Larnelle Harris

Biography

Larnelle Harris is a Gospel singer, songwiter and recording artist. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several recordings rise to #1 on Inspirational Music charts. A native of Danville, Kentucky[1], Harris started playing the piano by age 9. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University, from which he graduated in 1969. He later became a part of the popular Gos...

Larnelle Harris is a Gospel singer, songwiter and recording artist. During his 30-plus years of ministry, Harris has recorded 18 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards, and has had several recordings rise to #1 on Inspirational Music charts.

A native of Danville, Kentucky[1], Harris started playing the piano by age 9. His first formal vocal training came when he attended college at Western Kentucky University, from which he graduated in 1969. He later became a part of the popular Gospel touring group "The Spurlows." He gained fame with both his solo work, and his work as part of the Gaither Vocal Band, headed by Gospel musician and recording executive Bill Gaither.

His many live and televised appearances include Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The 700 Club, several Billy Graham crusades, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, 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.

Of his many chart-topping songs, perhaps his best-known are his duets with Sandi Patty 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.

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.

Harris, his wife Cynthia, and children Lonnie and Teresa 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.

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