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Larry Norman 4/8/47 - 2/24/08 |
Larry's amazing amount of dedication and work throughout his
life is a testament to his love for his Maker. He will be missed
but a celebration of his life can live on through the vast
collection of his music. For those new to Christian music, you
owe it to yourself to discover what is the Larry Norman legacy.
Here is a letter posted on
www.larrynorman.com by his brother Charles detailing the
events: Live Interview with Larry Norman below:
GOODBYE,
FAREWELL
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45
Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and
sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop.
We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him,
and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and
instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.
Several of his friends got to come and visit with him in the
last couple of weeks and were a great source of help and
friendship to Larry. Ray Sievers, Derek Robertson, Mike Makinster,
Tim and Christine Gilman, Matt and Becky Simmons, Kerry Hopkins,
Allen Fleming and a few more. Thank you guys. Larry appreciated
your visits very much. And he greatly appreciated the thoughts,
wishes, support and prayers that came from all of you Solid Rock
friends on a daily basis. Thank you for being part of his small
circle of friends over the years. Yesterday afternoon he knew he
was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the
following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed
these words into Larry's computer:
________________________________
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.
My brother Charles is right, 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 want to say I love you. I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. 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.
-
Larry
________________________________
LARRY NORMAN TRIBUTES - SOLID ROCK RECORDS UK:
http://www.larrynorman.uk.com/tributes.htm
- THE DREW MARSHALL SHOW
INTERVIEW PART ONE - ORIGINALLY AIRED MAY 2005
- For the first time ever... The Godfather of the
Christian Rock Movement gives a rare 2 hour
interview! With songs like The Outlaw, I
Wish We'd All Been Ready, U.F.O., and
Why Don't You Look Into Jesus, Larry Norman
forged ahead against the ultra-conservative church
culture of the 50s & 60s, which wanted nothing to do
with his so called "demon music." Larry was one of
the forefathers of what we now know as "The Jesus
Movement." Surviving years of countless rumors and
gossip, Larry has become an icon in the Christian
music world, having opened for Jimi Hendrix, Janice
Joplin, The Byrds, and The Grateful Dead.
http://www.drewmarshall.ca/listen2008.html#080301
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Some of his best classic songs are now available
for
download
- Mark Joseph, Journalist:
Larry Norman, the most amazing artist you've never heard of has died. I found
Norman's 1976 record "Only Visiting This Planet" on vinyl when I was a kid and
was amazed at Norman's creative genius-later I wrote a chapter on him in my book
The Rock & Roll Rebellion.
Norman will be mentioned in obits as the Father of Christian Rock, but that's
a misunderstanding of who he was. Someone once said "I'm too saved for the
Sinners and the Saved don't want me around" and that best described Norman's
amazing life and career.
He first cracked the pop charts in the late 60's with his band People and
their smash hit
"I
Love You," but became disgruntled when Capitol Records wouldn't let him call
his album "We Need A Whole Lot More Jesus and A Lot Less Rock & Roll" and put a
painting of his Master on the cover. That led Norman to quit the band and go
solo, recording for MGM Records, but they too tired of his religious imagery and
Norman soon formed his own label, Solid Rock Records. The Christian world was
freaked out by the blond hippie and had little use for his music and despite his
association with the term "Christian Rock" he was always an outsider and always
strived to make his records for everybody.
While Christian Rock is sometimes assailed as formulaic and derivative,
Norman was anything but and his admirers included Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, The
Pixies, Van Morrison, John Mellencamp and Sammy Davis, Jr. among others.
Martin Luther, no slouch of a songwriter himself once said "Why should the
Devil have all the good tunes," and Norman took that line and wrote a memorable
song
"Why
Should the Devil Have All The Good Music" which included these lines:
"I want the people to know that He saved my soul but I still like to listen
to the radio/They say rock and roll is wrong give you one more chance/I say I
feel so good I gotta get up and dance/There's nothing wrong with playing blues
licks/If you gotta reason tell me to my face/Why should the Devil have all the
good music"
Norman further alienated many churchgoers with his song
"Why Don't You
Look Into Jesus" which went: "Gonorrhea on Valentine's Day/You're still
looking for the perfect lay/You think rock and roll will set you free/But honey
you'll be dead before you're 33"
And only the eclectic Larry Norman could write a song about his Master Jesus,
comparing him to a U.F.O. and singing this memorable line: "If there's life on
other planets than I'm sure that He must know and He's been there once already
and has died to save their souls"
Norman gave the world one last gift as he lay dying dictating these words
shortly before his heart gave out. Who wouldn't want to go out like this?
"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...My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some
flowers inside... I want to say I love you. I'd like to push back the darkness
with my bravest effort...Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again Somewhere beyond
the sky. I pray that you will stay with God. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."
Since the 1960s, Larry Norman's work has
appeared on over 90 albums, compilations, and concert bootlegs.
These recordings have been released under various labels, with
various artists. A partial sampling of these albums is listed
below.
 Now,
Larry is the happiest and most creative ever...in the
intermediate Heaven with Jesus, and his friends, family that have
gone on before us. Soon, we, who are born again, will be in our
super-human bodies at "the blessed hope" - the rapture - and will
enjoy each other at The Marriage Supper of The Lamb – with Jesus,
The Lion of the tribe of Judah!!
- Bob Cotterell,
Sonrise Music Co.
Larry Norman, Arthur Blessitt and other Christians
impacting Hollywood with the Jesus Revolution (late 1960's) |
