MercyMe
MercyMe/Bart Millard
Prologue:
His Story:
Bart Millard was born and raised in the town of Greenville, Texas. His family did attend church regularly but his home life was very unstable. His father, Arthur, had a problem with anger, and divorced Bart’s mother when he was very young. Bart went on to pursue sports for an outlet. Plus his father was an All-American player for Southern Methodist University and his older brother was a football player; so naturally Bart wanted to play football. His football career never got off the ground, as he broke both his ankles in a high school game. As a result he decided to take choir as an elective; albeit reluctantly. It was then that Bart began to find his love for music. 
During his freshman year in college at East Texas State University, Bart lost his father tragically to cancer. His father embraced his Christian faith more fully before his death and made peace with Bart and his family. Shortly after, his youth minister moved from Texas to Florida and asked Bart to join the youth group’s worship band. He accepted the offer and became the technical supervisor of the group working the video and sound systems. Bart would go on to say this about joining the band: “it was the first time I had ever done anything with a band — just a local youth group who played for a Wednesday night service. But I fell in love with it immediately.”One day the lead singer locked up on stage and as a joke the keyboard player, Jim Bryson, asked if anyone wanted to sing. Up came Bart to fill in for her and it wasn’t long before Bart made his presence known. They took a trip to Switzerland and then the idea of playing full-time began to take shape.
Bart, his friend Mike Schuchzer, and Bryson, moved to Oklahoma City and set up a studio in an old abandoned day-care center. A few years later, Nathan Cochran and Robby Shaffer joined the band. They would go on to release six independent projects before signing with INO Records in 2001. The band’s name wasn’t formed out of some deep theological meaning. Instead Bart’s grandmother would exclaim” Well mercy me, why don’t you get a real job?” evaluating his new career choice. The band began performing around the country and began progressing slowly towards making a name for themselves. Then Bart began pondering the words to a song that would forever alter the band’s course in history.
Turning Point:
In 1999, Bart began writing the words of “I Can Only Imagine” reflecting on the passing of his father. The phrase “I can only imagine” brought him comfort and he wrote it down often. According to Bart it took him only ten minutes to write the song. He went on to say this about this father:
“I was always told that if he could choose, he would rather be in Heaven than here with me….So the questions in the song came from me asking God what was so great about Him that my dad would rather be there.”
The song jumped to the number 1 spot on Christian radio in 2001 with the release of MercyMe’s first album with INO Records, Almost There. It earned three Dove awards in 2002 and gained airplay on secular radio by 2003. It topped in the Billboard 200 list and Almost There soon after became certified double platinum. From there the song earned the band spots on Jay Leno, ABC News, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, and many other programs. Mike Scheuchzer said this concerning the incredible success of the song,
“There are songs that I grew up with that have stuck with me my entire life. It’s so amazing that a whole generation is growing up with our song stuck in their heads for the rest of their lives. It blows my mind.”
Their Story:
Shortly after the astonishing success of “I Can Only Imagine”, MercyMe released their sophomore release, Spoken For. The two singles of the album, “Spoken For” and “Word of God Speak” went on to be number #1 hits on Christian radio charts. The album was birthed from the concept that God has a reserved spot for those who a relationship with him. In 2003, Barry Graul joined the band as a guitarist and MercyMe released their third studio album, Undone. It was then that the band went through a devastating time as Millard lost several close friends, his brother-in-law, his uncle, and Bryson father passed away during December 2003 through March 2004. As a result the album was very personal and included the heartfelt song, “Homesick”. The song in a sense was the exact opposite of “I Can Only Imagine” because it addresses everyone who is still longing for Heaven. Following the release of the album, MercyMe headlined the “Imagine Tour” with Amy Gant and Bebo Norman.
After the tour, the band took a much needed break and then decided to work on a Christmas record. In the fall of 2005, they released “The Christmas Sessions”. Bart also released his first solo album of hymns, simply titled “Hymned” that year. Nathan Cochran went on to say about the band’s increasing success that year: “If people’s lives aren’t being affected and aren’t’ being pointed to Christ, then we really haven’t done our job.”
Their next album, released in 2006, Coming Up to Breathe, was made into a rock album. They headlined the “Coming Up to Breathe Tour” with Audio Adrenaline and Phil Wickham. Half of their shows would go on to sell out in a matter of two weeks. The album would also have four singles “So Long Self”, “Bring the Rain”, “Coming Up to Breathe”, and “Hold Fast”. The following year, in 2007, MercyMe, would go on to release, All That Is within Me, intended to be a worship album with cover songs. Instead they ended up writing all the songs including the singles, “God With Us”, “You Reign”, and “Finally Home”. The song “Finally Home” was another song written by Bart alluding to his father’s death.
In 2009, MercyMe released their first greatest hits album, 10, which referred to the decade since their release of “I Can Only Imagine”. The album included the hit song, “I Can Only Imagine” recorded with the London Session Orchestra along with a CD and DVD. Later in the year, on August 8, 2009, the band was involved in a tragic accident while traveling to St. Louis that resulted in two deaths and an unborn child. Their tour bus went through a green light when the other vehicle turned left right in front of their tour bus. The band would go on to state this concerning the accident: “MercyMe would like to express their incredible heartache over this horrible accident. They are praying for the families of all who this will affect, and are asking others to please pray as well. The band and crew sustained minor bumps and bruises, however their hearts are heavy. They appreciate the concern they have received from people all over the world.”
