23 Facts About Russ Taff

Russell Taff was born on November 11,1953 and is an American gospel singer and songwriter who grew up in Farmersville, California.

Russ Taff has sung a variety of musical styles throughout his career including: pop rock, traditional Southern gospel, contemporary country music, and rhythm and blues.

Russ Taff first gained recognition as lead vocalist for the Imperials.

Russ Taff has been a member of the Gaither Vocal Band, and occasionally tours with Bill Gaither in the Gaither Homecoming concerts.

Russ Taff has received various Dove and Grammy awards either as a solo artist or part of a larger musical group, most notably the Imperials.

Russ Taff was born to Joe and Ann Taff on November 11,1953, the fourth of five sons, and grew up in Farmersville, California.

Russ Taff's father was a pastor of a small Pentecostal church - 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.

Russ Taff retreated to his mother's collection of black and southern gospel albums, as any secular music was forbidden by his parents along with newspapers, magazines and TV.

At age 16, Russ Taff started a band with James Hollihan, Jr.

Sometime prior to 1976, Russ Taff toured as a singer with evangelist Jerry Savelle.

Two weeks before his 23rd birthday, Russ Taff traveled to Nashville, where the tryouts were taking place.

Russ Taff remained their lead singer from 1976 through 1981 for what is recognized as the Imperials most successful period as a group.

Part of the reason Russ Taff left the group in 1981 was due to the financial arrangements he had with them.

Russ Taff was paid a straight salary for his work within the group, which meant he did not share in any of the monies generated by ticket or album sales.

Mark Allen Powell, writing in the ECCM, opined that this arrangement was likely fine when he first signed on with the Imperials, but was not an equitable situation when Russ Taff's membership turned the group into the 'single best-selling contemporary Christian music group' in the US for the period of time he was a member.

Russ Taff has released 12 solo albums, earning two Grammys and five additional Dove Awards.

Russ Taff became highly regarded for his vocal ability with Billboard at one time calling him "the single most electrifying voice in Christian music".

In 1991, Russ Taff was invited by Bill Gaither to join the Gaither Homecoming video series leading to guest appearances in the Homecoming concerts.

Russ Taff briefly replaced Michael English in the Gaither Vocal Band in 1994.

Russ Taff had been doing a few solo albums during this time when he released the mainstream country album, Winds of Change, on Reprise which was followed by his return to CCM after a decade-long absence from Christian pop with Right Here, Right Now in 1999, two years after the death of his father.

Russ Taff then joined the Gaither Vocal Band again, singing with them from 2001 to 2004.

Russ Taff is married and with his wife Tori, whom he married the same year he joined the Imperials, has two adult daughters.

Russ Taff finally gained victory over his addiction through Christian counseling and intense trauma therapy.