Richs story begins in New York City. Placed in the foster care system at an
early age, he was constantly moving from home to home. ((The only way I can
describe the worthlessness I felt being moved around like that is it was
like that penny that gets walked on, passed over, and kicked on the street;
no one wants to pick it up and put in their pocket. I felt lost. I was
confused and didnt understand what was happening to me.)) Many of the homes were abusive and dysfunctional, not even meeting Richs most basic needs. In fact, at one of his foster homes, he recalls being locked out of the house, forced to sleep on the streets alone at night. Needless to say, childhood
for Rich was far from ideal.
However, two bright spots appeared: Rich was adopted when he was 14, beating the odds of most foster kids his age, and shortly after, Rich made lasting friendships with guys who would later inspire in him a passion for music. ((I was struggling to find some sort of direction for myself; something I was
good at and could spend time investing in...it wasnt an easy task for me,
because I hadn't really ever heard someone say something like, Hey kid,
you're good at that..or..that's your thing!. So when I turned 18, I
discovered I had an interest in playing music, and I became aware that it
just might be what I was called to do.)) Although music became a stabilizing
force in Richs life, it only served to reveal in him his even deeper
longing for spiritual meaning.
As he began playing regularly at a local music store, Rich started making a
name for himself in his then home of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. It was there
that Gods guiding Hand became evident to Rich. ((This guy came into the
store and overheard the guitar teacher talking to me about some of the songs
I'd written, so he asked me if I'd play a few for him. We traded phone
numbers, and after getting to know each each other, he asked if I wanted to
play with him at a local Bible study where he led worship. Pretty soon, I
noticed a difference between him and me. I guess you could say I was a
hoodlum; every other word out of my mouth was a curse word, while every
other word out of his mouth was something about God. We began having long
talks after the Bible studies, and because of him wanting to spend time with
me, despite the mess I was, I accepted Christ.))
After becoming a Christian, Rich quickly realized that his love for music
was more than just a hobby, it was a means for God to speak to others about the simplicity of the Gospel and relationship with Him. At long last, he
started to see how God had used his circumstances through his whole life to
bring him to this point.
Rich's music, like Rich, has a story to tell and a unique way to tell it.
((Songs are my extension into peoples hearts from wherever I'm at. Because I
do have others on my mind when I put songs together, it is a great feeling
to get the e-mails and hear the stories of how they have affected the
listeners. My desire is that I could give a fresh perspective or words you
might not have, to help express what you might be feeling inside. That's why
I am compelled to keep doing what I do.)) Rich's music reflects his passion
for God as well as people. ((So many times, I've heard people say, all I
need is God. Jesus tells us differently. All the Law and the Prophets
hang on the two greatest commandments: love God and love others. We need
that love from one another. Without it, we cant fully experience love from
God.)) Rich's life radiates this love. Listening to his songs is a reminder
that the harshness of life can never exceed the love and redemption of God.
