Background and career
Larnelle Steward Harris (born July 11, 1947) is an American gospel singer and songwriter. During his multiple decades of ministry, Harris has recorded 22 albums, won five Grammy Awards and 11 Dove Awards, and has had several number one songs on the inspirational music charts. Known for his classically trained tenor voice blended with the expressive power of Black Gospel, he has been a major presence in contemporary Christian music for more than fifty years.
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. Harris then became a part of the popular gospel touring group The Spurrlows (beginning as drummer). Harris grew up in a Black family shaped by faith, hardship, music, and perseverance. His parents, Oscar Harris Jr. and Ida “May” Dodd Harris, taught him discipline, prayer, and trust in God, even while living through the racial tensions and segregation of the 1950s and 1960s. Though he experienced the painful realities of racism, Harris was not raised to hate, but to live with wisdom, dignity, and faith. His mother's prayers and the influence of church helped shape his heart, while his musical gift was discovered early as a boy soprano. Over time, Harris came to see his voice not merely as talent, but as a gift from God to proclaim grace, hope, forgiveness, and the love of Jesus Christ.
Harris began playing piano at age nine and later studied drums. After graduating from Western Kentucky University in 1969, he toured as a drummer with the gospel group The Spurrlows. He later fronted the jazz-funk band First Gear, releasing First Gear (1972) and Caution! Steep Hill Use First Gear (1974). At the start of his solo ascent, Harris developed vocal nodules due to chronic overuse and a grueling tour schedule. This diagnosis forced him into a full year of complete vocal rest, during which he was unable to speak or sing, relying on a pen and notepad to communicate. This "year of silence" was a profound spiritual turning point; he shifted from relying on his natural talent to a deep, abiding trust in God. He credits this period with providing the spiritual maturity that sustained his subsequent decades of success.
Harris launched his solo career in 1975, yielding 19 number-one radio singles.
Tell It To Jesus (1975), More (1977), Free (1978), Give Me More Love in My Heart (1980), Touch Me Lord (1982), I’ve Just Seen Jesus (1985), From a Servant’s Heart (1986), The Father Hath Provided (1987), Larnelle...Christmas (1988), I Can Begin Again (1989), Larnelle Live...Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs (1990), I Choose Joy (1992), Beyond All the Limits (1994), Unbelievable Love (1995), First Love (1998), A Story to Tell (2000), Pass the Love (2002), I Want to Be a Star (2005), Disturb Us, Lord (2017). Note: Harris also recorded with the Gaither Vocal Band (1984–1987), appearing on New Point of View (1984) and One X1 (1986).
Harris has appeared live on television series such as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, The 700 Club, 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.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
