He was only visiting this planet - Larry Norman

Greeting everyone!

My heart is a little heavy today. I found out that Larry Norman, the “Father of Jesus Rock and Roll”, passed away this past Sunday.

I have loved Larry’s music since I first heard it in the late 60s, early 70s. He was not just a pioneer – every “Contemporary Christian Musician” owes him a debt because without Larry’s obedience to the Spirit of God, there may not be “Christian” music as we know it today – he was an iconoclast, breaking the religious hold on the musical expression of God’s truth and the worship due Him. He was the first apostle of every worship leader and a prophet to an emerging revival that became known as “The Charismatic Movement”.

However, as with the conversion of Bob Dylan many years later, the church either actively persecuted him or, perhaps what was worse, largely ignored him. His music style was unique and eclectic. His lyrics were inspiring and challenging. He was either the Psalmist David or the prophet Elijah depending on whether you embraced what God was doing in the earth or resisted it.

Nearly everyone recognizes Larry’s cry of the church to be prepared in the song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” But how many appreciate seeing Jesus as an “Unidentified Flying Object” or could embrace his perspective on the Vietnam Conflict and the hypocrisy he exposed in “Six O’clock News”.

While we lived in Memphis, I started a night club where Christians could come, fellowship together and hear good music from a variety of artists, some just garage bands playing their version of Jesus Rock and Roll while others eventually went on to national recognition. One of the greatest blessings of that time was being able to host Larry Norman live. He had not been on tour in quite some time but accepted my invitation. After his initial concert, he stayed on in Memphis for about three weeks and with the help of some local musicians, actually laid down a few tracts at Ardent Studios.

Larry was as eccentric as his was talented. His health problems, even back then, influenced his daily life. He had peculiar quirks in his personality – not sin mind you just oddities but He loved God and loved his music.

Though I haven’t seen him in more than 10 years, I will miss him. Larry helped countless young musicians get started, establishing his own recording label to facilitate that. Others like, Kent Henry of St. Louis, MO and even Dion Dimucci followed that pattern, perhaps even unknowingly.

Included here is a link to an article regarding Larry:

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

Here is the link to his website, if you are interested:

http://www.larrynorman.com/

I pray for his family and for the church, that though one voice is silenced, there will be those who hear the voice of God and answer the call to be a watchman on the wall.

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