Larnelle Harris
Encyclopedia
Larnelle Steward Harris (born July 6, 1947) is a gospel
singer and songwriter
. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts.
, Harris started playing the piano at the age of nine. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University
, from which he graduated in 1969. Harris then became a part of the popular gospel touring group The Spurrlows (beginning as drummer). He received notability for his solo work and as member of the Gaither Vocal Band
from 1984 through 1987.
called, "More than Wonderful" and "I've Just Seen Jesus." His song, "Mighty Spirit" was featured in a 1993 television
campaign for the Points of Light Foundation
, headed by President George H. W. Bush
; he performed the song for Bush and his wife Barbara at the White House
. His recording of "All Along the Way," co-written by Greg Nelson (producer)
and Daniel Joseph Schafer
, reached the #1 spot on the CCM Christian Inspirational charts.
Harris has received an honorary doctorate of music from Campbellsville University
in central Kentucky. He was inducted into the Western Kentucky University
Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1993.
, several Billy Graham
crusades, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network
. He has appeared on numerous Gaither Homecoming
shows, and his own Christmas special. In his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky
, Harris has made many appearances on the WHAS Crusade for Children
, a long-running local telethon benefitting children's charities. In 1995, Harris was featured in the Warren Chaney
docudrama
, America: A Call to Greatness
.
. They have two children Lonnie (Larnelle Jr.) and Teresa. They have lived in Louisville for more than three decades. Despite his schedule, Harris serves as a deacon in his home church, and previously served as its treasurer. Harris is well-known within the gospel music industry for his reluctance to schedule performances that take him away from his family for any length of time.
Inducted into the Gospel Music Association
Foundation Hall of Fame
on October 29, 2007
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts.
Early life
A native of Danville, KentuckyDanville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
, Harris started playing the piano at the age of nine. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
, from which he graduated in 1969. Harris then became a part of the popular gospel touring group The Spurrlows (beginning as drummer). He received notability for his solo work and as member of the Gaither Vocal Band
Gaither Vocal Band
The Gaither Vocal Band is a Grammy award-winning Christian music vocal group, headed by Bill Gaither. They originally recorded contemporary Christian music, but after the popularity of the Gaither Homecoming videos, the group has become known for southern gospel.-Group history:The Gaither Vocal...
from 1984 through 1987.
Music
Of Harris' many chart-topping songs, perhaps his best-known are his duets with Sandi PattySandi Patty
Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty is an American Christian music singer. For many years she was known as Sandi Patti. She has been dubbed "The Voice" by critics, because of her wide range and flexibility.-Early life:...
called, "More than Wonderful" and "I've Just Seen Jesus." His song, "Mighty Spirit" was featured in a 1993 television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
campaign for the Points of Light Foundation
Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network
The Points of Light Institute is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in the United States of America dedicated to engaging more people and resources in solving serious social problems...
, headed by President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
; he performed the song for Bush and his wife Barbara at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. His recording of "All Along the Way," co-written by Greg Nelson (producer)
Greg Nelson (producer)
Greg Nelson is a music producer from Nashville, Tennessee.- Overview and early career :Nelson was born in Bismarck, North Dakota...
and Daniel Joseph Schafer
Daniel Joseph Schafer
Daniel Joseph Schafer , known professionally as Dan Schafer, is an American country music and Christian singer, lead guitarist, songwriter, and actor, who has toured with Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, George Jones, Lorrie Morgan, T. Graham Brown, and played bass on the Grand Ole Opry for six years...
, reached the #1 spot on the CCM Christian Inspirational charts.
Harris has received an honorary doctorate of music from Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University, also known as CU, is a private university in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the seat of Taylor County. Founded as Russell Creek Academy, a Baptist institution, the university currently enrolls more than 3,000 students and is open to students of all denominations...
in central Kentucky. He was inducted into the Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1993.
Television work
Harris has appeared live on television series such as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The 700 ClubThe 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
, several Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
crusades, and the Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
. He has appeared on numerous Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming
Gaither Homecoming is the name applied to a series of videos, music recordings and concerts, which are organized, promoted and usually presented by Christian music songwriter and impresario Bill Gaither...
shows, and his own Christmas special. In his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Harris has made many appearances on the WHAS Crusade for Children
WHAS Crusade for Children
The WHAS Crusade for Children is an annual telethon broadcast by WHAS-TV and WHAS Radio in Louisville, Kentucky. The telethon benefits a wide range of children's charities throughout Kentucky and southern Indiana....