This year, MercyMe released their 7th studio album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell, on May 4th. Here’s the main inspiration behind the creation of the album from the band’s website: www.mrlovewell.com:
“And who is Mr. Lovewell? He’s an idea. He’s a movement. He’s the hope that the little things can add up to a big change. He’s what the Bible has already called us to do…love one another. Look for the best in people. Give people a chance regardless of status, race or gender. Mr. Lovewell is the understanding that the gospel is for everyone. Some may receive it, some may reject it, but, from where we’re standing, all that should matter is that the Gospel applies to us all. Who are we to demand the outcome before we decide to contribute? Do we wait and tip the waitress only if she’s done a great job? Or do we tip her even when she’s having the worst day? That’s what God’s grace is…unconditional. Grace leaves no room for “I’ve earned this” or “I deserve this.” What a concept! To love and be loved no matter what! And that, my friend, is Mr. Lovewell. Who knows…maybe he’ll rub off on a few people. Are you a Lovewell?”
Their Impact:
MercyMe is strongly active in reaching communities, outreach programs, and charities. The band works with Compassion International who matches children in countries dealing with poverty with donors. During a recent trip to the Dominican Republic Bryson said, “It was something straight out of the movies. “Slum areas, people living out of cardboard boxes, We met this one family that lives in a 8 by 10 foot house and they have two daughters. They have basic electricity, no bath, a small fridge like you see in dorm rooms, stove with one burner and two little beds on the floor. They have to go to a friend’s house to use the bathroom. Things like that keep you grounded.” In 2005, they participated in a benefit concert at Belmont University for people affected by the Asian Tsunami. Recently, they conducted a tour that featured a partnership with Compassion and Imagine a Tour to raise money for kids with diabetes. Their song, “I Would Die For You” on Coming Up to Breathe, was dedicated to BJ Higgins, a young boy who contacted Bubonic Plague in Peru. Since that time they raised money for the Go Foundation.
Lessons From Their Legacy:
From Bart Millard’s beginnings we can take away the fact that God’s plan ultimately prevail. He wanted to become a football player but God had other ideas. Despite Bart’s reluctance to join the choir, God led him to become a the worldwide influential worship leader. Also God uses every circumstance in our lives to lead us to where He wants to go. Due to the simple fact that the lead singer froze up on stage, Bart started singing for the band, and the rest is history. Also God uses pain and tragedy for His glory. In light of heartache that Bart and the band has been through with the death of Bart’s father and many other deaths, the songs that came as a result have impacted millions of lives. Finally, God uses ordinary people to accomplish His Will. None of the band members came from a lofty status but nonetheless their one of the biggest, most well known bands in not only Christian music, but mainstream music as well. There’s no telling how many more lives that MercyMe has yet to impact and the legacy that will be left behind because of their ministry. “I Can Only Imagine” is simplistic lyrically and musically yet is considered by many as one the greatest songs written about Heaven in music history. MercyMe’s mark on history is one that will be felt throughout all of eternity and perhaps we’ll enter Heaven’s gates singing the words to their song changing the lyrics to “I no longer have to imagine, what my eyes will see, it’s now reality!”
Current Band Members:
- Bart Millard – vocals
- Nathan Cochran – bass guitar
- Michael John Scheuchzer – guitars
- Robin (Robbie) Troy Shaffer – Drums
- James (Jim) Philip Bryson – keyboards
- Barry Graul – guitars
Discography:
- Pleased To Meet You: Released 1995, Independent
- Traces of Rain Vol 1: Released 1997, Independent
- Traces of Rain Vol 2: Released 1997, Independent
- The Need, Released 1998, Independent
- The Worship Project, Released 1999, Independent
- Look, Released 2000, Independent
- Almost There, Released 2001, INO Records
- Spoken For, Released 2002, INO Records
- Undone, Released 2004, INO Records
- The Christmas Sessions, Released 2005, INO Records
- Coming Up to Breathe, Released 2006, INO Records
- All That is Within Me, Released 2007, INO Records
- The Generous Mr. Lovewell, Released 2010, INO Records
Trivia:
On Bart Millard:
- Favorite quote: “Three chords and the truth” – Bono
- Favorite color: Blue
- Favorite thing to collect: Baseball hats
- Favorite artist: U2 and Henry Connick Jr.
- Favorite movie: That Thing You Do
- Best Childhood Memory: Every Christmas
- First Album He bought: “More Power to Ya” by Petra
Sources:
Fluke brings MercyMe together – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/music/ci_12126370#ixzz11htUmZt5
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Can_Only_Imagine
http://www.christianmusic.com/mercyme/mercyme.htm
http://hubpages.com/hub/MercyMe-Biography
http://christianmusic.about.com/od/mercyme/a/mercyme10yrs.htm
http://mercyme.org/media/photos/
