MEMORIES FROM THE LARRY NORMAN MEMORIAL CEREMONY

A quick description from a few people who attended Larry Norman's funeral in Salem, Oregon on Saturday, March 1, 2008......
What a gathering! Perhaps 500 of us poured into a church in Salem this morning to pay our respects to Larry. There were greeters at the door handing everyone a carnival ticket, a program that says, “Larry Norman Presents… A Going Away Party” and a CD of In Another Land (30th Year Edition).

As you walked in, you could see the simple pine casket and hear a man in the front playing funeral/circus style music. All of a sudden, the lights go down and: SCREEEEEEETCH! It was the sound of a record player needle ripping across vinyl. And then it skips to Larry singing:

'I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that has a beat.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that moves my feet.
I don't like none of those funeral marches
I ain't dead yet!'

It was quite moving. Then we sat for 10 minutes with the lights down low listening to a wonderful montage of music, photographs, and videos of Larry throughout his life. And a video was sent in from Frank Black of The Pixies citing how much he'll remember Larry’s smile as well as saying how much of an influence Larry had been on him.

The family gathered a bunch of everyday people whose lives were touched by Larry. After the musical collage, a man came on stage and said, “Hi, I’m Jerry, Larry’s mailman. For years I have delivered Larry’s mail” — he spoke of Norman’s kindness and love for him. Several other people from Larry’s childhood and early years came and shared their stories.
Mark Lemhouse played great slide/blues guitar and spoke about Larry. Kristin and Silver performed a song that Larry had always loved in his honor (including a Norwegian folk song!). And Larry's two sisters sang a duet together. Gene Mason from People! chatted for about 10 minutes about the early days with Larry as well as Denny Fridkin (People!) and his dear friend Steve Pettis. They all shared their fond, funny and sweet memories about him.

The pastor was a friend of Larry’s from England. He was excellent! He kept the Gospel as central to our lives and was present until the end of Larry’s life.
The fitting ending was just an audio of Larry singing Goodbye Farewell to all of his friends.

The service closed with everyone singing “He’s the Rock That Doesn’t Roll” to a bouncing ball. After it was all over we ate hot dogs, popcorn and Cracker Jacks! It truly was a celebration. It was a gathering of friends, family and fans alike. A party. Just like Larry wanted.

It was interesting to see Charlie, Larry’s younger brother still organizing and orchestrating for Larry. He made sure the two and half hour celebration flowed smoothly. He did it with such graciousness and style, as if he was carrying out to the minute everything Larry wanted to happen.

Rick Frye of Ventura, California, who has been friends with Larry Norman for thirty-eight years, spends a moment with Norman's casket in the Church on the Hill. "I think he would have been pleased and he didn't want it to be a sad occasion, he wanted it to be a celebration," says Frye at Norman's memorial service

A photo from the slide shown at Larry Norman's memorial service.

Click Here for Memorial Service photos.