Origin of American Christ Band & Artist Name:

Ricks early electronic works and conceptually-based instrumental compositions earned him the reputation early on in College as a pioneer within the Advance Front of New Music. Rick has been around since 1975, with various friends of the composer participating through out Ricks life-path. His works to date cover a wide and diverse spectrum of musical types embodying both conservative elements and radical innovations. The name of his Band 'American Christ' has its origins in the very unusual and extra-ordinary spiritual and supernatural experiences Mr. Strunk went through in the early '90s. This name was picked for a number of reasons:

    * In a number of cultures including Hispanic culture naming the newborn after an angel, saint or even Jesus is a tradition of invoking that spiritual entity for guardianship and guidance through their life-path;

    * The author of 'Black Music', Leroi Jones made an excellent observation that the early 'White' Rock Bands often chose destructive and derogatory names such as Beatles & Animals (even today: Smashing Pumpkins) unlike their 'Black' counterparts who actually had originated Rock (Rhythm & Blues) and who used positive and optimistic names like Stevie Wonder or The Supremes etc.

    * Rick was asked a number of times during the early '90s if he was indeed the return of Christ and/or other powerful deities such as the Sun-God. Depending on the persons cultural background.

    * Rick has invested much of his life-path in understanding the mechanics of how to reverse inter-personal destructiveness among species members

    * Rick has devoted and dedicated himself and his life choices at sometimes great personal cost to himself to understanding, maintaining and standing-under true and eternal basic ethics within this species.

    * Although versed in a number of both East & West Major World Religions Rick is quite satisfied that the Christ Jesus was not a mad man and spoke the truth.

    * The word 'Christ' refers to Anointment by the Holy Spirit through the Holy Oneness & the Holy Spirit creating a Holy One of the Holy Oneness; Recall no one is an Island but like Islands we are all interconnected by a continent under the oceans separating us from each other. A Holy One of the Holy Oneness has been chosen by above (Higher Dimensional Power in Higher Heavens; God) to have and maintain a conscious interconnections with much of humanity possibly both with the 'natural' aspect of the collective unconsciousness (as opposed to the unnatural & destructive aspects) and with the Holy Spirit providing guidance from higher dimensions (Heavens) and in Rick's case, also as a part of the-body-of-Christ.

    * So since Rick was Anointed and his consciousness was greatly expanded spiritually in the Winter of '90 - '91 during the Gulf war and since he is an American and for the reasons stated above He chose to name his band 'American Christ';

    * Shantih is the name he gave to the-child-within-his-heart and he associates that name with the Mystical Child that resides with Kundalini and is the wise guide for the power of Kundalini unleashed. Shantih means, 'The Peace Which Transcends Understanding' roughly translated and is used to cadence holy writings by Hindu Prophets and is equivalent to our term 'Amen'.

Some Unofficial Band Members, Consultants & Contributors For this Unofficial Band:

Years together and apart: 25 (since 1975ish)

David U. (piano; synthesizer) David P. (piano) Angel (encourager) JJ (piano) Randy S. (encourager) Dan N. (encourager) Tom P. (vocal; guitar) Phillip A. (lyrics on a tune) Florry B. (vocal) John ? (vocal) Clay S. (vocal)

Brad S. (encourager)