MercyMe’s Bart Millard posted an image of May on his Instagram early Saturday morning, labeling him one of the finest men he’s ever known.
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“MercyMe’s sound man and brother, Rick May, went home to Jesus tonight,” Millard posted. “He was a part of our family for the past 7 years. Our hearts are both broken and rejoicing at the same time. He’s one of the finest men I’ve ever known. MercyMe will never quite be the same without him. Well done Rick…well done.”
The Dove Award-winning singer ended his post with a verse from Ecclesiastes 7:1, saying, “A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.”
Brandon Rike, lead singer of Dead Poetic (currently on hiatus), was one of several people who had a dream of a recording contract over 20 years ago whom May helped guide. Rike posted that May was “incredibly instrumental” in the teenage lives of him and his bandmates.
While at May’s studio recording a two-song EP that the band planned to shop to record labels, the band was having a light disagreement, Rike shared. Rick then raised his voice and told them, “I’m trying to get you guys signed!”
Rike said, “For some reason, that’s one of the moments that stood out to me most about the experience…[because] he got us signed. That Two-Song EP cemented Tooth & Nail’s decision to sign a bunch of Ohio teenagers, and Rick May played a huge part in that.”
“I wish I could have told you how instrumental you were in our lives, Rick,” said Rike, who has not been in contact with May for over 20 years. “I wish I could have bumped into you at some point, and taken a moment to assure you that you made a huge difference in our lives. You helped 4 teenagers from a small town in Ohio believe that they could do something extraordinary. Thank you for caring about us. Thank you for making a mark on our lives. We shall meet again…”
 after a fungal infection he had been battling led to other complications that resulted in liver failure. He was 54.){kind=link}