Larry Norman

Larry David Norman (born April 8, 1947 in Corpus Christi, Texas) was a member of the rock band People!. That band released its first album in 1968 and had a Top 20 hit with the song, "I Love You" (written by Chris White of The Zombies). but he is most remembered as one of the originators of Chistian Rock.

Related Topics:
April 8 - 1947 - Corpus Christi - Texas - Rock band - People! - 1968 - Chris White - The Zombies

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Norman left People and released his first solo album, Upon This Rock, in 1969. On it is Norman's most memorable song "I Wish We'd All Been Ready", which became a classic and has been covered by many artists. Although Norman was not the first, there were very few artists making Rock and Roll records with Gospel lyrics at the time, possibly because so many people believed that rock music was "evil". Larry Norman changed that and opened the door for other artists with his 1972 classic "Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music", in which he speaks out against this belief and shows that you can still be a Christian and listen to rock music. For this reason, Norman has often been called the grandfather of Jesus Music and Christian Rock. A huge boost at the beginning of his career was an appearance at the Billy Graham youth convention 'Explo 72' in Dallas (1972). But the road wasn't always easy for Norman whoose shoulder length white/blond hair, jeans and tee shirt, and sharp, sometimes caustic diatribes against secular influences in Christianity did not win him many friends with the older generation in the church. In the meantime, teens (both religious and non-religious) were buying his records and attending his concerts in droves.

Related Topics:
People - 1969 - Rock and Roll - Gospel - 1972 - Jesus Music - Christian Rock

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Norman's albums were a mixture of hard rock styles, with lyrics that were usually very serious, but occasionally very silly, (especially when performing with his best friend Randy Stonehill, whose first albums in the early 1970s were produced by Norman).

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In 1972, Norman and Stonehill made their acting debuts in the Larry Hagman-directed the Blob sequel, Beware! The Blob (1972) (also known as Son of Blob)(sic). Also appearing in the film were Dick Van Patten, Burgess Meredith, and Cindy Williams.

Related Topics:
1972 - Larry Hagman - The Blob - Sic - Dick Van Patten - Burgess Meredith - Cindy Williams

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In the late 1970s, Norman formed Solid Rock Records, which went on to release Stonehill's Welcome to Paradise and The Sky Is Falling, Daniel Amos' Horrendous Disc, Tom Howard's A View From The Bridge, and Mark Heard's Appalachian Melody among other titles from other artists and several of his own works.

Related Topics:
1970 - Solid Rock Records - Daniel Amos - Horrendous Disc - Tom Howard - Mark Heard

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Norman was severely injured in aboard an airplane in 1978 when an overhead compartment door fell on his head. He did not record a studio album for the next twelve years. A dispute with Word Records resulting in the dismantling of the Solid Rock label in 1980. Norman moved to Europe and formed the Phydeaux label.

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In 1992, he suffered a severe heart attack and was expected to live less than one week. He survived high-risk surgery and was left with very limited cardiopulmonary ability. Even though easily winded, he continued to perform, although very infrequently. He performed what was billed as his "final" concert in December of 2003. Then, in 2005 he announced two more "final" concerts: one in his adopted home of Salem, Oregon and the other at a seaside festival in Norway. Additional dates in the United Kingdom were also planned.

Related Topics:
2003 - 2005 - Salem, Oregon - Norway - United Kingdom

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Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Related Topics:
Gospel Music Association - Gospel Music Hall of Fame

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