Larry Norman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Norman
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Larry Norman in Ohio, October 2001
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Larry David Norman |
| Born | April 8, 1947 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| Origin | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2008 (aged 60) Salem, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1966–2007 |
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Larry David Norman (born April 8, 1947 – died February 24, 2008) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He also owned a record label and produced music for other artists. Many people see him as one of the first artists to create Christian rock music. Larry Norman released over 100 albums during his career.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Larry Norman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was the oldest son of Joe and Margaret Norman. His father worked for the railroad and later became a teacher. The family moved to San Francisco in 1950. Larry became a Christian at age five. In 1959, he even performed on a TV show called The Original Amateur Hour.
In 1960, Larry's family moved to Campbell. He graduated from Campbell High School in 1965. He earned a scholarship to study English at San José State University. However, he left college after one semester.
Larry could play many musical instruments. But he never learned how to read or write musical notation.
First Bands
While still in high school, Larry formed a group called The Back Country Seven. His sister Nancy Jo and friend Gene Mason were also in the band. After high school, Larry kept performing in his local area.
In 1966, Larry opened a concert for the band People!. He later became the main songwriter for People! and shared lead vocals. People! played about 200 concerts each year. They performed with famous bands like Van Morrison and Them, the Animals, the Doors, the Who, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix.
People!'s cover of the Zombies' song "I Love You" became a big hit. It sold over one million copies. Larry Norman left People! in 1968. He later reunited with Gene Mason for concerts in 1974 and 2006.
Hollywood Ministry
After leaving People!, Larry Norman had a strong spiritual experience. He moved to Los Angeles in July 1968. There, he spent time sharing his faith on the streets. He used money from his music to help people. He started a place where new converts could stay. He also bought them clothes and food. Larry helped create and explore the rock-gospel music style.
Musical Shows
In 1968, Larry wrote songs for two rock musicals: Alison and Birthday for Shakespeare. Both shows were performed in Los Angeles.
In 1969, Larry and his friend Teddy Neeley tried out for the musical Hair. They were offered main roles. Teddy accepted his role, but Larry turned down his part. Larry also wrote other musicals in 1969. This led Capitol to sign him again to record an album. They promised him full creative control.
Recording Music
In 1969, Capitol Records released Larry Norman's first solo album, Upon This Rock. This album is now seen as the first full Christian rock album. Some TV preachers did not like the album. Capitol Records thought it was not a commercial success and dropped Larry. However, his music became very popular with new cultural movements. Sales of the album grew after it was sold in Christian bookstores.
By the early 1970s, Larry Norman was performing for large audiences. He played at many Christian music festivals. One big event was Explo '72 in Dallas, which was called the "Jesus Woodstock." Larry also started a half-way house to help people. He earned money by helping to improve songs for Capitol artists. In 1970, Larry started his own record label, One Way Records. He released two of his own albums on this label. He also released Randy Stonehill's first album.
In 1971, Larry Norman moved to England for several years. He recorded two albums there: Only Visiting This Planet and So Long Ago the Garden. Visiting, released in 1972, was meant to connect with young people who felt let down by society. Many people consider it Larry's best album. His album Garden caused some discussion in the Christian press. This was because of its cover art and some songs.
In 1974, Larry Norman started Solid Rock Records. He wanted to produce music for Christian artists. He helped artists like Randy Stonehill and Mark Heard. Larry also worked with artists on other labels. He made a deal with ABC Records to distribute Solid Rock's music. Later, this moved to ABC's company, Word Records. In the same year, Larry started a booking agency for Christian artists.
In Another Land was Larry's best-selling album. It came out in 1976. After this, he recorded a blues-rock album called Something New under the Son. But it was not released until 1981. Larry had disagreements with Word Records. So, in 1980, he started Phydeaux Records to release his albums.
In 1978, Larry Norman was hurt during a plane landing. He said he had mild brain damage. This made it hard for him to finish projects and focus on his art.
In September 1979, Larry performed his song "The Great American Novel" for U.S. president Jimmy Carter. This was at a concert at the White House.
In late 1980, Larry moved back to England. With his father, he started Phydeaux Records. This company sold rare recordings from Larry's own music collection. He released several albums before returning to the United States in 1985.
Larry signed with Benson Records in 1986. He recorded the album Home at Last. But it was not released until 1989 due to legal issues. Even with a lot of promotion, the album got negative reviews. Larry himself later said it was "just a collection of tapes." In 1989, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In February 1991, Larry received prayer for his health problems. He believed God healed his brain damage. That year, he worked with his brother Charles on the album Stranded in Babylon. Critics and fans loved it. They worked together again on the 2001 album Tourniquet.
