toward "simplistic triumphalism" equally mentioned by Brian Quincy Newcombe and "expressive of a militancy" that was inappropriate for Christian music.[1]
In 1991 Taff was invited by Bill Gaither to join the Gaither Homecoming video series leading to guest appearances in the Homecoming concerts.[half-dozen] He also briefly replaced Michael English in the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994. He had been doing a few solo albums during this time when he released the mainstream country album, Winds of Change (1995), on Reprise which was followed past his return to CCM after a decade-long absence from Christian pop with Right Here, Right Now in 1999, ii years after the death of his father.[ane] [7] He and then joined the Gaither Vocal Band once again, singing with them from 2001 to 2004.[6] [8] He however performs at some of the larger Gaither events along with doing solo appearances ii weekends a month. [5]
I Still Believe, a documentary film on Taff by director Rick Altizer saw limited release in October 2018. The film explores Taff'southward life from early childhood to present day touching on the family strife, singing career and dealing with his ain issues of alcoholism.[4] [5] [vi] [viii]
Personal [edit]
Taff is married and with his wife Tori, who he married the same year he joined the Imperials, has two adult daughters. Tori is quite involved with her husband'due south career as she is his master songwriting partner. Taff'due south history of alcohol corruption, which started when he was 26, did experience a stretch of sobriety from 1988-97 between his father and female parent's deaths, but did not last. He finally gained victory over his addiction through Christian counseling and intense trauma therapy.[5] [8]
Discography [edit]
Solo albums
| Twelvemonth | Album | US Christian | Record label | Tape producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Walls of Glass | 5 | Myrrh | Neb Schnee |
| 1985 | Medals | ii | Jack Joseph Puig | |
| 1987 | Russ Taff | 2 | ||
| 1989 | The Way Home | ane | Darrell Brown, James Hollihan Jr., Taff | |
| 1991 | Nether Their Influence | v | James Hollihan, Jr., Taff | |
| 1992 | A Christmas Song | half-dozen | Sparrow | James Hollihan, Jr. |
| 1995 | Winds of Change | Reprise | Hollihan, Randy Scruggs, Taff | |
| 1999 | Right Hither, 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 | ||
| 2018 | Believe | Sweetwater Studios | Phil Naish, Mark Hornsby |
Compilations
- 1994: Nosotros Will Stand (Yesterday & Today) (Myrrh)
- 2003: The All-time of Russ Taff (Spring Colina)
With the Sounds of Joy
- 1974: YHWH (Shalom Records)
- 1975: Sharin' (JoySong Records)
With the Imperials
- 1977: Sail On (Dayspring/Discussion)
- 1978: Imperials Live (Dayspring/Discussion)
- 1979: Mind The Call (Dayspring/Word)
- 1979: Ane 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/Discussion) compilation
- 1986: Quondam 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 – Archetype Hits (New Haven/Provident) compilation
- 2007: The Definitive Drove (Word/Warner) compilation
With Gaither Song Band
- 2002: Everything Good (SpringHouse/EMI)
- 2003: A Cappella (SpringHouse/EMI)
Appearances on other albums
- 1981: For Every Human being Steve Camp "Thank You"
- 1981: Beloved Flood Sandi Patty "The Habitation of the Lord"
- 1983: More than than a Feelin' Koinonia (Sparrow) "Requite Your Honey", "Divina"
- 1984: For People Who Don't Hear The Music Anymore (Word) Joyce Landorf "I'll keep my optics yous"
- 1984: Dancing with Danger Leslie Phillips (Myrrh) "Strength of My Life"
- 1984: The Praise in The states – A Word Family Praise Album Various Artists (Myrrh) "Simple Song for a Mighty God"
- 1984: Vital Signs – White Heart (Home Sweet Domicile Records/Myrrh) "Nosotros Are His Hands"
- 1985: The Crusade (various artists) (Sparrow) "Practice Something Now"
- 1985: Lulu Roman Smith "King of Who I Am"
- 1985: Sheep in Wolves Article of clothing Mylon LeFevre and Cleaved Center (Myrrh) "Gospel Transport"
- 1988: Phil Keaggy & Sunday'due south Kid Phil Keaggy (Myrrh) "Aint Got No"
- 1988: Can't Buy a Phenomenon Randy Stonehill (Word) "Awfully Loud World"
- 1988: Lead Me On – Amy Grant (A&M) "All Right"
- 1989: Our Hymns (Word) "Near The Cantankerous"
- 1990: Stage 2 Eddie DeGarmo (Fore Front) "There's Something Near That Name"
- 1990: Stolen Moments – John Hiatt (A&G)
- 1990: Through Flood & Burn – Sparks "Jesus Rescues Me" (Reunion)
- 1990: Our Christmas (Word) "Silent Night"
- 1990: Handel's Immature Messiah (A&Thou) "He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd" with Sheila Walsh
- 1991: For Such a Time as This Sheila Walsh (Star Song) "A Dove Amidst Eagles"
- 1991: Large Town – Ashley Cleveland (Atlantic)
- 1991: Bear witness Me Your Fashion 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 Continuing?"
