Larry Norman Message Board

Charley, my family grieve with your family, may the Lord bless you and uphold you at this time.

I first met Larry in 1973 when he came to our local youth club that I sometimes helped out at. I was in a band called Gravy Train making records for the Vertigo label. I'd been saved 2 1/2 years, and I burned with a passion to share the Gospel from the stage, but was struggling with how to do it from within a Rock Band context, until I witnessed Larry at work that night.

For me it was life changing, almost as much as getting saved had been. The man was Spirit filled and was so obviously about his Father's business - lives got changed, kids got saved. It started in me a deep desire to seek God and do the same.

I first played with Larry in November 1977 on an 8 week European tour, along with our dear friend Alwyn Wall. It was the first of countless tours, concerts and studio sessions that we did together, right up to the last time we worked together in a London studio in 1991. When email became available to us in the mid-90's, we kept in touch that way. In all that time he remained a faithful, trustworthy friend who was incredibly thoughtful and considerate. He was generous and loving, putting Jesus before himself, whilst making some people feel uncomfortable when he saw through the insincerity and sometimes downright wrongdoing that dogged our industry for years.

Three generations of my family, my wife, son, daughter, grandson and me always loved him, miss him, and look forward to seeing him again, in Heaven.

Norman Barratt