'Father of Christian rock' performs his last U.S. show

By DAVID SANFORD
  SALEM – After 45 seconds of jubilant applause, 58-year-old Larry Norman – “the father of Christian rock” – took the stage Friday, June 24, for what he called his last concert in the United States.

  Following his second-to-last song, Norman stood still, looking out at the audience for a long time. He then announced, “As far as I can tell, this is the last time I’ll be able to play in America.”

  Norman lives in Salem. Since he suffered head injuries in an airplane accident 27 years ago, and first suffered severe heart problems 14 years ago, Norman has been unable to tour regularly. He officially retired in 2001, the same year he underwent quadruple bypass surgery and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

  Norman’s final American concert featured seven sets, half a dozen musical genres, a dozen and a half guests, and a raucous encore. A full concert report was posted June 27 on www.christianitytoday.com./ music.

  At one point, friends and family began joining Norman on stage. First up was Julie Hoy, who joined Norman for a duet on perhaps his most famous song, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” Everyone sang along. Norman’s sister, Nancy Norman-Overmeyer, then came up on stage as Norman reminisced about their childhood.

  After being rewarded with a lengthy standing ovation at the concert’s closing, Norman and friends came back out for an encore, “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?”

  Norman has all but closed one of the most important chapters in contemporary Christian music – a chapter he started writing 49 years ago.

  David Sanford is a widely published author, editor and literary agent. He is president of Sanford Communications, Inc., in Portland.