Larry Norman died on Sunday of heart failure at the age of 60. He was a trailblazer who made it possible for Christ-followers to express their art in modern forms and set the stage for those who would later rise to take the message of Christ to the masses through new music. I am deeply indebted to his heart for God and his heart for the world.
According to one article,
Norman,
a blonde, long-haired rocker who is often called the father of
Christian rock music, was a giant in the Christian music industry, said
Chris Willman, senior music writer for Entertainment Weekly."His
influence outweighed his sales so much that it’s comical," Willman
said. "He certainly had a heart for evangelism — almost to his
detriment, I might say. He really could’ve been a star if he were
singing about something other than Jesus."
As one of the pioneers of the Christian music industry, he was not really welcomed as part of the establishment. Larry’s lyrics are still fresh and relevant today. And in the spirit of rocking for the Rock: