Russ Taff, the christian west coast voice.
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 sat up and responded with feeling. 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. After moving to Arkansas in his teens, Taff began his singing career by forming a local band called Sounds of Joy, before being invited to join the legendary group The Imperials. As the lead vocalist with The Imperials, he toured extensively and recorded a number of award-winning albums. Leaving to pursue a solo career, Taff gained further industry prominence by releasing a series of innovative works that simultaneously delved into his musical heritage while pushing the boundaries of contemporary Christian music.
Never predictable, always diverse, Taff laughs about his eclectic musical tastes. “I guess I’m just not a right-down-the-middle kind of guy,” he cheerfully admits. “I’ve always colored outside of the lines a little bit. Musically, I try to never place restrictions on myself. If it moves me, I figure it will probably move other people too.” Apparently he’s right. However you choose to label it, Russ Taff’s music has won a wide audience and garnered the kind of critical acclaim that has resulted in a total of five Grammy awards and nine Gospel Music Association Dove awards.
On Right Here Right Now, Taff has once again teamed with his longtime co-producer and guitarist James Hollihan Jr., and wife Tori, who he describes as “my favorite lyricist.” This album also marks the beginning of a writing collaboration with Marcus Hummon, a well-known and highly respected Nashville tunesmith.
“We’ve been able to do some things I’ve always wanted to do on this project,” says Taff. “There’s a real wide range of experiences here, with a lot of different colors.” If that sounds more like a painter than a singer speaking, there’s a reason for that too. Taff is indeed an artist.
The song palette of Right Here Right Now ranges from the intensely heartfelt “Cry For Mercy,” to the rowdy rocker, “Lazarus, Get Up,” and includes an extraordinarily triumphant, almost cinematic composition called “Shadow Of The Cross.” Two of the most poignant cuts deal with Taff’s often conflicted relationship with his father, who died last year. One of them, “Long Hard Road” speaks with painful candor of the complications of this loss.
Right Here Right Now is a benchmark; a pivotal album by an artist clearly at the top of his form. The listener is invited to join on the road toward grace and redemption – a road we’re all traveling – with a man of passion, faith and resilience.
Read more about Russ Taff at his official website.
Discography
The Ultimate Collection
Word Entertainment 2014
Tracks: Tell Them, Jeremiah, We Will Stand, Unto The Lamb, Silent Love, Medals, Not Gonna Bow, Here I Am, Rock Solid, Walk Between The Lines, Believe In Love, I Still Believe, Winds Of Change, I Cry & Farther On.
Musicians on the Ultimate Collection: Russ Taff and others.
Beginnings
Word Entertainment 2014
Tracks: The Trumpet Of Jesus, Finish What You Started, Any Good Time At All, Be Still My Soul, I´m Forgiven, Eagle Song, Higher Power, What I Can Do For You, Closer Than Ever, Let Jesus Do It For You, Overcomer & Praise The Lord.
Musicians on the Beginnings album: Russ Taff and others.
Faroe Islands
Spring Hill Music Group 2011
Tracks: Here Comes Jesus, Harvest Heaven, Missionary Man, God´s Love, Lifting Me Higher, Ecclesiastes, You´re Still So Good, Man Of Sorrow, Mend This Broken Heart, Help Me, Rock Bound, Go Play In The Sun, I Believe In You, Love Is A Cross & Day By Day.
Musicians on Faroe Islands album: Russ Taff and others.
A Sentimental Christmas
Spring Hill Music 2010
Tracks: Go Tell It On The Mountain, The Christmas Song, Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Christmas Time Is Here, Here´s To Life, Winter Wonderland, Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep, Christ Is Born, Peace & It´s Christmas Again.
Musician on the A Sentimental Christmas: Russ Taff and others.
Now More Than Ever
Spring House Productions 2007
Tracks: Somebody´s Comin´, The Sweetest Song I Know, I´m Glad, More Than Ever, Just Believe, The Really Big News, Jesus Is The Best Thing, Thanks To Calvary, Until I Found The Lord, Jesus Love Me, I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary, Heartbreak Ridge And New Hope Road, At The Altar & Hurt By Hurt.
Musicians on Now More Than Ever album: Russ Taff and others.
The Best Of Russ Taff
Spring House Productions 2003
Tracks: When He Set Me Free, O Say But I´m Glad, Hold To God´s Unchanging Hand, My Tribute, He Came Through, We Will Stand, Why Me?, Born Again, Praise The Lord, Trumpet Of Jesus, Farther Along, They Call It Gospel Music, For Those Tears I Died, When He Calls I´ll Fly Away & Ain´t No Grave.
