Christian Music Online

Larry Norman father of Christian rock

July 3, 2005 – 10:22 am

Larry Norman FAITH & MUSIC

“I’m just an artist, reaching toward Heaven.”

– Larry Norman

Larry Norman, 58, performed his last concert a week ago in his adopted hometown of Salem, Ore. He’s known as the father of Christian rock. He said he physically doesn’t feel good enough to continue performing. He suffers from serious heart problems and lingering effects from injuries in an airplane accident in 1978.

His retirement draws to a close one of the most important careers in music. Norman was responsible for creating the genre of contemporary Christian music.

As a boy in the mid-1950s, Norman, to the chagrin of his father, started playing rock-style music. He mixed the message of the gospel with the sounds of rock ‘n’ roll. As he grew older and his music found an audience, he was harshly criticized by many Christians for making “devil music” and selling out his faith.

He didn’t waver and continued to make songs that blended faith and rock. His audience continued to grow, and by the time the Jesus movement was in full force in the early ’70s, Norman was established as one of its prominent voices. His song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” was its anthem.

He started winning the attention and accolades of mainstream rockers such as Janis Joplin and Pete Townshend. In fact, Norman wrote a musical called “The Epic” that inspired Townshend and The Who to write “Tommy.”

Norman’s album “Only Visiting This Planet” was released in 1972 by MGM Records and is considered by many to be the most significant Christian album ever made.

In 1974, Norman started his own label, Solid Rock. During this period he is credited with discovering many Christian musical artists, including Keith Green, Randy Stonehill and Mark Heard.

His success and growing media attention confirmed to many Christians his secularism. The Christian label that distributed his music thought some of his new songs were too controversial and wouldn’t release them.

The fears of Norman’s secularism have turned out to be wrong. Throughout his life, he has been consistent about sharing the gospel and reaching out to those in need. Norman sums up his thoughts on music on the Web site www.larrynorman.com:

“I believe that the song which overflows from your heart is the song God wants to hear.”

I respect him for his boldness and perseverance and for his music. He’s a sincere and devoted artist and deserves to take a break.

---

---