Shaun Groves
Larry Norman died this past weekend.
From Christianity Today:
Christian music legend Larry Norman died Sunday of heart failure, according to his brother Charles Norman. He was 60.
Norman, a blonde, long-haired rocker who is often called the father of Christian rock music, was a giant in the Christian music industry, said Chris Willman, senior music writer for Entertainment Weekly.
“His influence outweighed his sales so much that it’s comical,” Willman said. “He certainly had a heart for evangelism — almost to his detriment, I might say. He really could’ve been a star if he were singing about something other than Jesus.” Read the rest.
It’ll be interesting to see how we react to Larry’s death. Will we gush accolades on our radio stations that didn’t play him? Will labels that wouldn’t sign him (or his kind) now make tribute CDs? Will music lovers who eschew singer-songwriters with a pointy finger suddenly revere him?
It gets complicated. You see, people in the industry don’t always speak highly of Larry Norman. He allegedly didn’t work well with others. Nor do they always speak well of Keith Green. He was allegedly self-righteous and arrogant. Or how about Rich Mullins? Allegedly a foul-mouthed drunk.
What would they…No, what would we do after David’s death? How would we react after hearing the man after God’s own heart died in bed with a young beautiful virgin? How would we respond to the passing of a righteous man who passed out naked in his tent? Or the Rock who talked like the devil? Or Israel who once duked it out with God? Or the apostle who called our best nothing but “s—?”
Some will always think of Larry as a dirty mean hippie. Some will bronze him in their memory as a perfected hero. To me he’s just another busted beautiful human…with better hair than most.
Spinster-in-the-Making says:
My local Christian radio station mentioned him yesterday. They basically credited him for CM being the way it is today.
The sooner we realize that nobody’s perfect, the better. That’s how God works, through our imperfection. Because obviously if we were perfect, we wouldn’t need Him.
Ginger says:
This post took my breath away. Linking to you shortly from my own blog.
I SO enjoy your blog, Shaun.
Eric Brown says:
Great post, man. Sadly, I think you are probably right…Cool link about the verse in Philippians, too.
euphrony says:
Past glossed over. He is now “safe” to deal with, since he no longer has a say it the matter. Arms are open. Never mind that he once said he can never get over how shockingly bad the lyrics in CCM are.
Many people would kill for that hair.
I wish I could be as passionate as he seems to have been. I’m flawed enough that I’ve met him on that point.
anon4him says:
Those are some of my favorite passages.. they really make me think.
Forever His Clay says:
I often wonder why people expect perfection…really though…if we were so perfect, how could we write songs about how badly we need Jesus? We’d be perfect!
RevJeff says:
Hair? Way over rated (insert envy here)… I think what Randy Stonehill said is accurate. We all have our “sin” shadows…Thankfully through Jesus, they do not keep us from the ultimate healing. Larry is now “Home Free” and several other musical references we would never have heard had he not been a pioneer of abrasive nature who sang for Jesus and really didn’t care how it was “supposed to look” to the church.
Sarah Chia says:
Funny you mention both Keith Green and Rich Mullins. I was totally just thinking of them today.
I love Mullins and frequent him in my CD player. Green is a little more rare in there, because he’s corny that 60-70s stuff, but his words are deep with conviction and intensely challenging, so I’m down.
I never really learned much about Norman, except that dc talk once covered one of his songs.
Nancy Tyler says:
Why do my favorite Christian artists tend to be the ones who sin boldly? lol
Yeah, so many of the artists who came in during the Jesus Movement and later, in Rich’s crowd, had rough backgrounds. Plenty of stories of abuse, addictions and indiscretions galore.
The Christian music industry’s populated mostly by church kids now. No wonder the music’s so generic and not as much fun or as raw lyrically anymore. It’s hard to know what you’re saved from when you grow up a scrubbed-faced church kid. But people who experienced waking up hung over in the back seat of a car of a stranger…they know exactly what they’ve been saved from.
Indulge this church kid a little Larry Norman?
It ain’t no good to lay in bed at night
And think about the past
About how you could have done things differently
But it happened way too fast.
Just close your eyes, go to sleep
Let the angels bring you dreams.
Let that pain unwind behind you
And float away, float away on silent streams.
You gotta live your life the best you can
Though you sometimes do your worst.
You gotta laugh when you fail, it’s not the end of the world
Life is a play you can’t rehearse.
Don’t make big plans for tomorrow,
You can’t control what lies ahead.
You must try to live each moment
As it comes instead.
There is no use dreaming of a perfect future
Or regretting a troubled past.
It’s only today that counts
Live it like it might be your last.
It’s only today that counts
Live it like it might be your last.
It never helps to worry, it never hurts to pray,
Tomorrow will come soon enough; just pray about today.
And relax, trust your life to God,
The future is in his hand,
Only faith will help you face each day’s demands.
Ain’t no use worrying, life goes so fast.
It’s only today that counts
Live it like it might be your last.
It’s only today that counts
Live it like it might be your last.
Aims says:
Bummer, I liked Larry Norman. I agree Shaun that the once “haters” will make those retarted tribute albums that will be sold in stores 5 years from now ON SALE for 6.99 because no one bought it. Because let’s face it who here likes tribute albums? Anyone? Then again the music business will do something like this. “Ohhh he’s dead let’s break out the classics revamp them and put them back in stores!!” You don’t care that the man just died you just wanna make money from his death!!!
Shaun Groves says:
If I die, please don’t boycott the tribute albums. That’s what we artists call “insurance.” My family will need that cash. Mercy Me singing Welcome Home? Cha-ching.
