Catholic Underground | Official Site

THE RAGAMUFFIN BAND

Bio:
Q: What is The Jesus Record?
A: I first heard of this project in May '97 while visiting with Mark Robertson about This Train and the Canticle Of The Plains. During that conversation Mark told me that Rich was very excited about what was going to be his next album, but at that time there wasn't any "for-public-knowledge" info to share. Every song would be specifically about Jesus, and for the most part, straight from scripture. Originally Rich wanted all the Ragamuffins to write a song to bring to the project and also sing their own songs, but they convinced him that people wanted to hear him sing on a "Rich Mullins" album, not the Ragamuffins. Some of the songs that were to be on this new project were included in the summer '97 tour that they were in Wichita to rehearse.

Fast forward to September 1997. The week before Rich died, he was in Chicago at the Roswell East Studio with Mark Robertson and Mitch McVicker and a few other Ragamuffins recording Mitch's solo cd. After one particular vocal recording session, Mark had one of the really nice microphones setup already, and asked Rich if he wanted to use that mic to record a demo tape that he had decided to prepare for Myrrh Records. Rich decided, no, he would just sit down in an abandoned nearby church with a cheap cassette recorder (he had just purchased at K-Mart to replace his broken one) and record the nine songs he had ready. Then came the tragic event that changed the course of several lives. Following the accident, Myrrh Records, Kid Brothers, and the Ragamuffins - Rick Elias (who had already been chosen to produce what had now become known as Ten Songs For Jesus), Mark Robertson, Jimmy Abegg, and Aaron Smith - decided this music still needed to happen.

On January 27, 1999, the Gospel Music Association announced the nominees for this year's 30th Annual Dove Awards. Rich and the band received nominations in five total categories, including Song of the Year,Songwriter of the Year, Hard Music Recorded Song of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year, and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year."

Word Records Press Release 7/4/99

"If "The Jesus Record" wasn't enough to convince you of The Ragamuffins' talent, this album - "Prayers of a Ragamuffin" - should be proof positive that this group has arrived as a major player on the Christian music scene. Although Rich Mullins' influence is still very evident (the last song on the track, "We'll Always Be Together" by Jimmy Abegg, was written in Rich's memory), this album was almost entirely written by the band's members, and is a very heartfelt and humble look at the importance of persevering in prayer even when it doesn't seem like our prayers are being answered. The album begins with Rick Elias' "Make Me An Instrument," which borrows heavily from the prayers of St. Francis and St. Patrick. It sets the tone for the rest of the album and reminds us that prayer isn't about helping us get what we want, but to help us fulfill God's will here on earth. "Brother Sun Sister Moon," written by lead guitarist Jimmy Abegg, takes its title from the 70s movie of the same name on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, whose influence is prevalent in everything done by Rich Mullins and those who carry on his legacy and work. And Mark Robertson's "Nothing You Don't Know" is a reminder that our prayers are addressed to a God who knows everything we say and do, so there's no sense in holding back when we pray. Other memorable songs off the album include "Faith Hope Love," an upbeat look at the three cardinal virtues; "Shout," the only song on the album written by drummer Aaron Smith, which is another upbeat ballad that suggests that we need to shout "until we get it right"; and "God Grant Me Tears," which reminds us that it is through our brokenness that we find strength in our relationship with God. Of course I don't want you to just take my word for it; this is an album you have to listen to for yourselves. This group rocks, Happy listening!"

CCM Magazine

"...Elias is quite emphatic about the tour and "The Jesus Record" not being conceived of as a "tribute" to his late friend and bandmate, whom he regards as, "the most significant Christian artist to come along in the last 15 years." "The most common misconception about 'The Jesus Record' was that we were making a tribute album," he says. "We weren't. We made that record with the same motivation that Rich had. It's an album about Christ, and an exploration of faith. That said, very early on, we realized that the tour would have to allow for an inevitable element of tribute, given the circumstances and expectations of Rich's fans, who know that music lost a remarkable person in Rich, someone very special."

But music was a means to an end for Rich Mullins, a way to bring about change. And in that same sense, Elias stresses, the tour is less a "tribute" than a continuation of Rich's musical legacy, and the legacy of his life."

The Meyer Bulletin

Official Website: NA	Contact: e-mail: catholicunderground@gmail.com
Location: OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL 230 East 90th St (btw 2nd & 3rd) New York, NY 10128 Free admission all are welcome	Parking: Parking garage available, $10 a night with Catholic Underground stamp>> Get Directions