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Russ Taff was born the fourth of five sons to a fire-breathing Pentecostal preacher father and a Gospel music-loving mother. He learned early on that when he sang, people responded. Some of his earliest memories are of being balanced on the church altar by his mother’s strong arms while he belted out a Gospel chorus to the rollicking encouragement of the tiny congregation. His trademark rich, emotion-drenched vocals were formed in that fertile environment.
His mother’s extensive collection of Gospel records was the only form of entertainment their strict upbringing allowed, so after school Russ would rush home to listen to his favorites. Lying on the floor between two old stereo speakers, the plaintive, powerful sounds of artists like Mahalia Jackson and the Five Blind Boys Of Alabama literally filled his head with music. “It really spoke to me,” Taff says. “I would close my eyes and just float away with those voices.” A natural harmony singer, Russ often teamed with his brothers to perform songs by the great quartets of the day - The Statesmen, The Gospel Echoes, and The Blackwood Brothers. “Those guys were like the Beatles or Elvis to me,” Russ laughs.
When Taff moved to Arkansas in his teens, he began listening to popular music for the first time in his life, and found inspiration there too. Contemporary Christian Music was gaining prominence and the traditional lines between ‘secular’ and ‘sacred’ were starting to blur. Russ
formed a local band called Sounds of Joy, and began writing songs that combined the spiritual truths of his childhood with |
the music of his generation.
Two years after his band served as an opening act for the legendary Imperials, Taff was invited to join them as lead vocalist. “I was so green,” he remembers fondly. “But the Imperials handed me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I was thrilled to be able to do what I loved to do and have it count as a real job!” With the Imperials, he toured extensively and gained recognition as ‘the voice’ behind the award-winning songs such as “Praise The Lord,” “Trumpet of Jesus,” and “I’m Forgiven.” These pivotal recordings successfully completed the group’s transition from traditional to Contemporary Christian.
Eager to experience and explore all aspects of music, Taff left the Imperials after four and a half years to pursue a solo career. He captured the imagination of the industry by successfully releasing a series of innovative works that delved into his musical heritage while pushing the boundaries of Contemporary Christian Music. Taff’s lyrics, often co-written with his wife Tori, chronicled his personal spiritual path. Soaring, aching, raucous or tender, the songs Russ chose to wrap his one-of-a-king voice around were unflinchingly honest.
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