, a long-running local telethon benefitting children's charities. In 1995, Harris was featured in the Warren Chaney
Warren Chaney
Warren Herbert Chaney, Ph.D. is an American executive, author, filmmaker, behavioral scientist, entertainer, businessman and a pioneer in early television. In a career spanning four decades, Chaney wrote fifteen books, fourteen screenplays, and seventy-eight professional and nonprofessional...
docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
, America: A Call to Greatness
America: A Call to Greatness
America: A Call to Greatness is a 1995 docudrama feature from Paige-Brace Cinema, chronicling United States history from its inception through the 20th century. It stars Charlton Heston, Mickey Rooney, Deborah Winters, Peter Graves, Jane Russell, and Rita Moreno among others and was written,...
.
Personal life
Harris met his wife Cynthia (Mitzi) while both were students at at Western Kentucky UniversityWestern Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
. They have two children Lonnie (Larnelle Jr.) and Teresa. They have lived in Louisville for more than three decades. Despite his schedule, Harris serves as a deacon in his home church, and previously served as its treasurer. Harris is well-known within the gospel music industry for his reluctance to schedule performances that take him away from his family for any length of time.
Discography
- 1978: Free
- 1980: Give Me More Love in My Heart
- 1982: Touch Me Lord
- 1983: I've Just Seen Jesus
- 1986: Larnelle...Christmas
- 1987: From a Servant's Hearts
- 1987: The Father Hath Provided
- 1989: I Can Begin Again
- 1990: Larnelle Live...Psalms Hymns & Spiritual Songs (with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir)
- 1992: I Choose Joy
- 1994: Beyond All the Limits
- 1995: Unbelievable Love
- 1998: First Love
- 2001: A Story To Tell
- 2005: I Want To Be A Star
Video
- 1991: Larnelle Live: My Time With You (VHS)
- 1992: I Choose Joy (VHS)
- 2005: Timeless: Concert of Faith & Inspiration (various artists)
Gaither Homecoming performances
- 1998: Down By The Tabernacle "I Go To The Rock"
- 1999: Kennedy Center Homecoming "America, The Beautiful", "I've Just Seen Jesus" with Sandi PattySandi PattySandra Faye "Sandi" Patty is an American Christian music singer. For many years she was known as Sandi Patti. She has been dubbed "The Voice" by critics, because of her wide range and flexibility.-Early life:...
- 2002: God Bless America "Jesus Saves"
- 2002: Let Freedom Ring "More Than Wonderful" with Sandi Patty
- 2003: Going Home "Friends In High Places"
- 2004: Dottie Rambo with Homecoming Friends "I Go To The Rock"
- 2004: We Will Stand "Dream On"
- 2005: Israel Homecoming "Amen"
- 2005: Jerusalem Homecoming "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked"
- 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Volume 1 "Your First Day In Heaven", "Can't Stop Talking About Him", "A Few Good Men"
- 2009: Gaither Vocal Band Reunion Volume 2 "Dream On", "Build An Ark", "The Love Of God"
- 2011: Alaskan Homecoming "How Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou Art may refer to:*"How Great Thou Art" by Carl Boberg*How Great Thou Art *How Great Thou Art *How Great Thou Art, an album by The Statler Brothers...
", "The Star Spangled Banner" - 2011: Majesty "I’ve Just Seen Jesus" with Ladye Love Smith
- 2011: Tent Revival Homecoming "I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted"
- 2011: The Old Rugged Cross "His Eye Is On The Sparrow"
Grammy Awards
- 1983: Best Gospel Performance by Duo or Group for "More Than Wonderful" with Sandi Patty
- 1985: Best Gospel Performance by Duo or Group for "I've Just Seen Jesus" with Sandi Patty
- 1985: Best Solo Gospel Performance for "How Excellent Is Thy Name"
- 1987: Best Gospel Performance, Male for The Father Hath Provided
- 1998: Best Gospel Performance, Male for Larnelle...Christmas
GMA Dove Awards
- 1981: Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year for Give Me More Love In My Heart
- 1983: Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1983: Inspirational Album of the Year for Touch Me Lord
- 1986: Inspirational Album of the Year for I've Just Seen Jesus
- 1986: Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1988: Songwriter of the Year
- 1988: Male Vocalist of the Year
- 1992: Inspirational Album of the Year for Larnelle Live...Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs
- 1993: Inspirational Album of the Year for Generation 2 Generation
- 1996: Inspirational Album of the Year for Unbelievable Love
Inducted into the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
Foundation Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
on October 29, 2007
Other honors
- Silver Bell Award for Distinguished Public Service presented by Ad CouncilAd CouncilThe Advertising Council, commonly known as the Ad Council, is an American non-profit organization that distributes public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors, including non-profit organizations and agencies of the United States government....
- Cashbox Magazine Award for Contemporary Gospel Single of the Year for "I Can Begin Again"
- Stellar Award, Best Solo Performance by Male Contemporary for "The Father Hath Provided"
- Singing NewsSinging NewsThe Singing News is an American magazine which focuses on the Southern Gospel music industry....
Fan Award for Favorite Black Artist