He Was Only Visiting This Planet: Larry Norman 4/8/47 – 2/24/08

HARP Magazine ^ | February 25, 2008 | Fred Mills

[Alex Murphy]

Larry Norman, the legendary musician and Christian rocker, died early Sunday morning at his home in Corpus Christi, Texas, from heart failure. He was 60.

Though Norman was typically referred to as “the Father of Christian Rock” — he was often associated with the countercultural Jesus People movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s—in some secular quarters he was also affectionately called “the Frank Zappa of Christian Rock” due to his outspokenness about the record industry, his uncompromising approach to making music and his sometimes eccentric ways. His career began in 1966 as frontperson for pop/psychedelic group People!, who had a huge hit single in 1968 with the Chris White-penned “I Love You.” The album of the same name also contained the terrific “What We Need Is a Lot More Jesus and a Lot Less Rock ‘n’ Roll” as well as the aptly-titled 13-minute “The Epic” (which took up all of side two).

Later, as a solo artist, Norman would record for both major labels (Verve, which issued the brilliant Only Visiting This Planet — one song on the album spawned the catch phrase, “Why should the devil have all the good music?”) and indie (Nashville’s Impact; Hollywood’s One Way), although by the mid ‘70s he’d established his own grassroots label, Solid Rock, in order to release his music without outside interference. In the ‘80s he also started the Phydeaux label as a means to counteract the spread of bootleg LPs bearing his name, for by that point he was beginning to be rediscovered by younger fans and musicians who’d heard of his complex, engaging, emotional music but had a hard time tracking down what were often limited edition pressings.

Speaking personally, Norman was a huge inspiration to me. Among his more high profile fans were U2 and the Pixies’ Black Francis—the latter, upon going solo, covered Norman’s “Six-Sixty-Six” on the debut album from Frank Black and the Catholics. In May, the Portland-based Arena Rock label plans to issue a 20-song retrospective of Norman’s work, Larry Norman: The Anthology. You can read more details about it at the Arena Rock website. There’s also a good overview of Norman and his career at his Wikipedia entry.

In 2001 Norman was inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame as a solo artist, then in 2007 his rock credentials were formally recognized when he was inducted into the San Jose Rock Hall of Fame, both as a member of People! and as a solo artist.

This morning a message was posted by Norman’s brother Charles at the LarryNorman.com website that read, in part:

“Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.

“Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry's computer:

I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.

My brother Charles is right, I won't be here much longer. I can't do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.

My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.

I'd like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again.

Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.
—Larry"

[Alex Murphy]

Other press coverage of Larry's passing:

Larry Norman dies at age 60
Larry Norman, 'The Father Of Christian Rock' Passes Away
Christian Rock Pioneer Dies At 60
Gospel Music Hall of Famer Dies

[Democracy In Iraq]

:(

A great man of God and the most talented musician you’ve never heard of.

RIP

[Democracy In Iraq]

[JoanVarga]

Why does Heaven get all the good musicians?

Let the reader understand...

[JoanVarga]

I didn’t cry when Elvis died
Jim Morrison left me cold
F. Mercury was cocaine-fried
Their stories best untold

But Larry Norman’s passing life
Leaves me in wondrous grief
The Good die young, lay down their strife
And Death comes, like a thief

[Alex Murphy]

goodbye farewell we'll meet again
somewhere beyond the sky
i pray that you will stay with God
goodbye my friends good-bye

the light grows dim but in this hour
i have no tears to cry
my heart is full my joy complete
goodbye my friends goodbye

(bridge1)
i feel no loss of hope as I grow older
only this world's weight upon my shoulder

my heart beats to a slower song
so softly in my veins
the night is warm but in my sleep
i dream of heaven's reign

everything i am i've tried to show you
in this life i've been so blessed to know you

goodbye farewell we'll meet again
somewhere beyond the sky
i pray that you will walk with God
goodbye my friends goodbye

goodbye my friends good-bye

[CharlesWayneCT]

I always loved Larry, and I’ll miss him. I hadn’t heard he passed away.

I saw him in concert at Virginia Tech back in I think 1979 or 1980. I got to see him again at a local church here in Manassas sometime a decade ago.

[Knute]

He did a concert at our church in the Milwaukee, WI area 6 or 7 years ago. Our youth pastor at the time ran one of his fan websites. (Jim Connaroe)
It was the "private" concert that Larry gave for the kids after the main event that impressed on me the Godly character of this man. He played and talked for another hour to an audience of about 2 dozen young people who weren't even BORN in the 70's! They found him relevant.

[HarleyD]

We should rejoice that Larry is now perfected and sharing in Christ riches. Someday we will join him.

[unspun]

Just now heard the news on the 700 Club.

A special big brother is gone to you, Lord.

An era has now passed, down here, I think.

We need singing all the more.

Thank you very much for a special man of yours in a critical place and time.

[topcat54]

The wife and I saw Larry back in 1975 or 76. No longer is he seeing in a mirror, dimly.

[Invincibly Ignorant]

Its true. He was only visiting this planet. I saw him in concert 1974.

[grey_whiskers]

His album "In Another Land" had a lot of meaning for me, especially "Diamonds" and "I Am A Servant."

RIP Larry.

Pray for us still down here.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

I just read about this today. 60 is too young to go. He was I geuss a little before my time but I’ve always heard of him. I geuss the first Jesus Rock guy I ever saw was Mylon Lefebre. I saw him in concert in 1983 opening up for The Imperials.

[billherried]

My heart is grieved. I had no idea Larry was in ill health. Time has a way of moving, and we are carried along.
Thank you for posting this, as I found it by chance looking up some of Larry’s lyrics. I know it has been some months for you, but the loss is still fresh for me.
Glad that you were able to be with him as he was was ushered into the presence of the One who heals all.
Your brother,
Bill