Elevating Beyond with Mark Minard 322. Surviving Violence, Homelessness & Becoming a Global Music Star: Chris Mitchell
In this powerful episode, I sit down with global saxophonist and influencer Chris Mitchell, whose life is a living testimony of faith, resilience, and the pursuit of purpose. Chris's story begins with unimaginable childhood trauma—witnessing extreme family violence, homelessness, and nights spent under bridges or on church floors.
Yet, through it all, he never abandoned his faith. Instead, he leaned into his God-given gift of music, discovered at just five years old. From performing saxophone for tips at a small restaurant, to building an email list of over half a million contacts by hand, to selling out shows and eventually touring internationally with Groupon partnerships, Chris's relentless action and belief in divine guidance transformed his life.
Today, he's not only one of the first 200 paid influencers on TikTok, but also a world-touring musician who's performed at major events, including for boxing champion Claressa Shields. His authenticity and commitment to connecting deeply with his audience set him apart in an age of surface-level influence. This conversation is about more than music.
It's about overcoming adversity, trusting your gift, and building something extraordinary from nothing.
0:00 Intro
6:33 – The night his father stabbed his mother and sister
9:31 – How his mother miraculously survived
19:55 – Discovering his musical gift at age 4-5
24:18 – Evictions, homelessness & living in a church
31:53 – Staying on the "narrow path" through faith
49:31 – Graduating during the recession & struggling to find work
50:43 – Playing saxophone for tips at Turquoise
55:37 – The hustle: earning from small gigs
1:00:10 – Collecting half a million emails by hand
1:06:41 – Renting a jazz club & selling out in 20 minutes
1:12:29 – Touring America, sleeping in his SUV
1:24:00 – Partnering with Groupon to do an international world tour
1:27:03 – Surviving hardship while chasing the dream
1:28:28 – How faith guided every step
1:36:04 – Authenticity & building real connection with fans
1:40:14 – Final wisdom: resilience, faith & the power of your gift
1:55:56 A mini concert
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