Obit: Larry Norman - father of Christian Rock

Subject: Obit: LARRY NORMAN - father of Christian Rock
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 01:47 PM

The father of "Christian Rock" is dead at age 60.

Surprised yesterday when informed of his passing. GREAT PERFORMER - No Compromise!

Delightful Writeup -
MAYBERRY DRIVEN CHURCH
http://mayberrychurch.com/?p=274#more-274
MAYBERRY DRIVEN CHURCH

Please scroll down the page to March 02, 2008 for a first hand account of Larry Norman Presents A Going Away Party, reception with popcorn, Cracker Jacks and hot dogs.
An excellent bibliography from Mr. Dennis Laing.

He Was Only Visiting This Planet
HARP -
http://www.harpmagazine.com/news/detail.cfm?article=12311
HARP MAGAZINE

affectionately called "the Frank Zappa of Christian Rock" due to his outspokenness about the record industry. He spawned the phrase, "Why should the devil have all the good music?" Death bed comment, "I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. "

Powerful Influence
SALEM OREGON -
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200680225031
SALEM JOURNAL

"His music was an influence on such diverse artists as U2, John Mellencamp, and the Pixies." "Time Magazine once called Norman "the most significant artist in his field." "Over 300 cover versions of his songs have been recorded by artists such as Petula Clark, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Black, and Cliff Richard."

"He performed for The White House, twice - and in Moscow at the 80,000 seat Olympic Stadium. He headlined venues like The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, The Palladium and London's prestigious Royal Albert Hall, which he sold out six times, once filling it twice on the same day. In the last 40 years Norman has released nearly 100 solo albums."

Some snippets of his lyrics.
LARRY NORMAN SONG LYRICS -
http://www.onlyvisiting.com/gallery/lyrics/lyrics.html
LARRY NORMAN - LYRICS

I WISH WE'D ALL BEEN READY

Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready

Children died the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready

U.F.O.

He's an unidentified flying object
you will see Him in the air
He's an unidentified flying object
you will drop your hands and stare
He's an unidentified flying object
coming back to take you Home
He's an unidentifed flying object

THE OUTLAW

Some say He was an outlaw that He roamed across the land
With a band of unschooled ruffians and a few old fishermen
No one knew just where He came from or exactly what He'd done
But they said it must be something bad that kept Him on the run
He will role away your stone

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Great Performer! He was a powerful influence on my life. At a concert thrity years ago his fingers were wrapped in bandaids; having recently broken with the mainstream recording industry his group had been assembling CD's in the early morning hours and with fingers superglued together he used a razor blade to separate them. (You should use acetone - according to "poison control" it is quite a common problem - I phoned about my own similar situation)

Subject: RE: Obit: LARRY NORMAN - father of Christian Rock
From: Arkie
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 10:48 AM

Thanks for posting Gargoyle. Larry Norman was an dedicated, influential and imposing figure. He did get good coverage out of the quote "Why should the devil have all the good music?" but it was also attributed to John Wesley, Martin Luther, and others and I have been hearing it for about 50 years. Wesley supposedly made the comment when he and his brother Charles were criticized for putting their words to popular songs of their day. I have read that the quote is not found in his writings and he was not noted for his sense of humor so who knows.   It has been around for a while and Larry Norman made the best of it.

Subject: RE: Obit: LARRY NORMAN - father of Christian Rock
From: open mike
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 12:52 PM

obit, tributes and memorial here: his web site

Subject: RE: Obit: LARRY NORMAN - father of Christian Rock
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 01:23 PM

Rest in Peace...

Subject: RE: Obit: LARRY NORMAN - father of Christian Rock
From: GUEST,Appaloosa Lady
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:28 PM

Very sad news. He was a powerful songwriter and singer.

Larry singing 'The Great American Novel' on Youtube

Subject: RE: Obit: Larry Norman - father of Christian Rock
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:48 PM

Arkie, he did get good mileage out of it, didn't he? Why Should the devil have all the good music. Awfully young to be dying.

RIP

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Larry Norman - father of Christian Rock
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 05:18 PM

Glad you noticed KatL.

Doubt that he is Resting In Peace - there is one tremendous celebration going on -

I like what Vincent vanGogh wrote to his brother Theo (Dear Theo by Irving Stone, Plume Publishing, 1995, copyright 1937 p 360.) ... to look at the stars always makes me dream as simply as I dream over the black dots of a map representing towns and villages. Why, I ask myself, should the shining dots of the sky not be as accessible as the black dots on the map of France? If we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star. One thing undoubtedly true in this reasoning is this; that while we are alive we cannot get to a star, any more than when we are dead we can take the train. So it seems to me possible that cholera, gravel, phthisis, and cancer are the celestial means of locomotion, just as steamboats, omnibuses, and railways are the terrestrial means To die quietly of old age would be to go there on foot."

You share a lot in common with Larry Norman.... Ms. KatL... read some of his lyrics.

Spirituality
Recent heart opperation (his was a year before yours)
Hereditary predisposition
Over weight
Poor exercise habits
Intence passion

PAX

Sincerely,
Gargoyle