MUSIC

Christian Artist Russ Taff through the years

Ann and Joe Taff, right, with their five sons in front of the family Ford Fairlane around 1957. Russ Taff, 4, is the second from the right.
Ann and Joe Taff, right, with their five sons in front of the family Ford Fairlane around 1957. Russ Taff, 4, is the second from the right.
Submitted
A family photo of the Taff family in Farmerville, Calif., around 1960, when Russ, in white shirt and black bowtie, was about 7, shortly before he first saw his father drunk for the first time.
A family photo of the Taff family in Farmerville, Calif., around 1960, when Russ, in white shirt and black bowtie, was about 7, shortly before he first saw his father drunk for the first time.
Submitted
Russ Taff, in ninth grade, holding an electric guitar, rehearses with his brothers so they could sing at their father's church revivals across the South.
Russ Taff, in ninth grade, holding an electric guitar, rehearses with his brothers so they could sing at their father's church revivals across the South.
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Russ Taff as a high school sophomore in 1969 in Farmersville, Calif., at Exeter High.
Russ Taff as a high school sophomore in 1969 in Farmersville, Calif., at Exeter High.
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Senior pic for Russ Taff when he was at Cutter Morning Star high school in 1971 in Hot Springs, Ark.
Senior pic for Russ Taff when he was at Cutter Morning Star high school in 1971 in Hot Springs, Ark.
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Christian artist Russ Taff, center, with his parents Ann Taff, left, and Joe Taff, right in Arkansas in the early 1970s.
Christian artist Russ Taff, center, with his parents Ann Taff, left, and Joe Taff, right in Arkansas in the early 1970s.
Submitted
A wedding picture of Russ Taff and his wife, Tori, in 1976 in Hot Springs, Ark.
A wedding picture of Russ Taff and his wife, Tori, in 1976 in Hot Springs, Ark.
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Russ Taff with his wife, Tori, around 1980 in Tori's parents' house in Hot Springs, Ark.
Russ Taff with his wife, Tori, around 1980 in Tori's parents' house in Hot Springs, Ark.
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Russ Taff's mother, Ann, around 1985 with grapes growing at her house in California.
Russ Taff's mother, Ann, around 1985 with grapes growing at her house in California.
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Russ Taff sits amid Grammys and Doves heÕs won as a contemporary Christian rocker at his Hillside Dr. home in Nashville Jan. 6, 1987. Despite these honors and Billboard recognition in 1983 and Õ84 as the best-selling inspirational male artist, Taff isnÕt yet as famous as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Sandi Patti in the new contemporary Christian field.
Russ Taff sits amid Grammys and Doves heÕs won as a contemporary Christian rocker at his Hillside Dr. home in Nashville Jan. 6, 1987. Despite these honors and Billboard recognition in 1983 and Õ84 as the best-selling inspirational male artist, Taff isnÕt yet as famous as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Sandi Patti in the new contemporary Christian field.
Rick Musacchio / The Tennessean
Joe Taff, the father of Christian artist, Russ Taff, in California about 10 years before he died.
Joe Taff, the father of Christian artist, Russ Taff, in California about 10 years before he died.
Submitted
Christian artist Russ Taff with his wife Tori and his two daughters Maddie Rose and Charlotte around 1998 in their West End Avenue area home
Christian artist Russ Taff with his wife Tori and his two daughters Maddie Rose and Charlotte around 1998 in their West End Avenue area home
Submitted
The movie poster for the autobiographical film about Russ Taff's lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
The movie poster for the autobiographical film about Russ Taff's lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
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Longtime Christian artist Russ Taff talks about lifelong struggles with trauma and alcohol at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff will release an autobiographical film Oct. 30.
Longtime Christian artist Russ Taff talks about lifelong struggles with trauma and alcohol at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff will release an autobiographical film Oct. 30.
Helen Comer / DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 will be releasing an autobiographical film about his lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 will be releasing an autobiographical film about his lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Tori and Russ Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
Tori and Russ Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff holds a signed baseball in his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, that he was given while going through therapy for alcoholism and childhood trauma. Taff's parents never through him a birthday party so when he was going through therapy he was given a baseball, the toy he said he would have wanted when he was eight for his birthday.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff holds a signed baseball in his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, that he was given while going through therapy for alcoholism and childhood trauma. Taff's parents never through him a birthday party so when he was going through therapy he was given a baseball, the toy he said he would have wanted when he was eight for his birthday.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Tori Taff talks about her life with her husband Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff and dealing with his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.
Tori Taff talks about her life with her husband Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff and dealing with his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Russ and Tori Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
Russ and Tori Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Russ and Tori Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
Russ and Tori Taff in their Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his life long struggle with alcoholism.
Helen Comer / DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 will be releasing an autobiographical film about his lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 will be releasing an autobiographical film about his lifelong struggles with alcoholism.
HELEN COMER/DNJ
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff, right, talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 as his wife Tori Taff, left, listens to his story. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
Veteran Christian artist Russ Taff, right, talks about his childhood and his lifelong struggles with alcoholism, at his Bell Buckle home on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 as his wife Tori Taff, left, listens to his story. Taff is coming out with an autobiographical film about his addition that will be released soon.
HELEN COMER/DNJ