Larry was a rebel in a good way. To be honest he was kind of odd and strange but that's the draw I had to him. He was the first to blend rock and roll and gospel lyrics. He was never fully accepted by the church and frankly he didn't care.


Feb. 25th, 2008, Salem, Oregon - Larry Norman, the singer, songwriter, and producer known as the "father of Christian rock music," died of heart failure on Sunday (Feb. 24) in his Salem, Oregon home. He was 60.

Norman was an eccentric visionary whose songs drew controversy from both the conservative religious establishment and the secular music press for his lyrical mix of radical religious, political, and social themes. His 1969 solo album Upon This Rock was the first Christian rock record, and his milestone 1972 release Only Visiting This Planet is considered one of the best albums in the genre. His music was an influence on such diverse artists as U2, John Mellencamp, and the Pixies.

"Larry was my door into the music business and he was the most Christlike person I ever met," former Pixies singer Frank Black said Monday upon hearing of Norman's passing.

Norman was born on April 8, 1947 in Corpus Christi, Texas. At the age of 3 he relocated to San Francisco, California with his family and in the mid-'50s became fascinated with the music of Elvis Presley. During this time he also frequently accompanied his father on Christian missions to prisons and hospitals. At the age of nine, Larry began writing and performing original rock and roll songs at school, experimenting and incorporating a spiritual message into his music. In 1959 he performed on Ted Mack's syndicated television show The Original Amateur Hour on CBS. Upon moving to San Jose, California, he began recording for Capitol Records with his band People! in 1966 and for the next 2 years performed concerts supporting The Doors, The Who, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, among others. People! scored a Billboard Chart hit in 1968 with a cover of The Zombies' song "I Love You." Norman left the band the day People!'s debut album was released.

His solo albums recorded in the 1970s on his own independent label Solid Rock, and the albums of other artists he discovered and produced, laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Christian rock music industry, a genre which largely shunned him and his music. According to Portland news/radio station KXL, Norman's early social positions caused a stir among many conservative Christians. His views against racism and poverty caused him to receive multiple death threats in the 1970s. A widespread ban on Norman's music, which is largely still in effect today, existed in Christian stores. This ban was due not only to Norman's social positions, but his preferred company as well. Said Norman in a separate interview, "The churches weren't going to accept me looking like a street person with long hair and faded jeans. They did not like the music I was recording. And I had no desire to preach the gospel to the converted."


Time Magazine once called Norman "the most significant artist in his field." Over 300 cover versions of his songs have been recorded by artists such as Petula Clark, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Black, and Cliff Richard. His songs have also been recorded by contemporary Christian artists like DC Talk, Rebecca St. James, and Audio Adrenaline. He performed for The White House, twice - and in Moscow at the 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium. He headlined venues like The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, The Palladium and London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall, which he sold out six times, once filling it twice on the same day. In the last 40 years Norman has released nearly 100 solo albums.

In 2001 Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside Elvis Presley. At the time of his death he was working on an album with Frank Black and Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, which will be released later this year.

In a message he wrote on Saturday, Feb 23, the day before he passed away, Norman said:

__________________________

"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home. I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help. My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be funeral information posted on my website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again."

"Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."
__________________________

His siblings, mother, and friends were with him through late Saturday night and Sunday morning when he died peacefully in his sleep.

There will be a public memorial ceremony for Larry Norman at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 1st at The Church on the Hill, 2707 Maranatha Ct., Turner, Oregon.

For more information contact:

Charles Norman
Phone: (503) 391-8349
charles@slackertone.com

My favorite Larry Norman quote: "I heard Paul's latest record, I think he REALLY IS dead."

From the obit: ...the Christian rock music industry, a genre which largely shunned him and his music.

But he also shunned the whole idea of an "industry" in Christendom as being like the moneychangers that Jesus drove out of the temple.

Another obit quote: A widespread ban on Norman's music, which is largely still in effect today, existed in Christian stores.

I think "widespread ban" is an overstatement. One release in particular on Benson was widely distributed but wasn't a huge seller for various reasons. A lot of his separation from the mainstream was due to other factors including his own choices, personality differences, his musical styles that were not 'mainstream pop,' and health problems that kept him from a regular schedule of releasing music. In particular, difficulties he had due to a head injury in freak accident weren't fully understood by those he was trying to work with at the time.

I will miss Larry but he leaves behind a large discography of music for continued enjoyment and inspiration.

I'll have to do a bit of research on this guy, I hadn't really heard of him until now. I know we haven't played any of his music in our worship band where I attend and play. But we could always use something new, so I'll check him out. Thanks for the background guys.

Randy-

After that freak accident on the airplane he was even farther out mentally and it really put a strain on his relationship with Randy Stonehill which was already somewhat strained.

Beyond those creative differences Larry was simply ahead of his time and never played into the "industry" as you have said.

On another musical loss, Roby Duke passed away on Dec 26 2007. He had performed just 2 days earlier with his son in a concert. I met Roby a couple of times in my Christian radio days. Odd bird as well but just an unbelievable talent. I loved his blue-eyed soul style of music.

Roby like Larry Norman never felt comfortable in the Christian music "Industry". And like Norman found home in the Pacific NW. Roby lived in the Seattle area.