This is a tribute to someone you may not have ever heard of but he had a much greater influence on music then you may know.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s there was a revolution in music that many people may have seen but they may not have understood it.  Religion found its way into modern music and the Christian rock genre was born. 

If you recall the 70’s group People, and their top 20 hit “I love you”, you knew this man.

If you have heard Amy Grant, Collective Soul or Jars of Clay, or the more recent offerings by Flyleaf and Fireflight you have heard music born of that era.

And the person who is generally considered the father of that era was Larry Norman.

Larry took the raw energy of Rock and Roll and fused it with the power of the Christian Gospel, and thus was a new kind of music born.

His work was not born quietly, he faced opposition in the Church by people who saw his music as ungodly and sinful.  His strongest critics often enough were the people in his camp as it were.

Larry died early this morning of heart failure, a condition he had struggled with for years.

Christian music was a central part of my life for many years, and I can still remember that one of his songs was the very first I had heard in the genre. 

He will be missed by friends, family and fans alike.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS