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JULY 3, 2009
TAJ, WHEN DID YOU START SINGING?
The story is when I was really little, I had a little Lego block that was my wireless microphone.
We had one of those brick grills on the patio out there and my family would put me up on that with my Lego block and I’d conduct my concert from there!
Of course, going to church I was just in awe of the wireless microphones and wanted to have my hands on one. Being raised in a church that did mostly contemporary praise and worship songs, I really wasn’t exposed to Southern Gospel music until about 13 years of age.
My best friend and I were in a local, little, tiny choir and we did a couple of concerts.
That’s when it all really started and I just fell in love with the music. The last few years have been wonderful.
TELL ME ABOUT THE APPEAL THAT SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC HAS TO YOU?
There’s so many people that seem shocked that I’m 20 years old and have such a desire to sing Southern gospel music.
But it is something I can understand every night. I get ministered to night after night on stage, just as much as the people listening.
Listening to the words of encouragement. That is what our ministry is really for — to encourage and uplift.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAITH, GROWING UP.
My faith.
Well, I’ll tell you the truth and if we have a minute, I’ll share my testimony.
I’ve never met my biological father. When my mother had me, she was 17 years old and my father was twice her age and married to another woman.
And should it not have been for a loving grandmother — at that point when I was born — I would first of all been an abortion.
But further past that, my mom had me and immediately left with some friends. And my biological father was into alcohol and drugs and abusing women.
When I found all that out, I thought Lord, what do you want me to do with something like that. It was just so the opposite of what I stood for.
But He said, Use that to reach folks. That you, Taj Rohr — saved at age four in Vacation Bible School — could never reach. Find that common ground with people all over the country.
WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR FANS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Well, I want you to know that in this past year, I’ve realized a lot of things. I think more than anything else is that we need to be real with each other.
The world, the conditions, the economy, all those things you hear night after night? None of that really matters and I you to continue to be encouraged and uplifted and know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
He is faithful no matter what condition or situation you are in. He has been faithful to me through it all.
I just pray I can be that example.
WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO GO TO REACH THIS LEVEL OF SINGING QUALITY?
I started out with a lady by the name of Sandy Richards (and some folks who have been around Southern gospel for awhile will know her). She did studio work for the Spear Family and stuff like that.
And then I went down to the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in 2005. They have some great people there.
Since then I’ve just continued training with good friends in Nashville, with people off the Homecoming Tours, just working to keep everyting at a peak. It’s constant work.
TELL ME ABOUT BEN SPEAR...
Ben Spear is definitely like a grandfather to me. He has influenced me and helped me build connections.
We had our first Gaither Homecoming Tour date in Charleston, West Virginia — the capitol of my home state — thanks to Ben Spear.
He has just been my mentor. Somebody I could call up anytime and ask for advice. Ben Spear is just a really Godly figure.
NOW TELL ME ABOUT THE HOMECOMING TOUR...
I had the opportunity to be with one of those. It has been almost a year. I still consider the Gaither Homecoming artists to be my role models and my idols.
But I can also consider them my friends. All of the traveling around, the homecoming dates, — we’re constantly doing combo concert dates with many of the artists.
So it really does turn into a family on the road. That’s for sure.
LAST QUESTION, WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING, WHAT DO YOU DO?
My lands, when I’m not working? I attend college, of course, full-time. I’m working on a double masters and considering law school right now.
I don’t know if I have the energy to do that but I’m working on a my double masters from West Virginia University.
But what I like to do for fun? You know? I really don’t have any time for that!
But no, I love to just hang out with friends — people I’ve graduated with. I love to see friends that I’ve met on the road.
And I spend a lot of time with my family. I’ve really learned that this year. We always gather at my grandmother’s — at her homeplace out on the farm. It’s a little, tiny white house and we would have 25, maybe 30, people crammed in there at Christmas and again at New Year’s.
And I just used to hate that when I was a little kid.
But my grandmother has developed terminal lung cancer and we thought this might be the last Christmas. We were praying for one more Christmas last year and God’s been faithful
He really took my eyes off the “Well, let’s be a youth and run, run, run” to the things that really matter in this world
It’s like the old Gaither song says, Loving God, Loving Each Other.
So, I’m just enjoying the trip, living the dream.
JULY 2009; INTERVIEWER, Joshua Heston, editor
From the editor:
It is difficult to accurately predict who will reach superstardom in any genre... and who will not.
But if there is any single talent in the Southern Gospel field I’d be willing to bet on...it is Taj Rohr from West Virginia.
During the inaugural Branson Gospel Music Convention in July ’09, Rohr was the final scheduled act one night.
As the evening wore on, the crowds dwindled. Finally, it was a quarter to midnight and the convention hall's 1500 seats were host to perhaps 20.
The emcee’s voice boomed Taj Rohr in that nearly-empty auditorium and Rohr, at 20 years of age, walked onto that stage and owned it.
His vocals were powerful and polished, resonant — his timing excellent. More than that, he brought an energy to the stage as though the house were packed.
When asked about it later, Taj simply said, “I just believed there would be people out there who needed to be ministered to. It was my responsibility to give them my best."
That’s all. No pretension. No disappointment. Just simple, direct service. And greatly honed talent.
Superstardom in the making.
_______________
For anyone wondering how to pronounce this young performer’s first name, it is ‘Tah zh” — the same as in the Taj Mahal.
July 3, September 25, 2009, January 13, 2010
TAJ ROHR photo plates
Credits: Plates 2 and 4, courtesy of Taj Rohr, Facebook. Plates 1, 6 and 7, 07/03/09, J. Heston. Plates 3, 5 and 7, 06/23/09, J. Heston. Location: Branson, Missouri • SOTO© Archive