- 1992: No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green (Sparrow) "Your Dear Broke Through"
- 1992: Did Y'all Retrieve to Pray This Morn? – 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/Anarchy)
- 1995: Beyond December – Outset Call (Warner Alliance)
- 1996: Mode I Should – Iris Dement (Warner Bros.)
- 1997: Fire Down Below original soundtrack (Warner Brothers) "I'd Walk Through Burn down"
- 1997: Misguided Roses – Edwin McCain Band (Atlantic)
- 1998: Alabama Vocal – Allison Moorer (MCA)
- 1998: The Apostle original soundtrack (Rising Tide) "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Agree My Body Down"
- 1998: Joy – Melissa Manchester (Capitol)
- 1998: Mission three:16 – Carman (Sparrow) "People of God"
- 1998: Totally Committed – Jeff Foxworthy (Warner Bros.)
- 1998: Jesus Saves Greg Long(Myrrh) "Show That By Me"
- 1999: Vestal & Friends Vestal Goodman "Giver of Life"
- 1999: Bridges original soundtrack (Verity) "Raven and the Dove"
- 2000: Kid of the Hope 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) "Ane Manner"
- 2001: Supernatural – The Raphaels (Track Records)
- 2001: Printing On Selah (Curb) "Were You There"
- 2002: Traveling Lite: Songs from the 23rd Psalm (Brentwood) "Allow Information technology Flow"
- 2002: Border of the World Randy Stonehill (Fair Oaks) "We Were So Young"
- 2004: Ameliorate Days Frank Bradford (Frb Records) "Watergrave"
- 2005: Hymned No. one Bart Millard (of MercyMe) (INO/Epic) "Precious Lord, Have My Hand"
- 2006: Stand Avalon (Sparrow/EMI) "Nosotros Volition Stand up"
- 2008: Autumn Like Pelting Clint Brown (Tribe Records) "I'm Forgiven"
- 2016: Excursion Rider – William Lee Gilt (Gaither Gospel Serial)
Solo singles [edit]
| Yr | Single | The states Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "We Volition Stand up" | Walls of Glass | |
| 1985 | "I'1000 Non Lonely" | Medals | |
| 1995 | "Love Is Not a Thing" | 53 | Winds of Change |
| "Ane and Only Dear" | 51 | ||
| "Bein' Happy" | 66 |
Video [edit]
Long-form
- 1982: More than Than Music No. ane (Word) (originally aired as a TV prove in 1981) "I Go to the Stone", "Here We Are" (duet with Amy Grant)
- 1992: Russ Taff: A Christmas Vocal (Sparrow)
- 2002: I Do Believe Gaither Vocal Band "One Way"
- 2006: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound "Concur To God'southward Unchanging Paw"
- 2007: The Best of Russ Taff From the Gaither Homecoming Series
- 2007: Timeless: Concert of Faith & Inspiration
- 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Vol. 1 "Built-in Again", "Heartbreak Ridge And New Hope Road", "Knowing You'll Be At that place"
- 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion: Vol. 2 "The Actually Big News", "When The Rains Come"
- Concept Music videos
| Twelvemonth | Video | Managing director |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "I'm Not Alone" | |
| "Not Gonna Bow" | ||
| 1989 | "Winds Of Modify" | |
| "I Weep" | ||
| 1991 | "Life'southward Railway to Heaven" | |
| 1995 | "Beloved Is Not a Thing"[9] | Deaton-Flanigen Productions |
| "One And Only Beloved" |
Gaither Homecoming video performances
- 1998: Downward past the Tabernacle "The Tabernacle", "I Saw the Lite"
- 1998: Rivers of Joy "Nosotros Will Stand"
- 1999: I'll Meet Y'all on the Mount "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand"
- 2000: Good News "When He Prepare Me Gratuitous"
- 2000: Irish Homecoming "Ain't No Grave"
- 2000: Whispering Hope "O Say, But I'chiliad Glad"
- 2001: A Billy Graham Music Homecoming, Vol.2 "My Tribute"
- 2001: London Homecoming "We Will Stand"
- 2002: Allow Liberty Ring "When He Calls I'll Wing Abroad"
- 2002: New Orleans Homecoming "Praise The Lord"
- 2003: Australian Homecoming
- 2003: Red Rocks Homecoming "They Call It Gospel Music"
- 2003: Rocky Mount Homecoming "The Workshop of the Lord"
