Larnelle Steward Harris (born July 6, 1947) is an American Gospel singer and songwriter. During his 50 years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 11 Dove Awards and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts.
A native of Danville, Kentucky, Harris started playing the drums 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) and recorded two albums with the Christian band First Gear. Harris' solo career began in 1975 with his first album Tell It to Jesus.
In between his solo albums, Harris was a member of Bill Gaither's southern gospel vocal group The Gaither Vocal Band from 1984 to 1987. As an African-American artist who appeals to primarily white audiences, Harris has been in a position to address issues of racial tension within churches and to cross boundaries that still remain as a legacy of intentional segregation. Harris began to develop as a songwriter and he scored a hit with his composition "I Miss My Time With You" from his 1986 album From a Servant's Heart.
Harris is best known for his duets with fellow multi-award winning Christian singer Sandi Patty with "More Than Wonderful" and "I've Just Seen Jesus," for which they both won their first two Grammy Awards together for those songs. Over the years, Harris has incorporated a variety of musical styles with big production numbers, hymnic ballads, inspirational and even R&B/pop. Harris has also participated on the Gaither Homecoming albums and videos.
More information on Larnelle Harris at Wikipedia:
Discography
with First Gear:
First Gear featuring Larnelle Harris (1972)
Caution! Steep Hill Use... (1974)
Solo albums:
Tell It to Jesus (1975)
Larnelle...More (1977)
Free (1978)
The Best of Larnelle (1982) (Word Records compilation)
The Best of 10 Years, Vol. 1 & 2 (1991) (Benson Records compilation)
First Love (1998)
A Story to Tell (2000)
Pass the Love (2002)
I Want to Be a Star (2005)
Live in Nashville (2013)
Disturb Us, Lord (2017)
with The Gaither Vocal Band:
New Point of View (1984)
One X 1 (1986)