Larry 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. (More from Wikipedia)
Originally “Jesus music” or “Jesus rock” was not recorded but only sung among people at a gathering. Wikipedia mentions Larry Norman as a pioneer of CCM with his 1969 debut solo album Upon this Rock. Norman had previously been the lead singer and chief songwriter for a band called People! who had a 1968 hit with the Zombies song “I Love You”. A second album listed by Wikipedia is the 1970 release, Mylon – We Believe by Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart; Joe South appears as a guest musician.
(July 2014)
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Wikipedia mentions that the organization now known as the Association of Vineyard Churches (which was founded by Gulliksen) was formed in part by Christian contemporary music pioneers that I mentioned in my last post: “The first local church started when Kenn Gulliksen brought together two Bible studies, both meeting at the houses of singer/songwriters: Larry Norman and Chuck Girard [a founder of early CCM band Love Song]. In early 1975, thirteen groups met at the Beverly Hills Women’s Club. These Bible studies, and others like them, were attended by many popular actors/actresses and musicians including Bob Dylan.” Dylan also attended the Calvary Chapel discipleship courses in Southern California.
(August 2014)
