Larry Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
(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.
Christian Rock Pioneer Larry Norman of Salem DiesSalem-News.com