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mitch mcvicker

Mitch McVicker's name is very often associated with Rich Mullins. On September 19, 1997, Mitch and Rich Mullins were traveling to a benefit concert when their jeep spun out of control and overturned. Rich was killed while Mitch received serious injuries.

In 1999, Mitch won a Dove award for Song of the Year for the song "My Deliverer" which he co-wrote with Rich Mullins.

Now, Mitch is trying to make a name for himself as he records a new album.

Mitch sent us answers to our interview questions through his parents, Doug and Wendee. Enjoy!

crosshome: Tell us a little about your background? Where you grew up, etc.?

Mitch McVicker: I grew up in Topeka, KS. I grew up playing basketball and that's what I did through college. I played basketball at Friends University in Wichita, KS; so I lived there for awhile. Music was just a hobby in college. I was a religion and philosophy major. I met Rich Mullins in a class at college and began working with him, when I graduated. So, that is how the whole thing started up.

crosshome: Who are your musical influences?

Mitch: Rich. I've listened to various stuff that has had an effect on me, but he really influenced me. He changed my life. But I think this is what you mean: Tom Waits, Counting Crows, Bob Dylan, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor, Duncan Sheik, and Bruce Cocklawn.

crosshome: Many people know you as the guy who was in the jeep with Rich when he died? Do you ever feel like you're living in Rich's shadow?

Mitch: Yes. A shadow occurs when there is a great light and something blocks the light or comes between you and the light. But, Rich always pointed me towards the light and got out the way. He was my biggest fan and pushed me towards being me. So, there has never really been a shadow. However, there is definitely a shadow, when it comes to the perception of others. But, I'm fine with it. It's part of who I am. I will always be associated with Rich and that's how most people know of me, at all. But, I'm hoping that people will eventually be interested in me, for me.

crosshome: What did you learn most from Rich?

Mitch: That's a hard question to answer. There was so much! The honesty he approached life with had a big impact on me. The way he looked at himself, with all his imperfections; and life, with all it's imperfestions; and still embraced the good-- and lived life--was amazing. Life was something he wasn't afraid of. He wasn't about to dress up reality in order to make it comfortable to deal with and make it non-offensive. He lived life in its rawest and fullest form. He lived with Jesus.

crosshome: You did a musical with Rich called Canticle of the Plains, in which you played a character based on St. Francis of Assisi. Do you think you're similar to St. Francis in any way? How?

Mitch: I would love to be similar to St. Francis someday. I wish I could abandon myself in the manner that he did. I think we're both a little spacey.

crosshome: Your self-titled indie album has been re-released with a major label. Are there differences in the two releases?

Mitch: Yes. The re-release has my version of "My Deliverer" on it. I recorded it so it could be on the new release. It also has completely different artwork and looks totally different.

crosshome: How would you compare being independent and being signed with a major label?

Mitch: I don't think Rhythm House can be considered a major label. They are new. They are small. They are hard workers, with good hearts. But, it's much more lucrative to be independent, if you can pull it off. And, I was doing it. Exsposure increases greatly when a record company releases your project and that leads to getting to communicate with more people. That's what I want to do. I want to do real concerts for real people and point to Jesus and to the Kingdom of God.

crosshome: Tell us about your latest project.

Mitch: I think everything about it is better that my first one. Musically, there is alot more going on in the songs. I think the songs are more mature. I'm really excited about it and I hope others will like it, too. The vision is the same from the first project: to point to the love of Jesus; and it is expanded. It's even closer to what I've always been shooting for, whatever that is.

crosshome: Is it more difficult doing a second release?

Mitch: Sometimes. I think the first project, for a lot of people, is songs that they've written over a number of years; before they ever thought about doing a record. They had no idea they would end up on a recording. Then a person gets a taste of what people want to hear and what the radio people like and a person can end up setting out to please people, rather than writing quality songs. I think that's why some second albums sound contrived. Alot of these songs (on my second album) were written during my recovery process and I had no real idea if I would ever get to perform them or record them. They were written over a couple of years. For me, the second recording was easier, because I had one under my belt and the experience really helped.

crosshome: What do you think the future holds for Mitch McVicker?

Mitch: Who's to say? I've come to realize that my plans are merely, my plans. That's all. But, I would love to continue doing concerts and doing albums. Right now, that's the best way for me to point people to Jesus. That may change; so I pray that I can be a person who can go where I am being called and where I can be used the best. What's best for me and the ones I love may not involve what I'm doing now--and I need to remember that. But maybe it will. So, who's to say? I have an idea of Who. I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear.

- Jason Mitchener

Don't forget to visit Mitch's web site: http://www.mitchmcvicker.com