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Biography
Early years
Rossi was a child prodigy, playing guitar on stage at age seven, astounding some music critics with sophisticated jazz arrangements. As a teenager, his father was put into a mental institution for a bi-polar disorder, which by all accounts devastated Rossi, who idolized his father. Turning to religion for comfort, he became a born again Christian, and toured as a rock and roll preacher, usually in tandem with songwriting partner Johnny Walker, playing a unique brand of gospel rock. He was featured on The 700 Club and in the CBS documentary Teen's Songs Turn Youth to God. His music from this period was released on the album New Wine.
Ministries
Rossi moved to Lynchburg, Virginia at age 18 to study the Bible at Jerry Falwell's fundamentalist Liberty University, where he earned a Bachelors and Master's degree in Biblical Studies. He eloped in his sophomore year, marrrying classmate Sherrie Plaugher on May 11, 1984 in a Lynchburg courthouse. In his senior year, he started his first church, "The Fellowship," which became a subject of controversy for faith healings, exorcisms, and speaking in tongues, practices frowned upon by the University.
His second church, created with partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party,", the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer. CNN, Christianity Today, and USA Today reported on the controversial church meetings in bars, health clubs and nightclubs in Anaheim, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis.
In 1986, Rossi started First Love, a charismatic church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred again and became the subject of articles in The Pittsburgh Press and other newspapers. In April 1991, Rossi reportedly suffered depression and isolated himself from media and followers. Charisma magazine attributed the depression to flashbacks of childhood abuse Rossi suffered as a young performer.
In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly radio show Rich Rossi Live, reportedly drawing opposition from established clergy, who said the miraculous signs and wonders the press reported were not biblical, because "healing miracles were unique to Christ and the Twelve Apostles to authenticate their message, and had not occurred since the first century." Undaunted, Rossi's healing services grew, and healings of heart ailments, back pain, and the curing of a Pittsburgh Symphony member of cancer were reported on television. The services continued to grow, necessitating renting large municipal auditoriums. Rossi was criticized by other clerics for his use of rock and roll music, his casual attire, and his criticism of conventional Christianity.
In September 1992, the FOX TV documentary Quest for Truth examined the healings and exorcisms in Rossi's meetings, and the church was besieged with seekers from around the world seeking a miracle cure.
Scandal
In 1994, Rossi's wife identified him as an attacker who beat her nearly to death. Rossi claimed the assailant was a look-alike, and speculated publicly that the assault might have had demonic origin. His wife later recanted her story, saying the assailant had not been her husband. Nonetheless, Rossi was charged with attempted murder, but was allowed to plead no contest to second-degree aggravated assault, and served 96 days in jail. In 1996, Sherrie Rossi published Assault of Justice: The Richard Rossi Mystery, defending her husband from various tabloid stories.
Rossi left the evangelical subculture, and released the alternative rock album Full Circle. The album was criticized by evangelical Christians because the album was confessional about his depression and struggles, with metaphors rather than explicit religious content. Rossi was also rejected by some of his evangelical former fans because he performed the new material in bars, nightclubs, and mainstream concert venues, often with other rock and jazz all-star musicians.
Hollywood
In 1997, Rossi relocated to Hollywood, and started acting lessons, studying with renowned drama teachers Robert Beecher and Milton Katselas. He first role was in the 1998 short film Jesus 2000. In 1998, he appeared in a stage version of Elmer Gantry.
He started house churches for actors and celebrities, operating under the name "Eternal Grace," a name chosen by Rossi's wife Sherrie.
In 2001, Rossi wrote and directed Saving Sister Aimee, a short documentary film about 1920's evangelist Aimee McPherson. The film won the Golden Halo Award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council.
In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the feature biopic Aimee Semple McPherson, starring actress Mimi Michaels as Aimee, and Rance Howard as Aimee's father James Kennedy. Christianity Today and Charisma praised the film, but many criticized the film for trying to create a period piece on a small budget.
Rossi and his wife have one daughter (Karis Marie Rossi) and one son (Joshua Richard Rossi).
References
Donnally, Ed, "Filmmaker Tells Story Of Wounded Healer", Charisma Magazine, October 2005
"Sister's Story", Ministries Today Magazine, Nov/Dec. 2005
Griffiths, Lawn, "Finding Sister Aimee", East Valley Tribune, August 27, 2005
Sailhamer, Sue, "Filmmaker Pursues Controversial side of Denomination Founder", Christian Examiner, November 2004
Smith, David, "Elmer Gantry Play A Big Hit In Long Beach", Bixby Beat, November 1998
Overshine, Gordon, "Preacher Lands Ironic Role", Tribune Review, April 3, 1998
Rossi, Sherrie; Assault of Justice. Amazon, 1995
Tipping, Emily, "Putting God Into Rock and Roll", Butler Eagle, June 8, 1994
Bender, Jim, "In the Name of Jesus Christ You will Be Healed!", North Journal, Dec. 17, 1992
"Third Great Awakening", Ministries Today Magazine, May/June 1992
Hickling, Cathy, "Rich Rossi During PM Drivetime", Expression Magazine. November 1991
Melnick, Ann Rodgers, "Radio Revivalist Rattles Rivals", Pittsburgh Post Gazette, September 1991
O'Matz, Megan, "Rock Assuages", Pittsburgh Press, 7/11/90
Smart, Gil, "Area Pastor Says Faith Healing Real", Cranberry Review Journal, 6/20/1990
Bennett, Marcia, "Their Faith Beats the Odds", Post Gazette, Fall, 1982
Guydon, Linda, "Singing Poets Spread Gospel", Post Gazette, Spring, 1981
Stackowitz, Grace, "Teens Songs Reflect Positive Outlook", North Hills News Record, November 1980
