The Larry Norman Blog

CHARM SCHOOL FOR "WORKING GIRLS".

1/26/2015

Larry had a pretty hectic schedule in the '70s, flying around the world with a full calendar. This is a ten day itinerary for a visit to New Zealand in 1977.

As you can see, his wife Pam wanted some attention too, so she started her own "ministry", a Charm School For Working Girls, which sounds really creepy, and which one would assume addressed such ecclesiastical concerns as applying mascara and sewing butterfly patches on one's pants. Ahh, the '70s...

12 Comments

carl

1/26/2015 09:59:32 pm

Charles, you're hilarious.

Eric Clapton

3/3/2015 01:17:21 pm

Bitter toward Pam? Because of the Fallen Angel. Snarky comments revealing...

Hans

8/26/2017 07:19:55 am

Eric, We should all probably start feeling sorry for that film maker. I just Googled fallen angel movie and it gets no mention in the top 10, instead a 2003 Hallmark Hall of Fame television film takes half the spots. That's gotta hurt!

Larry's sister, Kristy

10/18/2019 02:46:44 pm

Eric, I have addressed a comment to you under your real name, Mr. Sabatino, in hopes it might be of help to you. If you wish to read it you will find it further down the list. It is further down past my comment to Charles.

Charles Norman

5/10/2015 07:12:42 pm

No Sabatino, not bitter at all. Pam and I are even Facebook pals and we frequently have a good laugh or two about the past. Now, go and do something constructive for once ;-)

Larry's sister, Kristy

10/18/2019 02:35:36 pm

I attended the first day of her school in Hollywood. I don't think she called it a charm school then. She liked to say "Beauty from above" in reference to her classes. You are correct, Charles, that it was about the girly devices of makeup etc.and yes, she was creative with butterfly patches. I didn't find it interesting so I only went once. But I do have many fond memories of Pam. One of my favorites is running down Hollywood Blvd with her trying to catch the bus to church service and how she was able to outrun me even though she was in high heels.

Wayne Barnett link

10/30/2015 12:53:19 am

I missed him in NZ that year, but he was back in 1978 or 79 with a full band and I saw him in Christchurch, NZ. I'd never seen him perform and was a bit shocked at first...until I "got it". Great show!

Jason Kemp link

7/16/2017 08:33:41 pm

I went to that songwriting school and the musicians school in Auckland on the 23rd and 24th. I also got the organisers to arrange certificates and had a great time over the 2 days. I have a cassette tape of some of the songwriting session but I don't have a tape player of any kind so not sure if it is still good. But now I will have to find one:) (40year old cassette tape. )

I remember Larry talking extensively about Joni Mitchell as an example of a great songwriter. In particular "Hejira" was was at the time a new album. Larry had just released "In Another Land". The other things that I remember about the songwriting was the use of 'tension and resolve' to tell the story and use of personas.

For an 18 year old it was great to meet someone like him. He came here a few times in late 70's and early 80's. I organised a lunchtime concert for him at the university one year. Kind of a cheeky thing for a student to do but I sold hundreds of tickets to his shows and the promoter knew me very well.

I met Larry a few times during that period. I introduced him to some music from a guy from a punk band who was busking on the street by then. Larry arranged for that guy and his girlfriend to sit onstage at a performance behind the curtain. This was because B & J didn't really want to be in the main audience with a bunch of youth groups and church people. Anyway it was remarkable thing for Larry to do and B told me years later that was a pivotal moment for him.

It was at His Majesty's theatre and I like that only Larry and I knew there were extra special guests backstage for the concert. (Ok the crew would have seen them) but it was like an invisible gift for two almost random strangers he liked. A great thing to do & not known to the public.

A few months later Larry sent me a postcard from Hammersborg in Oslo, Norway asking me about a poster from B and generally saying hi. That was 1982. I think his last tour here was in 1984. He had a huge and inspiring impact on local musicians. His stagecraft at the live shows was incredible. Even better when Jon Linn and the band was with him.

Now I must find a cassette player because I'm sure there will be some great songwriting tips on that tape. I have some photos of the the workshops too.

