Christian Rock Pioneer Larry Norman of Salem Dies

Larry Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Larry Norman Courtesy: chuckbrown.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The man who is credited as the pioneer of Christian rock music has died at the age of 60. Larry Norman was a familiar face in downtown Salem.

Larry Norman died in Salem Sunday from heart failure, said his brother, Charles Norman. Larry Norman's biggest commercial hit was as the lead singer of the folk-rock band People! That band's cover version of The Zombies song "I Love You" was an international hit and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart in June 1968.

Larry Norman left the band on the day its debut album was released he said because some members began experimenting with Scientology.

Larry Norman's career never again hit the Billboard Top 10, but his solo career proved durable and influential.

His first solo was recorded in 1969. The release "Upon This Rock" - is considered the first Christian rock album. A label that he later started led to him being dubbed the "father of Christian rock."

Larry Norman was born April 8th 1947, in Corpus Christi, Texas, and his family moved to San Francisco when he was young and as he developed an interest in the music of Elvis Presley.

His brother told reporters that Larry accompanied his father on Christian missions to prisons and hospitals and was inspired to write rock songs that included spiritual messages. And Charles Norman says his brother practiced what he preached, even stopping taxi rides while on tour to help homeless people.

Larry Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and artists that have covered versions of his songs range from Petula Clark and Sammy Davis Jr. to DC Talk and Rebecca St. James.

At the time of his death, Larry Norman was working on an album with Modest Mouse singer Isaac Brock and former Pixies singer Frank Black, who cites Norman as a major influence.

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Thoughts on Larry Norma

Barbara Hudson Eureka, California

April 22, 2008

I was saddened to hear that Larry passed away on February 24 but comforted he no he is no longer suffering and is most likely smiling down on us.

I met Larry on Carmel Beach in the mid-late sixties. He and his band were down from San Jose playing a gig at the local golf club for the high school prom and invited me to come along. We hit it off in a pretty innocent way and kept in touch for awhile. He sent me a vinyl 45 record “I Love You” when recording with “People”. I think I wore it out playing it. Although I too had received Jesus as Lord, I didn’t really follow Larry’s “stardom” or didn’t even really realize the extent of his “fame” or of his title “Father of Christian Rock”. I just knew I really liked him as a person.
Several years later I heard he had died through some church people and was really upset. I did not realize that report was an exaggeration until a few years ago and met his former wife Pam and Randy Stonehill who set me straight. I was thrilled he was still alive and living in Oregon. I tried sending a communication through his website but never got a response. I think I first read something at the website about an airplane crash but didn’t make a connection about its significance until reading some things on line in articles this week when I learned of his death from a traveling musician from Medford, Oregon who came to a church I’ve been recently attending. Since he too was from Oregon, somehow I thought to ask about Larry.

What was really disturbing was the talk about how Larry had managed to “alienate” people over the years and they seemed to minimize what had happened to Larry in an “airplane crash/mishap” where he sustained “traumatic brain injury”. They seemed to be holding Larry to a higher standard because of his fame and talent without taking into consideration his limitations. I have just come to know about these limitations because my 29 year old son, also a maverick musician, was just in an auto accident and sustained traumatic brain injury and is “lucky” to be alive. This happened a week after Larry’s death. My son was born the same year (1978) Larry sustained his injury which struck me as really “coincidental”. I have had to do a lot of “catching up” about the effects these injuries can have, many of which are long term and how it can affect those around the “survivor”, including alienation. I found it a wonder the level of high functioning Larry was able to operate at all. Even though a person may appear “normal”, whatever that it, there is a reason they call traumatic brain injury “the silent epidemic”. It all underscores how people should not judge! Our country is going to have its hands full with all the soldiers coming back en mass with these injuries along with multitudes of others already here with these injuries for whatever reasons. Many of these people you will see walking the streets and homeless, fallen through the cracks of our system, undiagnosed and untreated.

I wish I could have been in Larry’s circle of friends and had not lost touch with him. I too may have been someone who didn’t understand though until now. I see things and people so differently since my son’s accident and can only say, “there but for fortune go you or I”.

Larry's lyrics are profound and prophetic, A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold, I wish we'd all been ready. Look at the financial condition of our country. Prophets are usually despised during their lifetime.Does anyone have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church?

He's now dancing before the Lord Whom he served while here on earth. My sincere condolences to his family.

I cannot begin to say how much Larry's music has meant to me since I first heard him back in 1970. Over the years my wife and I and all our children (all grown now), have been inspired and edified by our wonderful friend Larry Norman. He was a prolific writer at a level which only a few in the music industry such as Bob Dylan and a small handful of others have had the talent to reach. He has been a major influence in my own music, and inspired me personally to strive, above all things, for the actual and literal Lordship of Christ in all areas of my life. More recently in 2005, when our church was seized by the government for refusing to incorporate with the State, his song, Six Sixty Six, became the logical choice for the theme of our video documentary about the seizure. We will miss him more than I can say. Larry, my precious brother, thank you for your consistent, no compromise witness for Christ. I love you. William Raymond: pastor and ambassador for Christ www.thechurchatSalem.info _______________________

Larry brought life, love and a beautiful light to this world. He will be missed but his music and message live on, until we meet again. My condolences to his family and friends.

We were very sorry to learn of this unfortunate loss in our community and we appreciate the gift that this man left to all people. We were able to spend about an hour with Larry one night downtown and we brainstormed different video documentary ideas; sorry that opportunity to work with a legend of this magnitude will no longer be an option. Our deepest and most sincere condolences are offered to the family of music legend Larry Norman.

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