Larry Norman
| Larry Norman | |
|---|---|
Larry Norman in Ohio, October 2001
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Larry David Norman |
| Born |
April 8, 1947 Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |
| Origin | San Jose, California, United States |
| Died | February 24, 2008 (aged 60) Salem, Oregon, United States |
| Genres | Rock, Christian rock, Jesus music |
| Years active | 1966–2007 |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | People!, Randy Stonehill, Back Country Seven |
| Website | larrynorman |
Larry David Norman (April 8, 1947 – February 24, 2008) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record label owner, and record producer. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of Christian rock music, and released more than 100 albums.
Larry Norman was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, the oldest son of Joe Hendrex "Joe Billy" Norman (December 9, 1923 – April 28, 1999), and his wife, Margaret Evelyn "Marge" Stout (born in 1925 in Nebraska). Joe Norman had served as a sergeant in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and worked at the Southern Pacific Railroad while studying to become a teacher. After Norman's birth, the family joined the Southern Baptist church. In 1950 the family moved to San Francisco, where they attended a Black American Pentecostal church and then a Baptist church, where Norman became a Christian at the age of five. In 1959, Norman performed on the syndicated television show The Original Amateur Hour.
In 1960, Norman's father began teaching in San José, California; the family lived in nearby Campbell. Norman graduated from Campbell High School in 1965 and won an academic scholarship to major in English at San Jose State College. After one semester, Norman "flunked out of college and lost [his] scholarship".
Although Norman was able to play a variety of musical instruments, he never learned to read or write musical notation.
While still in high school, Norman formed a group called The Back Country Seven, which included his sister Nancy Jo and friend Gene M. Mason. After graduating, Norman continued performing and opened at local concerts for The Doors and Jimi Hendrix.
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