Rahni Harris is a Gospel artist whom released albums in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He also toured and played with the soul/funk band Dayton. One of his albums, released in 1977, “A Different Drummer” got the interest of record collectors across the globe. This record is now reissued and available under Rain&Shine Records (New Zealand). Now up for sale (pre-orders) at most record shops !
Where did you grow up? Was it in a musical environment?
I grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a very musical environment. There were bands all throughout the neighborhood I grew up in. The North End.
This kind of Gospel music also oriented towards Soul and Boogie in your album « A Different Drummer: was it something new that you came up with? Or did you have any influence at that time?
I wrote much of it as a result of my passion and spirituality and Godly inspiration. However, I was greatly influenced by producers and arrangers such as Thom Bell, and Gene Page.
How did the creation of this album come to mind?
I was greatly influenced by the ideas of the true gospel pioneers such as Myrna Summers, Henry Jackson, Rance Allen, and Edwin Hawkins. They were among the first gospel artists that had such powerful music they were signed by major secular labels such as Stax, Buddha and Atlantic Records. This inspired me to combine my love for R&B with Gospel. Though I was an extreme novice at that time, I wanted to be daring and give it a try. I felt a deep need to express the music within me.
And were you the pioneer / founder of the Family Love? (if so, how did you gather all these talented people?)
I was the founder of Family Love. These talented individuals were actually members of my church choir which I was the music director and musician for. I figured if I would do such a project, why not give my closest friends and church members the shot to take the journey with me. How much it was realized that this project would turn into such a long lasting legacy and how much it was appreciated by those involved remains yet to be seen.
Did you perform live, in churches or any concert venues with your band?
Yes we did many performances at Churches and also at a couple of college campuses in New England. My home church and the colleges is were we were more received. That kind of Gospel music wasn’t smiled on very much. But most of the young people loved it!
Was music a full time job and passion at that time, or just a hobby?
Started out as a hobby but after I stared Emprise Records and pushed the album throughout the Northeastern U.S.A., we were named Best Gospel Artist of the Year by Cashbox Magazine. We also received a major review in Billboard Magazine. That’s when I left my job at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Hartford, and went for the career full time. It was right after the birth of my first child. This was in 1978. I haven’t had a regular day job since.
When did you learn that this album became a collector’s item around the world?
I actually didn’t realize this until Sacha and Jeremy informed me. These guys opened my eyes to how important this work really was. Thank God for them! Many times, in this industry you never really know the effect your work has on the world. Especially when you give your heart and soul to your craft. It’s very rewarding to receive this type of knowledge about your labor of love.
What was your reaction and how do you explain such an interest in this album, especially by young people across the globe?
I was blown away to say the least! After decades of working in the industry and all of the gold and platinum albums, Grammy nominations and other industry awards, to find out that the very first record I ever produced, still lives and is relevant is mind boggling! Especially, knowing it was my worse work ever from a production and technical standpoint. But the true spirit of love and passion I put into “A Different Drummer” obviously was felt in the hearts of young people throughout the world; and after so many years. To find out this was happening, is probably one of the most rewarding feeling I’ve had in my career.
Record collectors say that you released a 7’’ with a yellow label: what is this record? Was it pressed in limited quantities?
Oh My God ! The yellow Emprise label with the green writing! We did a song called Make It Easy” and the B side was a song called “Finding Happiness”. I took it to the studio called The Gallery, where we recorded the yellow record before we recorded “A Different Drummer”. The studio owner Doug Clark assisted us in getting the single pressed. We sold it locally and sent a copy to a distributor in New Jersey called Program Records headed by a gentleman named Dave Casey. I am checking with friends and family members now to see if the yellow 45 is in their collection. I’m sure someone has it. I will pass it on as soon as I get a hold of it.
Do you still continue to create and perform?
I am very active as producer and film composer at the moment. As far as performing, I haven’t done that in quite a while. Not since I performed with the pop/R&B group Dayton on Capitol Records. However, I plan to release a new project quite like Quincy Jones produced, inviting all of my industry friends and will definitely take that project out on tour. I also had major success with a gospel group called Kingdom which I am going to re-vamp with a group of young people back in Connecticut to take that project to the world as well. To let all of the fans know more of what I have been up to since “A Different Drummer”, you can visit my website www.rahnisong.com . Needless to say, I’ve been busy!
