Larry Norman performs “last” U.S. concert

SALEM, Ore. — After 45 seconds of jubilant applause, 58-year-old Larry Norman—“the father of Christian rock”—took the stage June 24, in the historic Elsinore Theatre for what he called his last U.S. concert.

Shortly before the end of the concert, 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.”

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.

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

More than 100 band members, relatives, and friends celebrated at Larry’s “Party Gras” Saturday night.

“My ministry has never just been on stage,” Larry said during an extensive four-hour interview a few days before the concert. “It’s also been out in the street before the concert and talking to people after the concert.

“I have to go out to the people. I’m going to keep on witnessing,” something he’s been doing since the age of 5.

Despite his poor health, Norman keeps his focus on ministry.

“These are the best years of my life,” he said. “I can’t do much but I can still minister.

“I have one message and that is: Do something with your life and don’t expect to enjoy it. Your ministry does not need to fulfill you. You need to fulfill your ministry and be prepared for rejection and be prepared for people not to understand” why you want to minister sacrificially.

Norman has sought to do just that in the U.S. and in Britain and the European continent, where he’s lived and toured extensively on and off for four decades.

After his U.S. concert, Larry and band were scheduled to prepare for his final European concerts in Norway and England.

For more information, go to larrynorman.com.

Published by Keener Communications Group, xxxx 2005

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