42 Facts About Rich Mullins

Richard Wayne Mullins was an American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter best known for his worship songs "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step".

Rich Mullins's songs have been performed by numerous artists, including Caedmon's Call, Five Iron Frenzy, Amy Grant, Carolyn Arends, Jars of Clay, Michael W Smith, John Tesh, Chris Rice, Rebecca St James, Hillsong United and Third Day.

Richard Wayne Mullins was born to John Mullins, a tree farmer, and Neva Mullins, whose ancestors were Quakers.

Rich Mullins grew up attending Arba Friends Meeting, a church in Lynn, Indiana.

When Rich Mullins was in elementary school, his family moved and started attending Whitewater Christian Church, which he attended until he graduated.

Rich Mullins's great-grandmother taught him to play hymns and sing in four-part harmony when he was very young, and he began to study classical piano with a Quaker teacher while in elementary school.

Rich Mullins was inspired when the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

Rich Mullins was a fan of the Beatles music, and he was able to identify with John Lennon in particular, despite philosophical differences.

New Creations is a church and school for teens, and Rich Mullins was a contributing factor in its beginning.

Rich Mullins worked in a parking garage to help pay for his schooling.

Rich Mullins was then focusing on his duties in the church, and performed minimally in public.

Rich Mullins said that during this trip he witnessed the effect of music on the lives of young people, and decided to start pursuing music full-time.

Rich Mullins moved to Bellsburg, Tennessee, approximately 45 minutes from Nashville, to begin his professional recording career.

Rich Mullins got engaged sometime between the late 70s and early 80s, and wrote the song "Doubly Good to You" for his upcoming wedding.

Years later, Rich Mullins shared thoughts about his relationships and personal life in a radio interview with Rick Tarrant:.

In 1987, Rich Mullins spent time teaching conversational English in a South Korean seminary.

Rich Mullins then served briefly as a missionary in Thailand where he became involved with a ministry teaching trades and providing medical care to Chinese refugees.

Rich Mullins wrote the song "The Other Side of the World" about his time in Asia.

Rich Mullins took steps to become a music teacher on a Native American reservation he had visited before.

In 1988, Rich Mullins moved from Bellsburg to Wichita, Kansas where, in 1991, he attended Friends University.

Rich Mullins graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Friends University on May 14,1995.

In 1996, at the Ichthus music festival, Rich Mullins cited personal reasons for his move.

Rich Mullins was asked if he made the move because God had called him to proselytize and convert the Native Americans.

Rich Mullins was a major supporter of Compassion International and Compassion USA.

The night before his accident, Rich Mullins spoke to his spiritual director, Fr.

Rich Mullins had a distinctive talent both as a performer and a songwriter.

Rich Mullins's compositions showed distinction in two ways: unusual and sometimes striking instrumentation, and complex lyrics that usually employed elaborate metaphors.

Rich Mullins did most of his composing and performing on piano and acoustic guitar, but he had a prodigious talent for obscure instruments.

Rich Mullins displayed arguably virtuoso skills on the hammered dulcimer, lap dulcimer, and the Irish tin whistle.

Rich Mullins formed his first band in 1976 to 77 while attending Cincinnati Bible College.

In 1983 Debby Boone recorded Rich Mullins' "O Come All Ye Faithful", for her Surrender album.

In 1986, Rich Mullins released his eponymous debut album, followed in 1987 by Pictures in the Sky.

Rich Mullins wrote his hit song "Let Mercy Lead" for Beaker's son Aidan.

In 1993, Rich Mullins assembled a group of Nashville musicians to form A Ragamuffin Band, whose name was inspired by the Christian book The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.

In 1997, Rich Mullins teamed up with Beaker and Mitch McVicker to write a musical based on the life of St Francis of Assisi: The Canticle of the Plains.

Rich Mullins had great respect for St Francis, and even formed "The Kid Brothers of St Frank" in the late 1980s with Beaker.

Shortly before his death, Rich Mullins had been working on his next project, which was to be a concept album based on the life of Jesus Christ and was to be called Ten Songs About Jesus.

Rich Mullins recorded the duet "I Believe" with Hokus Pick on the album Brothers From Different Mothers in 1994.

Rich Mullins' funeral was open to the public and attracted a large gathering.

Rich Mullins is buried at the Harrison Township cemetery in Hollansburg, Ohio, alongside his brother, who died in infancy, and his parents.

In 1998, the tribute album Awesome God: A Tribute to Rich Mullins was released, featuring favorite Mullins songs reinterpreted by his Christian music peers.

Rich Mullins' family founded The Legacy of a Kid Brother of St Frank to continue his mission to develop programs of art, drama and music camps for Native American youth and provide a traveling music school serving remote areas of the reservations.