Rich Yelton

If there’s a steady heartbeat behind Plays On Word, chances are Rich “Keezie” Yelton is providing it. Rich brings energy, precision, and joy to every performance. Whether adding subtle texture or driving the rhythm forward, his heart is simple: glorify Jesus and serve the story being told. A lifelong athlete, Rich grew up traveling for competitive baseball tournaments from West Virginia to Cooperstown, NY. Today he coaches high school baseball and hopes to one day win a state championship — right after getting married and starting a family, of course. Off stage, he loves staying active (gym, basketball, bowling, golf — though he’ll admit he’s “not that good,” haha), gathering around a bonfire with friends, and escaping to Florida whenever possible. He collects movies and TV series, owns a completely unusable 1980s VHS tape rewinder, drives an Acura TSX, fears heights and bees, and may or may not still dance to *NSYNC when no one’s watching. But Rich’s greatest story is one of healing and surrender. After a 15-year health journey that began shortly after college, he fully surrendered his life to Christ. Through prayer and biblical health principles, the Lord brought physical and spiritual restoration — shaping him into the man he is today. His father remains his hero, modeling unwavering faith in Christ. And his best friend, Rob, continues to walk beside him in spiritual growth. Rich was drawn to Plays On Word for its bold commitment to sharing the Gospel creatively and faithfully. He plays with that same conviction — every show, every time. “Keep the change, ya filthy animal!” (But more importantly — keep the faith.)