Larry David Norman was an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer. Norman’s recordings are noted for their Christian and social subject matter, and he is often described as the “father of Christian rock music”.
Norman has also been described as having had a significant influence on many artists, secular and religious. Norman had long been associated with what has been referred to as the Jesus People movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, although it has been reported that “he did not particularly identify himself with the youth–oriented ‘Jesus movement’ of the time”.
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I’m not going to pretend that I knew a lot about Larry Norman and supported his career from the beginning and named my kids after him and all that, because… well, I didn’t. I had heard of Larry numerous times and knew the basics about his life. How he was considered the “father of Christian rock” and that he was pretty outspoken and fell in the same lines as Bob Dylan, and those guys. Honestly the first time I heard of him was when DC Talk covered “I Wish We’d All Been Ready“. The song hit me pretty hard, as it would any influential teenager, and I even learned it on the guitar. Beyond that I don’t know much about Larry Norman’s work.
This past Sunday, Larry died in his home, from a long battle with an illness that I am unable to even find more details about. I heard about his passing a few times throughout the week and decided to do some reading. The more research I did the more I wanted to know about this guy and his music career. From being banned at several Christian Bookstores, speaking out against Christian consumerism, a constant struggle to make it financially, even with a title so grand as the “father of Christian rock”, and a continued message of love and acceptance.
No doubt this year Larry will be greatly recognized at the Dove Awards, and sell more records than he ever has. That’s how the industry works. A tribute album will be made, money will be made and his message will be spread further than it ever has. And that’s not a bad thing, just a little sad to me.
I may fall in line with several people that will “discover” his music after his death, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I just hope that we, as music consumers and lovers, recognize good content and share it with others before the artist dies and we are told to like it. I would encourage you to read about Larry and his life. Check out an album or two*. We owe it to him and his family. Especially those that are succeeding in the music industry. From what I’ve read, he stood in the front lines and everyone making a career in this industry owes him at least that.
*iTunes is only carrying one album, and it’s a remix album. The reviews are horrible and I think I will search out the original.
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Good post, Brody.
When I used to work in Christian retail, I remember the tribute album to him called “One Way” - I don’t know if you can still get it or not, but it was a really good album (all the songs are covers by (at the time) current artists)
I believe Larry had a couple of heart attacks and probably some other ailments over the last few years.
My mom had a cassette of Larry’s album “In Another Land” when I was younger and I loved it. He was one of my first introductions to “Christian rock” and remains one of my favorite artists. It’s great to hear a “Christian artist” speak out about the culture (”The Great American Novel”) and about war (”Six O’Clock News”).
yea man… it doesnt seem right when people are taken like this, but i know it’s for a reason. like rich mullins, it’s just a huge tragedy.
i did want to add and perhaps enlighten those who didnt know, but apparently, he had a new record slated (which may still come forth) that was a collaboration with isaac brock of modest mouse and frank black of the pixies.
glorious!
I’m really glad you wrote about Larry. My father was a true hippy and it was actually a People! album my dad bought in 1969 that he first heard about Jesus and understood. At a Larry Norman concert a few years later he met this guy who was sober and a christian, my father was able to understand christianity through Larry’s way of expressing it and accepted Jesus. Because of this I was fortunant enough to grow up knowing who Jesus is.
I remember meeting Larry when I was only 6 or 7 years old through my fathers friend Charles Mcpheeters who was a musician and friend of Larry’s.
Thanks for taking the time to recognize someone who has impacted way more lives then they would know in the life, but undoubtedly will know in the next.
I am a huge fan. I grew up listening to his stuff, and though my wife makes fun of me I still occasionally break out a tape (I can’t find anything of his on CD, and the itunes album is terrible).
As I write this I’m listening to “Right Here in America”
An apocolyptic and searing commentary on the brainwashing and countless bigotry of those who are convieniently distracted by a media and political machine to divest the true rights and responsibiliteies of a Christian nation gown awry.
Written in 1970 it is a as prophetic and apocolyptic as ever. Didn’t I receive an e-mail this morning of a petition before congress to censor all preaching from the airwaves? “Its happening right here in America, don’t think its not true, its happening right here, right here in America, wait til it happens to you….”