LEGENDS
Christian Rocker in Rare Concert
By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
June 6, 2005
CBN.com
– SALEM, ORE. (ANS) -- Christian rock legend Larry Norman, suffering with congestive heart failure, will briefly come out of retirement.
Norman, known as “the father of Christian rock,” will perform solo and with a band comprised of several yet to be announced guests, on June 24 at Salem, Oregon’s historic Elsinore Theatre.
In addition, according to his Web site , the day after the concert there will be a non-alcoholic function at the band’s residence.
Norman’s web site reads, “There will be music, food and beverages, Larryoke, yelling, shouting and laughing.”
Norman is extending his hospitality into the following week.
“And if you’re going to stay over on Monday and leave on Tuesday (or Monday night) Larry wants to invite you to take a little tour of Salem,” a statement on the web site reads. (It’s free.) ... and then eat at the Greek Restaurant with him. If you have never eaten Greek food before, he will order for you. We will be providing Greek music for this enjoyable last meal of the long weekend.”
Norman’s ministry predicts the event will be a unique experience.
“Larry has never done this before and most likely won’t do it again,” the web site reads. “But he felt he was well enough to do some concerts this year and wants to share his family with you on Saturday, a celebration with you on Sunday and his town with you on Monday.”
According to a news release from Norman's ministry it was after encouragement from Norman's friends, fans, and family that he “decided to step onto the stage one last time in his adopted hometown of Salem, Ore.”
Tickets to the show, the news release said, have already been bought by Norman's fans in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Australia who are flying to Oregon in “droves to attend this rare performance.”
Also planned is an auction of memorabilia from Norman’s long career.
“Someone’s going home from the party with Larry’s electric guitar because we’re going to auction off stuff from his whole career,” the web site reads. “A 1/4” reel–to–reel master tape of ‘Only Visiting This Planet.’ Maybe his black leather jacket. Snakeskin boots. The ‘Solid Rock Army Jeep.’ Whatever you want.”
In addition to the concert in Oregon, Norman is also scheduled to sing in Norway on July 7 through July 10.
According to a news release from Norman’s ministry, in 2001 he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame alongside Elvis Presley, an event which coincided with his retirement from more than 35 years in the public spotlight.
Norman had his first secular top ten hit “I Love You” in 1967 and subsequently released his album Upon This Rock, which is credited with launching the contemporary Christian music genre.
The media dubbed Norman “the father of Christian rock” because it was he who first combined rock and roll with Christian lyrics. According to Norman’s ministry, Time Magazine described Norman as “the top solo artist in his field,” and Billboard Magazine called him “the most important songwriter since Paul Simon.”
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Tickets for the Elsinore event are available at: www.larrynorman.com, www.ticketswest.com, and the Elsinore Theatre .
There is more information available at www.larrynorman.com/news/elsinore.html.
In addition, those interested may contact Charles Norman or Robert Canning at (503) 588-7429, or e-mail crash@wvi.com.
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Jeremy Reynalds is a freelance writer and the founder and director of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org or http://www.christianity.com/joyjunction. He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico and is a candidate for the Ph.D. in intercultural education at Biola University in Los Angeles. He is married with five children and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jgreynalds@aol.com. Tel: (505) 877-6967 or (505) 400-7145.
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