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Larry Norman
Musician who was known as ‘the father of Christian rock' for his path-breaking marriage of pop music to the gospel
“Why should the Devil have all the good music?” This question was the basis of Larry Norman's career, as well as the title of one of his songs. Widely hailed as “the father of Christian rock”, he was the first to combine rock'n'roll rhythms with an evangelical message, creating a $700-million-a-year genre which in the US now easily outsells jazz and classical combined.
Norman was born in 1947 and grew up in a black district of San Francisco, where he began writing songs at the age of 9. Elvis Presley had just burst on to the scene, and Norman, already a Christian, recognised the gospel origin of the new music. “I thought Elvis was stealing the Church's music,” he later said. “And I thought I should steal it back.”
Although he studied music at San Jose College, he found the technical side too challenging and dropped out. But his band, People!, was soon signed to Capitol Records, and had a Top 20 hit with I Love You. They opened for such artists as the Doors, Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead but, although Norman imbibed the musical spirit of late 1960s San Francisco, he kept his distance from the excesses of the era.
Norman left the band after fellow members began experimenting with Scientology. His 1969 solo release, Upon This Rock, is generally acknowledged as the first Christian rock album. Only Visiting This Planet (1972), on which he worked with George Martin, was later voted the most influential Christian album by Contemporary Christian Music magazine.
Yet at the time, sales numbered only in the thousands. Many churches were openly hostile to Norman, with his long hair and whiff of the counterculture. His music was branded “satanic” and banned in many Christian shops. Norman thought this ridiculous: “I want the people to know that He saved my soul / but I still like to listen to the radio,” he sang. “I know what's right, I know what's wrong/ I don't confuse it. / All I'm really tryin' to say is, why should the Devil have all the good music?”
This was the question famously asked by Colonel William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, and Norman was firmly in the same tradition of using the power of music to reach out to the disenfranchised. “I feel there is a war going on, a war for young people's hearts,” Norman said. “They may not always find something in the Church. I feel my role is to say ‘Don't abandon God. Don't think there's nothing there for you just because you don't like the particular congregation you're familiar with.'”
Norman did not feel any more at home with conventional American Christianity than it did with him. “I had no desire to preach the gospel to the converted. I wanted to be out on the sidewalk preaching to the runaways and the druggies and the prostitutes”. His mellow chords, owing something to Simon & Garfunkel, were accompanied by blunt and often sarcastic lyrics condemning racism, the plight of the poor and the hypocrises of televangelism in a way that would have satisfied any Sixties protest singer.
Much of his touring was done outside the US, in Eastern Europe, Israel, and later China. He filled the Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Moscow Olympic Stadium without attracting the attention of the mainstream.
In 1975 he set up his own label, Solid Rock Records, which helped to launch the career of numerous other Christian rockers. By the late 1980s, “contemporary Christian music”, as it had become known, was rapidly becoming ever more popular, and lucrative. But Norman never felt at ease with Christian music as an industry. “I think we should read the Bible for personal reasons and not say, well, I'm going to put God into the meat grinder and come out with something that will be printed on sheet music, sung by choirs and have synchronisation rights”.
An aircraft accident in 1978 left Norman with brain damage that hampered his performance for many years afterwards, and in 1992 he almost died of a heart attack. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and gave a farewell concert in 2005 in Salem, Oregon, where he lived quietly in poor health.
Many of the younger generation of Christian musicians have spoken of their debt to Norman, and hundreds of cover versions of his songs have been recorded.
Modern Christian rock has moved away from its hippyish beginnings, but Norman welcomed the vitality of the many Goth and metal-influenced acts who play to packed festivals of young people across the US. “Christian music isn't supposed to be polite. It's supposed to be relevant.”
Larry Norman, evangelical rock musician, was born on April 8, 1947. He died of heart failure on February 24, 2008, aged 61
Saddened to hear of Larry Normans death . I was converted at 16 in 1976 , and loved (still do ) rock music. In those days there seemed very few "quality" christian rock musicians to listen to. Larry Norman stood out with his thoughtful , challenging lyrics
"I am a servant" is a classic"
Allen Alcock, Haverfordwest, Wales
if there needed to be prophet for the rock and drug culture, it was Larry Norman.
