Rich Mullins: Richly Poor!

Richard Wayne Mullins, better known as Rich Mullins, was born in Indiana in1955.  He was one of the most important Christian music songwriters and singers. His musical career began in the 70’s when he performed with a band called Zion. He was the mind behind some of the most important Christian hits:  Grant’s “Love Of Another Kind”, Debby Boone’s “O Come All Ye Faithful”. By that time, 1984, he had become one of the songwriters of the contemporary Christian music movement and industry.

Rich Mullins released his first solo effort Richard Mullins in 1986. This album as well as his next release Pictures in the Sky in 1987 was not that successful. However, things would change very soon. The next year, he wrote the song “Awesome God” which immediately became a hit. Moreover, this song is today considered a praise chorus which is still sung in many churches not only in the United States, but also in churches all around the world. “Awesome God” was encompassed in the album Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth, released in 1988.

At the beginning of the 90’s, Rich Mullins released two albums The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume I and Volume II. Both albums included the hit "Step by Step" recorded by Mullins and written by his friend Beaker. This album was more acoustic and has elements of Irish music. Mullins’ next step was to form a band of Nashville musicians called A Ragamuffin Band which released the third best Christian album ever A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band in 1993. Rich Mullins and A Ragamuffin Band also released the albums Brother's Keeper (1995) and The Jesus Record (1998).

Rich Mullins died in 1997 in a car accident. His faith and devoted way of living have been preserved by his family through The Legacy Of A Kid Brother Of St. Frank since his admiration to St Francis of Assisi lead him to adhering a vow of poverty. In addition, his music was awarded posthumously in 1988 and 1999 as GMA Artist of the year and Song of the year “My Deliverer” respectively.