Nancy Tyler says:
We could get Jeremy Camp and Chris Tomlin into a bidding war over who’ll do a sendup of Twilight. I see possibilities here…
DrewbieTech says:
I have to admit that I’m ignorant of Larry Norman. I’m looking him up on free napster right now…
Erin says:
This is a great post, this is the stuff I come hear to read! I had never heard of Larry Norman (raise your hand if you are a “church kid”). You have now educated me and many more out there I am sure! I love how you made your points! Bravo!
RBerman says:
Larry Norman made 5 great albums worthy of being in any music fan’s collection, especially Christian music fans:
Upon This Rock
Only Visiting This Planet
So Long Ago the Garden
In Another Land
Something New Under the Son
You’ll find many other albums he “made” on ChristianDiscs.Com and elsewhere, but most of them are reshufflings of the tracks on these classic albums.
Mental Health issues and changes in musical taste prevented Larry from being much of a force in the music industry after the 70s, and he was prone to over-tooting his own horn about his influence, but he did blaze a trail that made possible a ton of great music after him.
David says:
I think it’s reasonable to acknowledge someone’s influence, even if you yourself aren’t a huge fan of their music. Granted, it’s easy to jump on a bandwagon after someone dies. But I think that’s because it’s a good point to go back and evaluate their lasting impact on the world at large, not just on you. Larry Norman is like Rich Mullins to me in that he wrote songs about things that were important, but the music wasn’t necessarily my style. Some of those who followed up on those influences did it with music that happens to be more to my liking (others did it by watering down the lyrics, but that’s a side issue) – I’d be foolish to revere some of those influenced as more important than the influence itself, but you know, Edison invented the lightblub and then others who will be less remembered throughout history improved upon the idea. It’s still crucial that there was a forefather there. Similarly, I acknowledge and respect the massive amounts of influence that The Beatles have had on pretty much every rock band in the last 40 years, but I don’t own or listen to any Beatles records. And I think it’s OK to acknowledge and respect Norman or Mullins without having to suddenly claim you’re a big fan of their music.
Shaun Groves says:
Same here, David. I’m not a fan of the man’s music. I just realize the influence he had on all of us in this industry and marvel at how God uses people – all people – to do good things on His behalf.
Aims says:
I’ve gotta say it I would rather hand over a hundred dollar bill to your family than buy a 13.99 dollar album just to hear MWS whine out “Jesus”.
Nancy Tyler says:
We’d actually scheduled Michael to sing White Flag. It’s only fair. Shaun sang “Rocketown” on Michael’s tribute project.
Aims says:
Nancy…ouch. That was just plain mean. lol
I don’t get it the man’s not even dead yet and he’s already getting tribute albums. Oy.
ted says:
I once went to a CCM after-Doves party in Gnashville. Amy Grant was singing through the same amp Phil Keagy was playing through and hardly anyone was listening.
But then a guy who looked like a heroin addict started singing and the whole place paid attention. That was my introduction to Larry Norman. Those were some great lyrics. Was Mullins really a drunk? He wrote some great lyrics too.
I guess it doesn’t take a rocket scientist….just someone who knows God?
Joshua says:
Larry Norman was to Christianity what John Lennon was to the mainstream. He was definately a talented visionary, and despite what many think, his music went beyond the seventies. Go to http://www.larrynorman.com and buy the 7 CD ‘Essentials’ set. There are a ton of other great Larry Norman albums you could buy, but if nothing else at least get the essentials…..you won’t regret it!
Michael Curry says:
I think “Father of Contemporary Christian Music” is a good title for him. He definitely scratched the itch of us converted “Metalheads” way back in the 70’s and early 80’s. Keith Green, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Sweet Comfort Band, Daniel Amos, Imprerials, Petra, DeGarmo, Phil K, and on and on… I think Larry was one of the corner stones to that movement which is almost as popular as mainstream secular music He will be sorely missed! My first walks with Christ would’ve been much tougher without Larry and his influence. See you in a little while Larry. Thanks for everything!
Callie Reynolds says:
I got born-again in 1976 in a Woman’s Shelter in Spokane Wa. And the first song they taught me was Larry’s,”I wish’ld we all been ready!” After that I found that most of the music being sung at the parks were always Larry’s songs. His music was much farther reaching then most would realize. Of course back then it seemed like everyone was carrying there guitars and singing Larry Norman songs. I wonder if he ever knew they sung his songs in the street missions? His music was always from the deepest part of his heart.
With all the comments of peoples flaws and sins. They would all be better to pull the beam out of there own eyes first. They need to remember, “Where sin abounds, Grace does so much more!
God Bless Larry!
Until we meet in the Golden City!
Tim Tobin says:
Hah! Made me laugh. Just like Larry used to make me; “…when I wore a younger man’s clothes…” – Selah indeed. Thank you.
Lisa Leone says:
I first heard Larry Norman’s “Outlaw” in 1974 as a young girl and a new Christian. What stuck me so greatly was that through his music and, yes, his hair (!), I learned that you could be a Christian and still be cool. He has been an amazing influence in my walk and in my music. Although I never had the honor of meeting him on earth, I look forward to seeing him in Heaven just to say thanks.
stephanie says:
Larry … well being that I am about his age group …I loved him…he was not religious which seems to turn most people off,,he is and will always be right on in what Jesus wanted to say and so ….if religious people have any problems with that then they need to go to the God of all the ages and talk a bit with Jesus and get themselves right about it…sometimes as the Bible tells us the righteous are taken out of the way …we better be on it.