Hopefully, he was able to mentor someone as Elijah mentored Elisha in the Old Testament.
May the 'Tune', that Larry Norman reminded us of, continue in the hearts of all who will Listen.
James Walden, Jackson, Georgia 30233 / USA
Vale Larry Norman, Saw him perform in Perth Western Australia so long ago (in the 70s). A shining beacon above the sea of saccharine that is so much "contemporary Christian music". Must dig out his records from my parents record cabinet...
Frances, Fremantle, Western Australia
Larry was 'singular' , if that's the right word. Larry had "contemporaries" but no equal. Eternity only will tell his impact on the Kingdom. Larry's musical ministry is bound by time certainly; but spans the generations. Personally, I can only compare him to: Francis A. Schaeffer (the author) who commented "Larry Norman is one of the most misunderstood musicians of our time."(words to that effect) Schaeffer too was "unconventional.", yet reached many people searching for truth outside 'traditional venues." - THANK GOD!!!!!!!!! Thank you Lord. God used these individuals BECAUSE OF, NOT in-spite-of their idiosyncrasies. Go Figure. God blessed me through Larry's life.
Tim Tobin, Colonie, NY, Albany, New York
Wow, just found out. Larry Norman was a HUGE influence on me as a young teenager. A great communicator, a great thinker, who helped shape me and the way i look at organized religion and the rest of the world.
I had the pleasure of seeing him in concert 3 times- both with a band and as a solo artist: he could rock with the best, and leave you rethinking what you really stand for in the next song. Only Larry would release a christian 'blues' album, lol. great storyteller. nightmare #71, born to be unlucky,ive searched all around, 6 oclock news....great tunes- his are few of the albums i still play on vinyl!
Thank you Larry, God Bless, you will be missed.
Rollie, vancouver, canada
If it wasn't for Larry Norman, I would have never been interested in Christian music at all. His style showed me that "normal" teenagers could listen to music they were familiar with but now it had positive lyrics. I bought 5 of his albums in the 70's and played them over and over again knowing his message was a good one while it kept my thoughts on God. I met him once in Elgin, Illinois at a concert and think he's the most impressive musician I've ever known. I will miss him tremendously!
Sandra, Elgin, Illinois
Larry Norman was a saint who in his own way led countless thousands of young lost souls to eternal life in Christ,
I can't wait to meet him
Ron, Whitesboro, Texas
I never had the pleasure of meeting Larry Norman. But his music influenced me in ways that I have yet to understand. He will be missed. But only for a little while. ;-) Thanks Larry for helping us see the Savior through music that is relevant for the time.
Come To Reason
Face the day. Now's the season
Old things pass away.
Stand beside us. Take His hand. He will guide us, in another land.
Hymn to the last generation. Larry Norman, 1975
Michael White, Tucson, Arizona, USA
The first Christian Album I bought after becoming a Christian was "Street Level". The woman at the local Christian Bookstore had it hid under the counter and sold it to me on the sly, because her boss thought it was too radical for them to sell. I have been a huge fan evwer since and in my own recording was jokenly called Gary Norman by the studio musicians because of Larry's influence. Keith Green, Rich Mullins and now Larry Norman, three of my heros gone, but not before they helped shape my life! Thanks Larry!
Pastor Gary Holman, Westerville, USA, Ohio
Larry Norman mattered. He made a difference. Bound for superstardom, he went another direction and chose to be a servant, to love the unlovable, to walk the streets telling people about how much Jesus loves them. The world has changed for the better because of Larry Norman's amazing example of Who Jesus Is. While we who loved him grieve and miss him dearly, Larry is finally where he had always hoped to be, where he always knew he belonged. He was, after all, "only visiting this planet."
