Mitch McVicker
Encyclopedia
Mitch McVicker is a GMA Dove Award-winning Contemporary Christian Music
singer-songwriter
.
in Wichita
Kansas, in the early-1990s where he met and befriended the late CCM
recording artist, Rich Mullins
. After graduating in May 1995, McVicker moved to New Mexico
, eventually touring and writing songs with Mullins.
With Mullins and song collaborator Beaker
, McVicker co-wrote the musical, The Canticle of the Plains
, which is based on the life and teachings of Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi. Completed in the fall of 1996, McVicker sang lead vocals on four of the project's songs: "There You Are", "Heaven is Waiting", "Things Even Angels", and "You Are All".
McVicker began recording his first solo project in the summer of 1997 with the help of Mullins and Mark Robertson. On the night of September 19, 1997, McVicker and Mullins were en route to a benefit concert
being held in Wichita, Kansas, and were involved in a serious auto accident after the Jeep
they were riding in flipped and ejected both occupants who were not wearing seat belts. McVicker was seriously injured while Mullins instantly died at the scene after being hit by a semi-trailer truck
that swerved to avoid hitting the overturned vehicle. McVicker has since suffered from double-vision
as a result of the accident.
McVicker was unable to resume work on his debut album for several months but eventually released the album in 1998 as the self-titled album, Mitch McVicker
. Both "Take Hold of Me" and "Here and Now" received extensive airplay on CCM stations across the United States.
Rich Mullins' last songwriting effort, The Jesus Record
, was also released in 1998. "My Deliverer", a track co-written by Mullins and McVicker, earned a GMA Dove Award for the 1999 Song of the Year.
Subsequent albums released by McVicker include Chasing the Horizon (2000), Without Looking Down
(2002), Love Will Rise (2007), Always Believe (2009), Everything Shines (2010), and Walking Through the Dark (2011).
Along with recording, McVicker maintains an extensive touring schedule performing between 100 to 200 concerts a year.
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
.
Biography
McVicker attended Friends UniversityFriends University
Friends University is a private non-denominational Christian university in Wichita, Kansas.Friends University was founded in 1898. The main building was originally built in 1886 for Garfield University, but was donated in 1898 to the Religious Society of Friends by James Davis, a St. Louis...
in Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
Kansas, in the early-1990s where he met and befriended the late CCM
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
recording artist, Rich Mullins
Rich Mullins
Richard Wayne "Rich" Mullins was an American Contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter born in Richmond, Indiana. He had two sisters and two brothers....
. After graduating in May 1995, McVicker moved to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, eventually touring and writing songs with Mullins.
With Mullins and song collaborator Beaker
Beaker (musician)
Beaker is a pseudonym for David Strasser, a Christian songwriter and musician well-known for his collaborations with artist Rich Mullins. He received his nickname as a young man, when friends said he looked like Beaker the Muppet....
, McVicker co-wrote the musical, The Canticle of the Plains
The Canticle of the Plains
Canticle of the Plains is a musical written by songwriters Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, and Beaker which is based on the life of St. Francis of Assisi....
, which is based on the life and teachings of Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi. Completed in the fall of 1996, McVicker sang lead vocals on four of the project's songs: "There You Are", "Heaven is Waiting", "Things Even Angels", and "You Are All".
McVicker began recording his first solo project in the summer of 1997 with the help of Mullins and Mark Robertson. On the night of September 19, 1997, McVicker and Mullins were en route to a benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
being held in Wichita, Kansas, and were involved in a serious auto accident after the Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
they were riding in flipped and ejected both occupants who were not wearing seat belts. McVicker was seriously injured while Mullins instantly died at the scene after being hit by a semi-trailer truck
Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
that swerved to avoid hitting the overturned vehicle. McVicker has since suffered from double-vision
Diplopia
Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in relation to each other...
as a result of the accident.
McVicker was unable to resume work on his debut album for several months but eventually released the album in 1998 as the self-titled album, Mitch McVicker
Mitch McVicker (album)
Mitch McVicker is the self-titled debut album by contemporary christian music artist Mitch McVicker, released in 1999.-Track listing:All songs by Mitch McVicker unless otherwise noted.# "Here and Now"# "Take Hold of Me"...
. Both "Take Hold of Me" and "Here and Now" received extensive airplay on CCM stations across the United States.
Rich Mullins' last songwriting effort, The Jesus Record
The Jesus Record
The Jesus Record is the ninth and final album by American singer/songwriter Rich Mullins, released posthumous on July 21, 1998, ten months after his death....
, was also released in 1998. "My Deliverer", a track co-written by Mullins and McVicker, earned a GMA Dove Award for the 1999 Song of the Year.
Subsequent albums released by McVicker include Chasing the Horizon (2000), Without Looking Down
Without Looking Down
Without Looking Down is an album by contemporary christian music artist Mitch McVicker, released in 2002.-Track listing:All songs by Mitch McVicker unless otherwise noted.# "You Have Everything"# "Take the Wheel"# "I Need You Jesus"...
(2002), Love Will Rise (2007), Always Believe (2009), Everything Shines (2010), and Walking Through the Dark (2011).
Along with recording, McVicker maintains an extensive touring schedule performing between 100 to 200 concerts a year.
Album discography
- Mitch McVickerMitch McVicker (album)Mitch McVicker is the self-titled debut album by contemporary christian music artist Mitch McVicker, released in 1999.-Track listing:All songs by Mitch McVicker unless otherwise noted.# "Here and Now"# "Take Hold of Me"...
(1999) - Chasing the Horizon (2000)
- Without Looking DownWithout Looking DownWithout Looking Down is an album by contemporary christian music artist Mitch McVicker, released in 2002.-Track listing:All songs by Mitch McVicker unless otherwise noted.# "You Have Everything"# "Take the Wheel"# "I Need You Jesus"...
(2002) - Love Will Rise (2007)
- Always Believe (2009)
- Everything Shines (2010)
- Walking Through the Dark (2011)
Awards
External links
- mitchmcvicker.com official website
- music ministry
- MySpace Website