Rich Mullins

Richard Wayne Mullins (October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997) was an American singer/songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana.

History

Mullins began his musical career with Zion Ministries in the late 1970s, where he wrote music and performed with a band called Zion. Zion released one album in 1981 entitled Behold the Man. While working for this ministry, Mullins penned a song called "Sing Your Praise To The Lord", which was recorded by singer Amy Grant in 1982 and became an immediate hit on Christian Radio.

Related Topics:
1970s - 1981 - Amy Grant - Christian Radio

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In 1983, Debby Boone recorded Mullins' "O Come All Ye Faithful" for her Surrender album. In 1984, the song was also featured in a TV movie called Sins of the Past.

Related Topics:
1983 - Debby Boone - 1984

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Mullins became a songwriter in the Contemporary Christian music industry by 1984, penning songs for Pam Mark Hall, and a second song for Amy Grant. Grant would go on to record yet another of Mullins' songs for her 1985 album, Unguarded, entitled "Love Of Another Kind".

Related Topics:
Contemporary Christian music - Pam Mark Hall - Amy Grant - 1985

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By 1986, Mullins recorded his first, self-titled, solo project, and followed it with a second solo album in 1987 called Pictures in the Sky. Neither album had sold very well and it looked as though Pictures might be his last, until Mullins wrote a song called "Awesome God". Mullins recorded that song and released it on his third album, Winds of Heaven... Stuff of Earth and it quickly became a hit on Christian radio and a modern-day hymn sung in churches around the world.

Related Topics:
1986 - 1987 - Awesome God - Christian radio

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The Winds of Heaven... Stuff of Earth album also introduced fans to the hammered dulcimer, an instrument that would become a Rich Mullins trademark.

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In the early 1990s, Mullins released a pair of albums entitled The World As Best As I Remember It, volumes 1 & 2. These albums featured more of a stripped-back, acoustic feel than his earlier work, with nods to Irish music. Step By Step, a song written by good friend Beaker and included on both volumes, became an instant hit on Christian Radio, and, like "Awesome God", with worship leaders.

Related Topics:
1990s - Irish music - Beaker - Christian Radio - Awesome God

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In 1993, Mullins assembled a group of Nashville musicians (including Jimmy Abegg, Beaker, Phil Madeira, Rick Elias, Aaron Smith) to form A Ragamuffin Band, which was named after The Ragamuffin Gospel by author Brennan Manning. The band recorded A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band, which was later named the #3 Best Christian Album of All time by CCM Magazine. The band got together again in 1995 to record Brother's Keeper.

Related Topics:
1993 - Nashville - Jimmy Abegg - Phil Madeira - Rick Elias - Aaron Smith - A Ragamuffin Band - The Ragamuffin Gospel - Brennan Manning - CCM

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In 1997, Mullins 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. Mullins had great respect for St Francis, and even formed "the Kid Brothers of St Frank" in the late 1980s with several friends, each taking a vow of poverty. Mullins was never really aware of how well his records sold, because the profits from his tours and the sale of each album went to his church, which divided it up, paid Mullins a small salary, and gave the rest to charity. Mullins was also a major supporter of Compassion International and Compassion USA.

Related Topics:
1997 - Mitch McVicker - St Francis of Assisi - The Canticle of the Plains - The Kid Brothers of St Frank - 1980s - Compassion International - Compassion USA

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Unfortunately, Mullins was tragically killed in a car accident on September 19, 1997. He and friend Mitch McVicker were travelling on I-39 outside Peoria, Illinois to a benefit concert in Wichita when his Jeep flipped over. Both men were thrown from the vehicle and Mullins was struck and instantly killed by a passing tractor trailer swerving to avoid the Jeep.

Related Topics:
September 19 - 1997 - Mitch McVicker

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Shortly before his death, Mullins had made a rough tape of songs for what would have been his next album on Reunion Records; he was going to call the album "Ten Songs About Jesus." This rough microcassette recording became the basis for "The Jesus Record," which A Ragamuffin Band recorded after Mullins' death. Mullins and McVicker had also recorded what would become Mitch's first true solo album (aside from lead vocals on four songs on the Canticle of the Plains album).

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At the time of his death, Mullins lived on a Navajo reservation, where he taught music to children.

Related Topics:
Navajo - Reservation

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