Larry Norman

Often called the “father of CCM,” Larry Norman was a 1960s hippie and social revolutionary who, as a genuine counterculture rocker (initially with his San Francisco psychedelic band People and then solo), was among the very first musicians to successfully bring an explicit Christian message into mainstream-style rock music. An associate of both Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin who wore his hair long and was an unapologetic leftist, Norman was often shunned by the conservative religious establishment and misunderstood by secular music fans. Musically, Norman was a dynamic vocalist and charismatic performer whose fiercely independent streak, biting lyrics, and love for heavy rock guitar (he often scat-sang the screaming leads when playing solo acoustic) made his concerts legendary. Though he was little known outside of the "Jesus freak" movement and his hardcore fan-base, Larry Norman’s influence on Christian music is monumental.