Meet Larry Norman, Generation Z. "Who is Larry Norman?"
Some say he put Christian Rock on the top of the charts. Meet Larry Norman.
The founding father of Jesus Rock, Larry Norman, with the rhythms of pop music with the spiritual and social outlook of Christianity to create a kind of flower-power gospel. While his efforts were instrumental in shaping the sound and themes of contemporary Christian rock, Norman never enjoyed the commercial success or acceptance afforded to his musical descendants, admitting his sensibilities were "too secular for the Christians and too Christian for the secularists." Born in Corpus Christi, TX, on April 8, 1947, Norman was raised in San Francisco. A devout follower of Jesus Christ and Elvis Presley, as a boy, he regularly sang original Christian-themed lyrics over his favorite rock & roll records. In 1959, he even appeared on the CBS television variety series The Original Amateur Hour. New to Larry Norman's music? Here are some clips to get you started.
Click on the title below to start playing.
DC Cardwell has done a great job in removing the horrible buzzing on the four videos I posted a few weeks ago from Larry's concert at the Rialto Theatre in 1995, which was released by Trevor King Entertainment and Phriends of Phydeaux (with Larry's permission) on the VHS tape "On The Way To The Sky." In this clip, Larry invites the audience to sing along with a great new song released last year on his "A Moment In Time" album, co-written with Dizzy Reed from Guns and Roses.
The message we receive from the church today is sometimes misunderstood. A genuine relationship with Christ is not a sermon, a list of laws, or a wild misrepresentation of truth. It is instead a conversation with God through Christ and his word that leads us to understand why things are the way they are, why we seem to be open to everything, and why we need God our Creator to talk with in these days of confusion to help us find him and repentance that leads to the true meaning in life. A fantastic friendship with him who can lead us into perfect rest and true repentance that strengthens our relationships with our friends and family.
Here is Larry Norman dealing with the Idea that Rock itself was an expression and a way to deal with life in hard times and good times. Both! Why should the Devil have all the good music?
The founding father of Jesus Rock, Larry Norman, combined the rhythms of pop music with the spiritual and social outlook of Christianity to create a kind of flower-power gospel. While his efforts were instrumental in shaping the sound and themes of contemporary Christian rock, Norman never enjoyed the commercial success or acceptance afforded to his musical descendants, admitting his sensibilities were "too secular for the Christians and too Christian for the secularists." Born in Corpus Christi, TX, on April 8, 1947, Norman was raised in San Francisco. A devout follower of Jesus Christ and Elvis Presley, as a boy, he regularly sang original Christian-themed lyrics over his favorite rock & roll records. In 1959, he even appeared on the CBS television variety series The Original Amateur Hour.
One More Time!
A few comments from viewers
I was able to meet and talk with Larry in Washington, DC, in 94; he was a sweetheart, took time out of his schedule, and even prayed with us. See you soon, Larry.
Another random Comment.
I had the incredible privilege of seeing Larry in concert three times and meeting him after one of his performances. He is very atypical but sincere in his faith and convictions. It was very atypical music as well! I never heard anything like it before or since. That's what made him special. Let that be what comes to mind when we think of him, not his shortcomings.
The documentary on Larry Norman was wild. Regardless of what kind of man he was, history will take care of that, but you can't say this guy wasn't a musical genius.
Here is the best example of Larry on the Road again." Meet Larry Norman Generation Z
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