Larry continued to perform and release albums in his later years. This helped him pay for medical costs due to heart problems. His last official concert was on August 4, 2007, in New York City.
Music and the Church
Throughout his career, Larry Norman had a complex relationship with the church and the Christian music industry. He once wrote, "I love God and I follow Jesus but I just don't have much affinity for the organized folderol of the churches in the Western World."
Larry's music talked about many social issues. These included politics, religious hypocrisy, and other topics. These were often different from what other Christian artists sang about. Larry said, "My primary emphasis is not to entertain. But if your art is boring, people will reject your message as well as your art." He felt that Christian music often had "sloppy thinking" and "bad poetry."
He also did not like Christian musicians who would not play in regular venues. He criticized what he saw as too much focus on money in Christian music.
Influence on Music
In 2008, a Christian rock historian said that Larry Norman was as important to Christian music as John Lennon was to rock & roll or Bob Dylan was to folk music. He praised Larry for his impact as a musician, producer, and businessman.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Larry Norman also influenced many punk and alternative rock artists. The band U2 considered him an early influence. When Bono from U2 met with Christian music artists in 2002, he specifically asked to see Larry Norman. After Larry's death, Bono sent flowers to his funeral.
Larry Norman was interested in the punk rock movement. He saw bands like Richard Hell and the Voidoids and the Damned. He liked its youthful energy more than disco music. He even introduced his younger brother, Charles, to punk music. Larry paid for his brother's band, Executioner, to record their first music. Larry also recorded songs with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones.
Pixies frontman Black Francis said Larry Norman was his "total idol" as a teenager. The Pixies' first demo almost included a cover of Larry's song "Watch What You're Doing." A line from that song inspired the title of the Pixies' 1987 EP, Come On Pilgrim. Black Francis later performed with Larry Norman. They were even working on an album together before Larry passed away.
Many other artists have said Larry Norman influenced them. Over 300 artists have covered his songs.
Awards and Honors
Larry Norman received many awards and honors for his music:
- 1973: Named one of the Best New Male Artists of the year by Cashbox magazine.
- 1989: Received the Christian Artists' Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 1990: CCM magazine voted his album Only Visiting This Planet as the "second-greatest Christian album ever recorded."
- 2001: Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
- 2004: Voted into the CCM Hall of Fame by readers of CCM Magazine.
- 2007: Inducted into the San Jose Rocks Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of People!.
- 2008: Honored at the 39th GMA Dove Award ceremony.
- 2009: Honored in a tribute at the Grammy Awards.
- 2013: His album Only Visiting This Planet was added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. This registry preserves important American sound recordings. The Library of Congress called the album "the key work in the early history of Christian rock."
Family Life
Larry Norman married actress and model Pamela Fay Ahlquist in December 1971. They divorced in 1980.
In April 1982, Larry married Sarah Mae Finch. She had been married to Randy Stonehill before. Larry and Sarah had one child, Michael David Fariah Finch Norman, born in August 1985. They divorced in 1995.
Health Issues and Passing
In February 1992, Larry Norman had a serious nine-hour heart attack. This caused lasting heart damage. He was often in the hospital after this. By early 1995, he had been hospitalized many times. He had a defibrillator implant, which allowed him to play small concerts sometimes.
After a long illness, Larry Norman passed away on February 24, 2008. He was 60 years old and died at his home in Salem, Oregon.
A public memorial was held on March 1. Larry Norman was buried in Salem's City View Cemetery. His tombstone reads: "Larry Norman / Evangelist Without Portfolio / 1947–2008 / Bloodstained Israelite".
Fallen Angel Documentary
Fallen Angel: The Outlaw Larry Norman: A Bible Story is a documentary film from 2008. It tells the story of Larry Norman's life. The film includes interviews with people who worked closely with him. Larry and his second wife did not take part in the film.
There were some legal issues that temporarily stopped the film from being shown publicly. These issues were later resolved. The film showed some challenges in Larry Norman's business dealings with other artists.
Main Albums
Larry Norman's music has appeared on over 100 albums. Here are some of his most important albums:
- Upon This Rock (1969)
- Street Level (1970)
- Bootleg (1972)
- Only Visiting This Planet (1972)
- So Long Ago the Garden (1973)
- In Another Land (1976)
- Something New under the Son (1981)
- Home at Last (1989)
- Stranded in Babylon (1991)
- Tourniquet (2001)
Autobiography
- The Long Road Home: Vaudeville, Dancing and How My Mother Met My Father. Salem, OR: Solid Rock Publications, 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Larry Norman para niños
