BIOGRAPHY continued...

For years Rufus was the principle singer and songwriter in a band called Jubal (click on the name or Jubal discography). They performed throughout the Midwest and on the East coast sharing their unique sound.  The band released three albums before disbanding in the early 90s.

During his time with Jubal, Rufus was one of the most requested recording engineers in Detroit.  George Clinton, Earl Klugh, The Four Tops, Marvin and BeBe Winans, and The Commodores, are among the celebrated national recording artists with whom he has worked.  He contributed not only audio engineering expertise but production assistance.   He started his own recording studio in 2002 called bridgewerks AudioServices.

In addition to audio engineering, Rufus spends much of his time sharing his music and message at churches, festivals, and prisons.  He is a national platform artist for Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship and Operation Starting Line - where he shares the Gospel with inmates in different parts of the country.  He also trains local artists for prison ministry. 

In an effort to help other independent Christian artists, he and wife Denise founded The Camp – Christian Artists and Musicians Project – a non-profit organization that assists and showcases diverse independent artists.  The organization’s most visible event - 4thFridays with rufus harris has become one of Metro Detroit’s premier venues for Christian entertainment.  Because of the success of 4thFridays, numerous individuals and churches have sought the couple for guidance on starting similar coffeehouses.

Rufus continues to touch many with his unforgettable melodies and thought-provoking lyrics.  He has become a mentor to many local artists and an inspiration to Christian music lovers everywhere.  He also serves as pastor of the Bridge Church in Pontiac, MI.

Personal Journey
In the mid 60's - when Rufus was thirteen - the power of the gospel caught his attention.  His mother, Dora Harris, had become a Christian and he was impressed by the change he saw in her life.  Rufus says,

When (Jesus came into) my mom's life it gave me tremendous respect for him.  Many times I had been told or had read the stories about Jesus - but then for the very first time - Jesus' power was not just on the page of a book, or just someone telling me about it.  His power  was present and able to affect a change in my mom's life  - almost two millennia  - after his physical life on earth!  My mom - who was not a bad person to begin with - became sweeter... wiser...  more loving... .  She began to really exhibit God's love - His nature.  She wasn't perfect but - something good had happened to her on the inside and it began to show on the outside.

Rufus gave his heart to the Lord in 1972 and experienced for himself the life / attitude changing power of Jesus.  He saw that Christ was the only hope for mankind.  As he reflects,

At a  young age I knew something was wrong on the inside of mankind.  I really didn't know what it was, but something was inherently out of whack with us.  You know, children don't have to be taught how to be bad, it comes naturally!  Without discipline and good role models, children basically grow up to be self-centered.  Many events along the way lead me to better understand mankind's and my own dilemma and also the solution to the problem.

I remember,  I was working at a Ford truck plant in Wayne, MI.  At that time, I knew I wanted - I needed - to get close to God, but really didn't understand how to make it happen.  I started reading the Bible and praying for God's help.  One day a guy (Gary Mulholland) passed by my work area and saw my Bible on the tool bench.  He commented how great  it was that I would read the Bible at work.  From then on, he and I began to be friends, started having conversations about the Bible and the Christian experience.  He would just light up when he talked about the reality of Christ in his life, what Christ had done for him - what Christ was doing for him!  I could talk about the Bible and Christian concepts, but personally, I had no experiences of my own to share and I wanted that!

One day a circumstance arose at the plant with another believer - I think his name was Bill.  Bill was an extremely nice individual, but his Christian life experience was basically one compromise after another.  The worst part is that he was not ashamed of his compromise!  He would actually boast about his compromise and then talk about the mercy of God.   In our discussion, I told him that I didn't think his approach to the Christian lifestyle was correct  and that although I wasn't yet a Christian and I knew better.  At the very moment I said that, Gary walked up.

Gary questioned my last comment.  (He thought I was a Christian because I read my Bible at work; I could unashamedly talk about Christ or spiritual things and because I had seemingly few apparent vices.)  He asked why I thought I wasn't a Christian?   I told him, because I had not really experienced Christ in my life.   He then explained to me very simply, 'Rufus, all you have to do is believe in Christ, that is how you become a Christian, that is how you get saved!'  When he said those words, it was as if a bright light turned on!  I understood for the first time the words, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved".  For the first time I understood that I had to rely on Christ;  I had cling to Christ; I had to trust in what Christ had already done for me.

Gary then began to talk to Bill.  (I don't think even Gary understood the significance of those simple words he had just shared with me.)  I then excused myself  from the two of them - I had to be alone - I had to pray!  I went into a nearby rest room and closed the stall door.  I raised my hands and asked Christ to forgive my sins and to come into my life!  At that very moment - I knew something had happened to me - on the inside!  From that moment, my attitude toward wrong doing has totally changed.  Even when I have rebelled against God and haven't chosen to do the right thing - (even when I have tried to convince myself that it is okay to do the wrong thing) since that day that type of thinking does not fly - because I really  really know better.  I been changed on the inside!