Jason Kemp link

7/16/2017 10:31:27 pm

Now that I've thought about it some more - I'm pretty sure Larry first came to NZ in 1976 when he did a concert at the Auckland YMCA. The 1977 concert I remember especially because Elvis Presley died the same month just a few days before the NZ tour started. Anyway just wanted to say (again) that Larry had a huge impact on NZ over a nearly 10 year period.

Steve Murray link

3/29/2018 08:51:41 pm

Wow! This brings back memories. I was fortunate to attend one of these schools (songwriting, I think) and I’ll never forget how we recorded and produced a song in the studio with Larry. It was all pretty amazing for a tender 18 year old! Suffice to say, this was a pivotal stepping stone to a career in audio visual production that has now spanned nearly 40 years. Thanks so much for posting this Charles!

Larry's sister, Kristy

10/18/2019 02:24:09 pm

Dear Mr. Sabatini,
No one in our family is bitter toward anyone. It is not an emotion we were taught. Instead we find humor or compassion for others. We don't stay angry at people for their mistakes.
For instance, I am not angry toward you because I realize that you are unhappy. I read your email to Larry where you vowed to destroy him after he told you that you could not use his music on the video you made about the hippie preacher. I realize you must have been extremely disappointed after all your work creating the video. I can empathize with your disappointment but you must understand that you cannot break the law and an artist has a right to refuse others use of their creation. I hope you understand that he did not want to be linked to your video because he knew the preacher and his family, discussed the video with them and felt that your video represented untruths that upset the preacher's family.
Your mode of revenge against Larry was to make a video about him in an attempt to destroy his reputation..if you would like to know how Larry would feel about your video I would refer you to his song "Shot Down" on the album "In Another Land"

I've been shot down, talked about
Some people scandalize my name,
But here I am, talkin' 'bout Jesus just the same.
I've been knocked down, kicked around
But like a moth drawn to the flame,
Here I am, talkin' 'bout Jesus just the same.
I've been rebuked for the things I've said,
For the songs I've written and the life I've led.
They say they don't understand me, well I'm not surprised,
Because you can't see nothing when you close your eyes.
They say I'm sinful, backslidden,
That I have left to follow fame.
But here I am, talkin' 'bout Jesus just the same.

Larry knew he wasn't perfect but he kept coming back to Jesus and trying to correct his faults. He had a lifetime of experiences with people misusing him for their own agendas. When such an experience is encountered over and over one can become mistrustful and not certain of the right course of action. Mistakes are made.
Several of the people who appeared in your video have told us they were unhappy with how you twisted what they said with editing.
If you are really a Christian do you think Jesus would be pleased with how you treat others? If you are not a Christian then you would be better off to just make non Christian videos instead because you don't appear to understand Christianity enough to make intelligent contributions nor opinions in this area.
I am somewhat upset by your actions, not for myself because it is your decision how you want to spend/waste your life, but for you I am concerned that you don't understand how precious your life is. You do not know how much time you have left on this earth. As you look back on your life will you have wasted it in anger and hatred and revenge? Or will you look back to see many uplifting contributions that have made this life better for yourself and others? You are, of course, allowed mistakes but to grow and mature as a human it is necessary to let go of grudges and not harbor resentment for your own sake because anything else is such a pity and a waste of your precious life. Why don't you use your talents to create uplifting videos instead of trying to procure fame through petty gossip and cheap negativity which drags down everyone who gets involved with it? It is so easy to be hateful and gossip about others. It takes maturity and wisdom to realize that is a downhill path that will cause you to miss out on the best that life can give you. Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can release you if you put in the effort. I encourage you to stop wasting any more of your life and find a real connection to a happy, fulfilled spirit within yourself either through a deeper understanding of the messages Jesus taught or through another means if you are not a Christian. Have an open heart toward others and mostly have openness and forgiveness for yourself and for the events of your life that caused you to follow a negative unhappy path. I pray you will choose a path of love and forgiveness toward all because "without love you are nothing" And I believe you have it within you to do better if you seek to release the negative traps of the ego and begin a new path. But it's your choice.
Peace to you,
Kristy

Ralph link

12/24/2020 11:28:07 pm

Grateful for shaaring this

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CHARM SCHOOL FOR "WORKING GIRLS".

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