DAN WOODING, of Assist News Service, reports…
Larry Norman, the original “Jesus Freak”, died in Salem, Oregon, early on Sunday morning after a long battle with heart problems.
With his long blonde flowing hair, Norman was a true pioneer of Christian rock music with hits like Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music and I Wish We’d All Been Ready.
A LAST GOODBYE: How the news was broken on the Larry Norman website.
“I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again. Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again. Somewhere beyond the sky. I pray that you will stay with God. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye.”
– A final message from Larry Norman
For years, he was a permanent fixture on Hollywood Boulevard, where, despite being a star with Capital Records, he would spend his days and nights sharing one-on-on with the lost youth of Hollywood about the love of Jesus Christ.
He is also credited with inventing the “One Way To Jesus” finger-pointing sign.
But in recent years, Larry was battling serious health problems and he finally passed away on Sunday morning, 25th February.
His death was revealed by his brother Charles Norman on www.larrynorman.com. He wrote:
“Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.
“Several of his friends got to come and visit with him in the last couple of weeks and were a great source of help and friendship to Larry. Ray Sievers, Derek Robertson, Mike Makinster, Tim and Christine Gilman, Matt and Becky Simmons, Kerry Hopkins, Allen Fleming and a few more. Thank you guys. Larry appreciated your visits very much. And he greatly appreciated the thoughts, wishes, support and prayers that came from all of you Solid Rock friends on a daily basis. Thank you for being part of his small circle of friends over the years.”
Charles said that just before he died, Larry Norman dictated the following message, while Allen Fleming, friend, typed these words into Larry’s computer:
“I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home.
“My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help.
“My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.
“I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again. Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again. Somewhere beyond the sky.
“I pray that you will stay with God. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye. Larry”
Charles Norman ended his website message with the following: “Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we’re not able to function very well, but the whole family is here… our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver. We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything. Peace to you all in Christ, Charles Norman”.