Michael Stone, Longview, WA
I was pretty taken aback to find out one of my christian rock heros had died. I saw larry a couple of times in Scotland first in Glasgow at the tent hall packed with 1000 people. he was different form the normal church christian and blew away the staid image of what a christian looked and acted like. I met and chatted with him on his last visit to Greenbelt in England. His love of God and humikity shone from him. Finally at the Edinburgh fringe show he packed out the church 500 people when others thought an audience of 50 to 100 was huge. He sang and spoke for 6 hours. I bet he's talking and singing to God right now. Many thanks for to God for this music genius. He trully was the Father of Chrisian Rock. Philip Kilravock-Rose Lenzie Scotland.uk
Philip Kilravock -Rose, Glasgow, Scotland
I remember grooving to Larry Norman while going to a vacation bible camp in the late 70s on Vancouver Island. Ironically, we listened Black Sabbath too - but the point is - if it wasn't good music we would listen to it. Larry Norman was a rocker and should have been played on regular radio. "Rock that doesn't roll" was a classic.
Churches were hypocrits in the 70s and didn't like anyone with long hair. Yet, all the pictures in church books, bibles showed a Jesus with long hair and beard. The old women at my church had blue hair long before anyone had heard of punk. RIP Larry.
Mr Ed Banger
Ed Banger, Beijing, China
Larry Norman was responsible, with others who cared about me, for God transforming my life. At a concert in Leicester, UK in September 1972, Larry was performing. I had been taken to the concert by close friends knowing that I had been very troubled. Larry asked people if they wanted to know more about the Lord but no-one went to the stage. Then Larry walked down through the people standing around and asked me if I was a Christian. I wasn't and he prayed with me and my life changed from that moment. I wanted to thank him for listening to the Holy Spirit and approaching me but it will be in the next life.
Margaret Fielden, Derby, England
I became a Christian in 1981 and was introduced to Larry's music soon after. Larry's music has influenced my life in so many ways. My theology, my heart for those without God, those with God, but are so self-righteous, that they won't let anybody in. After many years in the business world, I turned my life to the ministry. I am the lead pastor of a church in Albany, Georgia, The Pointe - a church for the unchurched and those who left the traditional church. We have over 1,400 different adults who attend every month. I guess Larry was right. God can use anybody. I am glad to have had Larry's influence in my life. I am who I am today partly because of who Larry and his music was to me. Thanks Larry, I love you.
Bryan Gerstel, Albany, Georgia
Larry Norman's Upon this Rock is one of the finest albums of 20th century rock music ever.
We should remember that Paul McCartney once said that if Mr. Norman had not been so obsessed with Jesus he would have been one of the finest singer-songwriters of his generation.
Let the Rain Fall Down is one of the most honest songs which speaks of God's mercy, grace and forgivness that I have ever heard.
If I did not believe in the resurrection I would despair that such a great talent has gone from us too soon.
I hope another generation will discover his music and come to realise the battles that Norman fought, and won, made Christian rock music not only acceptable but also truly professional. Some of the early Christian rock music was dire. Larry Norman set the standards that others had to reach with the result that listeners are able to hear good music in every sense of the word.
Thank you for a wonderful life and ministry.
rev. philip wren, Liverpool,
It is sad to hear of the death of Larry, he will be greatly missed by all those who appreciated the great Christian Music he pioneered. At that time and still now Christian Music was seen by the UK media only to comprise of Gospel Choirs and ignoring bands like Delerious.
I first saw Larry with our own Norman Barratt ( of 70's band Gravy Train) in Manchester. It was a memorable performance for Larry's great voice, which really touched your heart complimented by Norman's soaring guitar work. I never saw him again till 26th May 2007 when he played with just a guitar or piano and accompanied on some numbers by a drummer friend of his. This took place at Living Waters Christian Fellowship, Wecock Farm, Portsmouth, Hampshire. This may now well have been Larry's last concert performance. Larry's performance touched everyone, even though at times he was in pain. I hoped to see him again soon, which I know I will, but not in this life. Our loss is the Lord's gain. God Bless you Larry Norman.
philip gibson, Wimborne, England