Chris Rodriguez:

A Beggar in Paradise

a spotlight article by

Mike Nappa

When talking about new Word recording artist, Chris Rodriguez, it’s important to note that “new” is a relative term.

Truth is, Rodriguez has been around for more than a decade. His gritty pop vocals have backed up the best, including artists like Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Kenny Loggins, Shania Twain, Rich Mullins, Jaci Velasquez, Steven Curtis Chapman, Billy Joel, Michael McDonald, and the list goes on.

“I’ve never had a business card,” Rodriguez reports about his successful career as a session singer. “My business card has always been the last project that I worked on.”

That was good enough to land him several offers to record a solo album—offers Rodriguez turned repeatedly turned down until finally stepping into the spotlight this year with his debut release, Beggar’s Paradise. “It never felt right to me,” he says about the past opportunities. “It never felt like it was my time…I didn’t feel like I had the maturity in the Lord to be a representative.”

Which brings us to the other thing that’s important to note about Chris Rodriguez: In spite of all his success in the CCM industry, this man seems truly unimpressed by anything he’s accomplished. In fact, the only thing he seems to be impressed by is God. Specifically, the fact that God restored his relationship with his wife and brought healing into a marriage he thought was over.

“About four and a half years ago, we just almost didn’t make it,” Rodriguez admits. “And a lot of the material on [Beggar’s Paradise] was born out of the joy that I’m feeling now in my life; the blessing that I’m feeling now; the mercy that I’m feeling now as a result of just struggling through and hanging in there. And this woman, my wife, Lisa—I mean we really were at each other’s necks four years ago!” He smiles gratefully, “We’re best of friends now.”

Because he’s been though that kind of heartache, Rodriguez is focused on what he wants to accomplish with his new album. “I can personally attest to the healing power of God in our life,” he says “and I want to share some of that healing. I want to be poured out in that fashion… The chief message that I want to speak through this is that there’s joy in the morning and there’s laughter after the rain and the pain.”

In short, there’s a Beggar’s Paradise, and it’s waiting for us all.