Musicians on the The Best Of Russ Taff album: Russ Taff, Anthony Burger, Otis Forrest, Tim Parton, Gary Prim, Jason Webb, Shannon Forrest, John Hammond, Jerry Kroon, Gary Lunn, Duncan Mullins, David Smith, Milton Smith, Buddy Greene, Kelly Back, Mike Severs, Kevin Williams, Bobby All, Mike Allen, Michael Black, Jennifer Enoch, Shelton Feazell, Joy Gardner, Stephen Hill, Bonnie Keen, Ladye Love Smith, Reggie Smith & Woody Wright.
Right Here Right Now
Benson Records 1999
Tracks: Somebody´s Comin´, Back Into Grace, Make Me Whole, Right Here Right Now, Things Will Be Different, Cry For Mercy, Long Hard Road, Lazarus, As Long As You´re With Me, Shadow Of The Cross (1st Movement), Shadow Of The Cross (2nd Movement) & Shadow Of The Cross (3rd Movement).
Musicians on the Right Here, Right Now album: Russ Taff, Marcus Hummon, The Otis Redwing Quartet, Bonnie Keen, Marty McCall, Molly Felder, James Hollihan Jr., Nashville String Machine, Gale Farrell, Mary George, Leslie Norton & Robbie Shankle.
Winds Of Change
Warner Bros 1995
Tracks: Bein' Happy, One And Only Love, Love Is Not A Thing, I Cry, I'd Fall In Love, Tonight, Winds Of Change, Your Face, Heart Like Yours, Once In A Lifetime & Home To You.
Musicians on the Winds Of Change album: Russ Taff, Jerry Douglas, Michael English, Matt Rollings, John Darnall, Cynthia Clawson, John Wesley Ryles, Michael Black, Mike Brignardello, Terry Crisp, Paul Franklin, Rob Hajacos, Larry Hall, John Hammond, James Hollihan Jr., John Jarvis, Bonnie Keen, Paul Leim, Chris Leuzinger, Mac McAnally, Jonell Mosser, Nashville String Machine, Steve Nathan, Al Perkins, Tom Roady, Randy Scruggs, Billy Joe Walker, Jr., Willie Weeks, Curtis Young, Dennis Wilson & Jackie Streets.
We Will Stand
Myrrh Records 1994
Tracks: Rock Solid, Walk Between The Lines, Here I Am, Believe in love, Not Gonna Bow, I Still Believe, Silent Love, We Will Stand, Farther On, Winds Of Change, I Cry, Trumpet Of Jesus, Praise The Lord & Your Love Stays With Me.
Musicians on the We Will Stand album: Russ Taff and others.
A Christmas Song
Sparrow Records 1992
Tracks: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Angels We Have Heard On High, The Christmas Song, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Let It Snow Let It Snow, White Christmas, What Child Is This?, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear & What A Wonderful World.
Musicians on the A Christmas Song album: Russ Taff, Matt Rollings, Mark Douthit, John Hammond, Mike Haynes, James Hollihan, Jr., Byron House, Nashville String Machine & Alan Hammond.
Under Their Influence
Myrrh Records 1991
Tracks: God Don't Never Change, Search Me Lord, God's Unchanging Hand, Life's Railway To Heaven, Were You There, As An Eagle Stirreth Her Nest, Just Believe, Everybody Shoulda Really Oughta Been There, There's A Hand & Ain't No.
Musicians on the Under Their Influences album: Russ Taff and others.
The Way Home
Myrrh Records 1989
Tracks: Winds Of Change, It Was Love, Farther On, The River Unbroken, He Came Through, I Cry, I Need You, Go On, Ain't No Grave, Guiding Light, Take My Hand & Table In The Wilderness.
Musicians on the The Way Home album: Russ Taff and others.
Russ Taff
Myrrh Records 1987
Tracks: Believe In Love, Breathe Life Into Me, Down In The Lowlands, Healing Touch, Higher, I Still Believe, (Living On The) Edge Of Time, Shake, Steal Away, This Love Is Strong & Walk Between The Lines.
Musicians on the Russ Taff album: Russ Taff and others.
Medals
Myrrh Records 1985
Tracks: Vision, I'm Not Alone, Medals, Not Gonna Bow, Here I Am, I've Come Too Far, Silent Love, How Much It Hurts, Rock Solid & God Only Knows.
Musicians on the Medals album: Russ Taff, James Newton-Howard, Bill Champlin, Tata Vega, Robbie Buchanan, Lenny Castro, Tamara Champlin, Nathan East, Tommy Funderburk, Dann Huff, Michael Landau, Paul Leim, Lynn Nichols, Neil Stubenhaus, Larry Williams, Harry Browning, Carmen Twitty & Paul Jackson.
Walls Of Glass
Myrrh Records 1983
Tracks: Tell Them, Walls Of Glass, I Want To Change, Pure In Heart, We Will Stand, Jeremiah, Inside Look, Just Believe, Kathryn's Song & Unto The Lamb.
Musicians on the Walls Of Glass album: Russ Taff and others.