- 2004: Journeying to the Sky "Trumpet Of Jesus"
- 2004: Passin' the Faith Along "Born Again"
- 2004: We Will Stand "Nosotros Will Stand"
- 2005: Jerusalem Homecoming "Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane"
- 2006: Canadian Homecoming "More Than Ever"
- 2006: Live from Toronto "Trumpet Of Jesus"
- 2006: Christmas in Southward Africa "Higher Than Mt. Kilimanjaro"
- 2007: Amazing Grace "Amazing Grace"
- 2008: Homecoming Picnic "The Sweetest Vocal I Know"
- 2009: Joy in My Heart "Jesus Is The All-time Thing"
- 2011: Alaskan Homecoming "Somebody's Coming", "We Will Stand"
- 2011: Majesty "I Shall Article of clothing A Crown"
Awards and honors [edit]
Grammys [edit]
With the Imperials
- 1977 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Sail On
- 1979 All-time Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Listen the Phone call
- 1981 Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary or Inspirational for Priority
Solo
- 1983 Best Gospel Performance, Male for Walls of Glass
- 1991 Best Rock/Gimmicky Gospel Album for Under Their Influence
GMA Doves [edit]
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 Yr
- 1981: Song of the Year – "Praise The Lord"
- 1981: Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1982: Male person 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, also as Joe Moscheo, Terry Blackwood, Sherman Andrus, and Jim Murray)
Solo
- 1984: Male Vocalist of the Twelvemonth
- 1986: Pop/Contemporary Album of the Twelvemonth for Medals
- 1989: Rock Album of the Yr 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 Yr
- 2003: Country Anthology of the Twelvemonth
See also [edit]
Dove Award for Vocal of the Year
Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d east f g h i j k Powell, Mark (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (2nd ed.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers Inc. pp. 913–915. ISBN1-56563-679-i.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music (Showtime ed.). Virgin Books. p. 386. ISBN0-7535-0427-eight.
- ^ "Christian Music Directories". Oct 6, 2010. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010.
- ^ a b c Schmitt, Brad. "Christian singer Russ Taff exposes life of booze, shame and trauma in new film". Tennessean. USA Today Network. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Harris, Craig. "Southern Gospel News SGN Scoops". SGN Scoops. Coastal Media Group. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f chiliad h Jones, Kim. "Russ Taff: A Biography of the Popular Christian Artist". Learn Religions. Dotdash Publishing Family. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c Alfonso, Barry (2002). The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music (First ed.). New York, NY: Billboard Books/Watson-Guptill Publications. pp. 251–252. ISBN0-8230-7718-7.
- ^ a b c d e Longs, Herb. "Russ & Tori Taff. . .Still Assertive". The Christian Vanquish.org. The Christian Vanquish. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : Russ Taff : Beloved Is Not A Affair". Land Music Boob tube. Retrieved October xiv, 2011.
Sources [edit]
- Encyclopedia of Gimmicky Christian Music; Powell; pp 46, 47; Hendrickson Publishers; Pap/Cdr edition (August 2002) ISBN 1-56563-679-ane ISBN 978-1565636798
- Alfonso, Barry (2002) s The Billboard Guide to Contemporary Christian Music
- Jones, Kim (2008) Most.com
- Larkin, Colin (2006) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
- Mansfield, Brian (2005) Allmusic.com
- TPE Interview (2006). Today'due south Pentecostal Evangel
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Russ Taff at AllMusic
- The Imperials official website
- Gaither Homecoming website
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Taff
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