Only the life, death and resurrection of Jesus provides an answer - the answer - to mankind's dilemma.  Our dilemma is our sin nature - our inclination to do or to want to do selfish things!  Yes, Jesus died for our sins so we can be forgiven, but the scripture also says he destroys the sin nature within us!  When we humbly accept what Christ has provided for us - he forgives us and he begins to change us - from the inside out.  I saw  Jesus change my mom, others in my family, friends, acquaintances and me too!  What is so exciting is that  the same thing has happened and is continuing to happen to folks all over the world.

Rufus' musical experiences began at a very early age.  One of his first memories involve the guitar - the first instrument he actually remembers as a child.  He recalls,
I have an Uncle Ernest - my mother's brother - who in his younger days was a serious blues guitarist.   Back in the fifties - when I was two or three years old -  my parents helped him get a guitar - a brand new hollowed body Gibson electric.  One day - I  think I was crying or something - my mother to calm me down took this beautiful thing out of its case which was under her and my father's bed and placed it on my lap.  I remember dragging my fingers slowly across the strings - I  remember the sound was incredible!  I also have memories of my uncle rehearsing on that guitar.
Not only did Rufus' uncle make an impression, but Rufus was fortunate to have a second grade teacher who saw his interest in music and actually gave him a few piano lessons at school.  However, it was not  until the seventh grade that he formally began  music lessons.  He learned to play the alto sax in the school's band.  The band instructor exposed his students to jazz as another  form of musical expression.  Rufus remembers that the sounds and melodies were beautiful.  Also during this period, Rufus picked up on how to play drums and started practicing with one of his fellow student's rock band.  He recalls,
One day I stopped by the guitarist's home.  His name was Frank Jerue.  Frank was practicing guitar.  So when he answered the door, he had his guitar in hand.  After talking and laughing a little, I asked if I could hold his guitar - he let me - I strummed the strings - I liked it - I really liked it!  Frank saw this and said he would give me lessons.  I accepted.  My Dad bought me a Harmony F-hole acoustic for $45.  I started practicing guitar and making progress.
Shortly after that Rufus asked his parents if  they would buy him an electric guitar and amplifier.  The problem was that he wanted to play guitar, and to continue with the sax also!  His parents said, "Either play the guitar or the sax!".  They couldn't afford both.  Rufus looked at his shiny rented sax and in his mind's eye the electric guitar and amplifier he wanted.  He repeatedly rationalized, "sax or guitar, jazz or rock n' roll... ".  Rufus liked rock 'n roll.  He remembered the first time he saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show.  The effect they had on the audience - also the effect they had on him!  He remembered the first time he saw the Rolling Stones there also.  He thought about the junior high band rehearsals and the rock band practices with Frank and the other guys.  At that time, saxes were only prominent in rock 'n roll when they were holding long notes and belching out very coarse melodies - so the guitar won.  (Besides Frank now wanted him to play rhythm guitar in the band.)

With guitar in hand Rufus began to write songs.  For him, music and lyric provided an avenue to paint meaningful pictures and tell stories.  His song writing lead him to an interest in audio recording.

As the years progressed, Rufus became one of the most requested independent recording engineers in the Detroit area. He worked with many national recording artists and contributed not only with audio engineering expertise, production assistance, and at times as a studio musician as well.  He continues working in the recording studio focusing on personal and client projects; and is a career professional working in the computer industry.

Rufus' musical influences  were / are varied and quite diverse:

the Beatles - "their song writing and musicianship"
the Monkees (Glen Campbell) - "the song writing and exceptional guitar work"
Cream (Eric Clapton) - "His guitar solo work on the song Badge inspired me to seriously start working on lead guitar"
then later:

Stevie Wonder - Rufus likes his song writing, musicianship and harmonica playing
Sly and the Family Stone - "Sylvester Stone created fun music and had a style not typical music for black artists"
Jimi Hendrix - Rufus said, "I didn't musically understand most of his guitar solos, but I liked his because they were creatively different - not stereotypical"
Chicago - "the mixture of jazz sounds and rock"
Yes - "I really like their musicianship and their  approach to 'pop' songs"
Boston (Tom Scholz) - "I like the guitar work and More Than A Feeling"
Toto  -"I like their songs, the production and Steve Lukather's guitar work"
Cameo - "is fun and creative"
Rick James - "to me never reached his creative potential, but I liked his music"
Prince - "his creativity and courage - not being afraid to be different"
 (Disclaimer)

The road for Rufus has not been without bumps or even wrong turns, but God -  in his mercy - has been faithful beyond what Rufus could ask or think.  He looks forward to the future and what God has in store.