Russell 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".
Solo albums 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 1981: For Every Man Steve Camp "Thank You" 1981: Love Overflowing Sandi Patty "The Home Of The Lord" 1983: More than a Feelin' Koinonia (Sparrow) "Give Your Love", "Divina" 1984: Dancing with Danger Leslie Phillips (Myrrh) "Strength of My Life" 1984: The Praise In Us – A Word Family Praise Album Various Artists (Myrrh) "Simple Song For A Mighty God" 1985: The CAUSE (various artists) (Sparrow) "Do Something Now" 1985: Lulu Roman Smith 1985: Sheep In Wolves Clothing Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart (Myrrh) "Gospel Ship" 1988: Phil Keaggy & Sunday's Child 1988: Can't Buy a Miracle Randy Stonehill (Word) "Awfully Loud World" 1988: Lead Me On Amy Grant (A&M) 1989: Our Hymns (Word) "Near The Cross" 1990: Phase II Eddie DeGarmo (Fore Front) "There's Something About That Name" 1990: Stolen Moments John Hiatt (A&M) 1990: Through Flood & Fire – Sparks "Jesus Rescues Me" (Reunion) 1990: Our Christmas (Word) "Silent Night " 1990: Handel's Young Messiah (A&M) "He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd" with Sheila Walsh 1991: For Such a Time as This Sheila Walsh (Star Song) "A Dove Amongst Eagles" 1991: Big Town Ashley Cleveland (Atlantic) 1991: Show Me Your Way 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 Standing?" 1992: No Compromise: Remembering the Music of Keith Green (Sparrow) "Your Love Broke Through" 1992: Did You Think to Pray This Morning? – The Johnson Sisters with Russ Taff (Canaan) 1993: Lead Me Not Lari White (RCA) 1993: Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams 1995: Beyond December – First Call (Warner Alliance) 1996: Way I Should – Iris DeMent (Warner Bros.) 1997: Fire Down Below 1997: Misguided Roses Edwin McCain Band (Atlantic) 1998: Alabama Song – Allison Moorer (MCA) 1998: The Apostle 1998: Joy – Melissa Manchester (Capitol) 1998: Mission 3:16 Carman (Sparrow) "People of God" 1998: Totally Committed Jeff Foxworthy (Warner Bros.) 1998: Jesus Saves Greg Long (Myrrh) "Prove That By Me" 1999: Vestal & Friends Vestal Goodman "Giver of Life" 1999: Bridges original soundtrack (Verity) "Raven and the Dove" 2000: Child of the Promise 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) "One Way" 2001: Supernatural – The Raphaels (Track Records) 2001: Press On Selah (Curb) "Were You There" 2002: Traveling Light: Songs from the 23rd Psalm (Brentwood) "Let It Flow" 2002: Edge of the World Randy Stonehill (Fair Oaks) "We Were So Young" 2004: Better Days Frank Bradford (Frb Records) "Watergrave" 2005: Hymned No. 1 Bart Millard (of MercyMe ) (INO/Epic) "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" 2006: Stand Avalon (Sparrow/EMI) "We Will Stand" 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) 2002: 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 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 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" 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 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 2016: Inducted into the GMA's Gospel Music Hall of Fame Nominations with the Gaither Vocal Band 2003: Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year 2003: Country Album of the Year 
