Larry Norman Message Board

I followed Larry's song-writing and recording output for many years - from the time I was a teenager, in fact.

I now lead a Christian mission across Europe which is, among other things, heavily involved with media. Years ago, when I was leading Youth Alive Australia in my homeland, I had breakfast with Larry. He had just been through a difficult period in his life and I sensed he was trying to reach out to the Lord for direction.

At one point in our conversation, I told him how much his music had always meant to me, especially in my formative years as a Christian and a leader. Growing up in suburban Melbourne in the 70s, I'd found him to be one of the few Christians I'd heard or seen in concert who spoke in the popular venacular about the real issues people in our generation were facing.

I remember he seemed quite surprised by this and said: "Well, thank you. Coming from a leader that means a lot." I then prayed for his voice, which had been strained of late.

It was not much to give back to a brother who had, along the way, given much to people like myself. This was the only time we met personally, though I still have a lot of his music on my mp3 player today - and I've quoted him in books a few times.

Of course, Larry's influence lives on through the many artists and others who've adapted or built upon the pioneering work he did in Christian music.

He was a thinker, a poet and an artist and, though he had his rough times, I think he always maintained an underlying love for God. He certainly loved to share his faith with real people "at street level".