Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)

Subject: Obit: Bob Norman
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 May 08 - 07:35 PM

I received an e-mail from Mark Moss, editor of Sing Out! Magazine, informing us that Bob Norman passed away this past Sunday. Bob was 61 years old and died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Bob was the editor of Sing Out! Magazine from 1970 to 1977 and he kept the magazine alive at a time when "folk music" was being ignored by the mainstream music industry. Bob went on to become a part of the Fast Folk Music Magazine, contributing several songs and keeping active in the NYC folk community.

He recorded several CD's, and his last visit on my radio program was about a year after 9/11. He sang a song about that tragic day after seeing the towers fall while sitting on a NJ Transit train waiting to head into the city. Bob lived in Manhattan for a number of years and he captured the spirit of the city in his songs. The folk music community in our area was better because of Bob. He made a difference in this world.

My condolences to his wife Clara and their son Samuel as well as all his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 06 May 08 - 10:04 PM

the official obit from Bob's family:

Robert Stephen Norman, 61, of Lawrenceville died on Sunday at his
home of metastatic prostate cancer.

Born in New London, CT, he was a Lawrenceville resident since 1994
after living in New York City for 30 years. Bob graduated form
Columbia University in 1969 with a degree in English Literature Bob
had been a copy editor for Business Week Magazine for twenty years,
but his passion and true vocation was music. He was a well-known
singer/songwriter folksinger locally and across the country for over
30 years. From 1970 to 1977, he was editor-in-chief of Sing Out!,
and was on its board until 1990. His CD titles include: Romantic
Nights on the Upper Westside; To the Core; Love, Lust, and Lilacs;
and Time Takin' Man. His music fused varied influences of blues,
country, contemporary folk, and classical guitar writing about topics
ranging from the streets of New York to local life in Lawrenceville.

Son of the late Victor and Francis (Sharaf) Norman and brother of the
late Jon Norman, he is survived by his wife Clara Haignere, his son
Samuel Norman-Haignere, his nephew Daniel Norman, and his nieces:
Forest Cattich and Martina Norman Botinelli.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11 AM at Poulson & Van
Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. Burial
will be in the Lawrenceville Cemetery. The family extends an
invitation to friends to come to their home at K18 Shirley Lane,
Lawrenceville after the burial. A memorial service will be held on
May 17th at a time and place to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, please tax-deductible donations can be made to
Sing Out! Magazine (P.O. Box 5460 Bethlehem PA 18015) or to the
Westminster Conservatory Young Artist's Program. Check should include
a note that it is for the Young Artist's Program in Memory of Bob
Norman to Westminster Conservatory, Attn Sandra Franc, 101 Walnut
Lane, Princeton NJ 08540.

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)
From: Janie
Date: 06 May 08 - 10:28 PM

Thanks for letting us know,Ron.

My sympathy to his family and all who loved him.

May he rest in peace.

Janie

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)
From: EBarnacle
Date: 06 May 08 - 11:13 PM

I knew and respected Bob. He is the one who got me to act as a reviewer for Sing Out and fostered my relationship with many of the folkies I still know and hang out with. In many ways he was as seminal as Pete, being the guy in the office who kept everything going.

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 08 - 08:14 AM

I'm really sad to learn about this. I did meet Bob Norman in the late 1970's, and corresponded with him afterwards with regard to collection urban housing songs. Here's one of his favorite creations from that period with a few notes:

La Rosita de Broadway

When people are involved in a protracted housing struggle, it is heartening to have someone write songs which affirm the values that are in balance. One of the best examples of this has to be a song written by Bob Norman in the winter of 1978. Here's how Bob introduced his song at a tenants association benefit party on New York City's Upper West Side:

"This is a song about our neighborhood. All of the rent strikes that have been going on here aren't just about specific conditions in people's buildings; they're also about preserving the character of the neighborhood against the designs of the landlords here. I firmly believe that landlords would like to see the Upper West Side either be a slum or a fashionable place for rich people only. I hope that never happens."


Words and music by Bob Norman © 1978
With new words added by composer 11/4/81
In Sing Out!, Vol. 27, #2, pp. 22, 1978


La Rosita de Broadway


Chorus:

Ah, La Rosita de Broadway,
Ah, La Rosita de Broadway,
La Rosita de Broadway.

Caldo gallego with white beans,
Sausage and pig's knuckle too,
In the midst of the day in this warm summer rain,
La Rosita, we all come to you. (CHO)

The Dominicanos come in here to argue,
And the Cubans for el Capitan cigars,
And the warm, sharp tongue of the waitress,
And the sound of the Spanish guitar. (CHO)

Out in the rain the wars continue;
The lines are drawn clear and fine like knives;
Ah, but here there is peace for half an hour at least,
Such a fragile flower of Broadway. (CHO)

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 07 May 08 - 09:50 AM

I used to see Bob when I was in NYC in the '70's, helped move the SING OUT office in '76. Sorry to hear about this. Heartfelt condolences to his family.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Obit:Former Sing Out! Editor Bob Norman (May 2008)
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 May 08 - 09:42 AM

Mark Moss shared some of his memories of Bob on the Sing Out! website - Sing Out! - Bob Norman