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JERSEY SHORE -- Christian recording artist Chris Pick and GMA Dove Award-winning contemporary Christian Music singer-songwriter Mitch McVicker will be holding a free concert at Lifetree Church in Jersey Shore on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Pick was exposed to a variety of music early on by his family, and eventually went to music school, where he was classically trained. He continues to cherish the creative and diverse sounds of groups such as The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Monkees.
His first album was based on a song he wrote for John Lennon's 20th Memorial in 2000. During this time, he said he became a Christian and discovered the music of Rick Elias and Rich Mullins. Their Ragamuffin sound became the inspiration behind some of Pick's own projects. He became good friends with Elias, who produced two projects for Pick and used members of Rich Mullins' old band. A Ragamuffin Band, on the projects. It led to a friendship with Ragamuffin Mitch McVicker who he often shares the stage with.
Pick's music has found success around the world, charting in both mainstream pop and Christian genres. Among his work is a 2012 release, "Finally Free," a tribute to friend and late Monkee frontman Davy Jones. The song is featured in the "Written in Our Hearts" vegetarian cookbook to benefit Davy's rescue horse foundation www.djemf.com. The cookbook featured stories and recipes from Davy's family and friends including Micky and Peter of The Monkees, some of the cast of The Brady Bunch and Boy Meets World, etc.
Pick plays a variety of instruments, including keyboard, guitar, ukelele, and lap dulcimer, and mostly performs his own music, while throwing in a few cover tunes now and again -- including a Beach Boy, Rich Mullins or Monkee tribute song.
As missionaries, Pick and his wife Michelle (an elementary teacher in Central PA) are advocates for the native missionary movement and the persecuted church. They partner with Gospel For Asia http://www.gfa.org/ with their music ministry. They are also a "Voice" for Voice of the Martyrs http://www.persecution.com/.
Pick has been involved with several mission projects which have included work in South America, Africa, Asia, and even in North America ministering to the Lakota Sioux at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota as well as among the Ute on the Southern Ute Reservation in Colorado and the Navajo in Window Rock. Pick is also involved with a ministry carrying on Rich Mullins' legacy of music and arts camps held on Native American Reservations throughout America.
"Rich's approach was simple. He would say, 'I'm here to teach you guitar, but I also want to tell you about Jesus. But if you don't want to hear about Jesus, I still want to teach you guitar.' Instead of preaching Christ, he modeled Christ to the people. And it opened doors to the Gospel through building relationships with the people. This is the approach we use today," explains Pick.
Free mission books and DVDs will be available at the concert.
Pick's upcoming project "Trina" features McVicker among other friends in the music business. The title track is available on Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and it features Mitch McVicker. The song is about Pick's missionary friend Trina Eia who lost her battle with cancer on April 18, 2021. Pick held two benefit concerts for Trina, and one featured Pick and McVicker. All the artists involved with the benefits are featured on the upcoming album. The latest single "Restless Pilgrim" was released for Rich Mullins' 25th Memorial in September and is also featured on the project. All proceeds from these songs and the upcoming album go to the HealthWell Foundation to help cancer patients with financial assistance.
McVicker began recording his first solo project in the summer of 1997 with the help of Mullins. On the night of Sept. 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. McVicker was seriously injured while Mullins instantly died at the scene after being struck 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."
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.
Along with recording, McVicker maintains an extensive touring schedule, performing between 100 and 200 concerts a year.
McVicker recently released a new album "A Shrugging of the Shoulders," his 11th studio album in a career spanning over 25 years that began in support of the late Rich Mullins. It is also his first vinyl release. He also recently contributed to the Rich Mullins tribute project "Bellsburg... the songs of Rich Mullins," a new double-length tribute album featuring the songs of Rich Mullins and performed by Rich's friends and family including Mitch, Amy Grant, Kevin Max, etc. It's releasing worldwide on all music platforms Nov. 4.
The concert at Lifetree begins at 6 p.m. on Oct. 29. It's free but a love offering will be taken. It's located at 500 River Road in Jersey Shore.
In addition, the church's "Branch Cafe" will be open prior to and after the concert for coffee and refreshments.
To hear or purchase songs from Pick and McVicker, check out their BandCamp pages: http://www.chrispick.bandcamp.com or http://www.mitchmcvicker.bandcamp.com