Retro Insider - "Rich Mullins"

It's time to talk about one of the most beloved Christian song writers, Rich Mullins. He was a simple man who loved the Lord and music. Some of his songs are the worship choruses of a new generation.
Rich was born in Indiana in 1955. The Quaker church he attended while growing up inspired his lyrics with their peace and justice creeds. The Quaker church was his mother background. He began his music career in the late 1970's, composing and performing with the band Zion.
Amy Grant, in 1982, and Debby Boone in 1983 covered Mullin's penned tunes and they became hits. Amy's cover song was "Sing Your Praise to the Lord".
In 1986, Rich first released a self-titled record. In 1987, his second album was Pictures in the Sky. Neither record sold well. However, it was 1988's Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth that put him in the spotlight. This record held arguably the best modern praise song "Awesome God". The song was immensely popular in youth groups and had a merchandise line. CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) Magazine voted it the best CCM song of all time in a new book that has been recently released. Mullins openly admitted that the song was not his best work and he actually got sick of playing it at his concerts.
In 1991 and 1992, he released a pair of records The World As Best As I Remember It: Vol 1 and 2. Each disc contained a version of "Step by Step", which became a massive hit. In 1993, Rich formed A Ragamuffin Band with Jimmy Abegg, David Strasser, Phil Madeira, Rick Elias and Aaron Smith. They recorded and released A Liturgy, A Legacy and A Ragamuffin Band. The record was voted #3 best ever by CCM Magazine. David Strasser, nicknamed "Beaker", was one of Mullin's best friends, and co-wrote a number of songs with him.
The Ragamuffins appeared in Rich's 1995 record, Brother's Keeper. Then in 1997, Rich teamed up with Beaker and Mitch McVicker to write a musical based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi entitled "The Canticle of the Plains". With all these creative works and fame, it should be noted that Mullins hated the limelight. On stage he wore jeans with holely knees, and a t-shirt, with no shoes or socks. He would come on stage unannounced and leave to no applause as the crowd worshipped.
In 1997, the Christian music world mourned as Rich was killed in a jeep accident on the way to a concert in Kansas. Mitch McVicker was also in the car but survived. His funeral was public and had a massive gathering. Rich had been working on a concept record about the life of Christ, to be called Ten Songs About Jesus. He recorded these songs on minimal equipment in an abandoned church nine days before his death. This was released as Disc One of a double disc record The Jesus Record in 1998.
Rich leaves behind a legacy of songs and a life that truely praised his Lord. He was considered by some to be a genius musician, but he was also very human. After his death, his fondness for cigarettes, light beer and the odd dirty word came to light. Although more acceptable in 2008, this relevation would have been controversial back then. Nevertheless, none of these things can take away from all the good that came from his life!
For a website dedicated in memory of Rich Mullins, check out www.godnet.org/rich/