Larry Norman Dotcom

We're currently rounding up audio, video, and more to post here in the next few days. In the meantime, please check out this stuff:

LARRY'S GRAVESITE:

On February 25th, 2008, the day after Larry passed away, my two sisters and Kristin went to the cemetery in town to choose a burial space for Larry. It was a difficult thing to do. When the director asked them what they were looking for in particular, they replied that Larry had told them just a few days before he died that all he really wanted was to be buried under a tree, on a hill with a view.

The director raised her eyebrow and said that wasn't a possibility as everyone wants a view, a tree, a hill, etc. and that all those sites were taken long ago. But there were a few places left in the cemetery that she wasn't familiar with. She gave my family a plot number and a map and asked them to see if it would be a suitable location. She said she thought that part of the property might be on an incline which is kind of like a hill. "Would that be okay?", she asked.

When Kristin and my sisters approached the site, they started smiling. The numbered grave marked on the map was right underneath a tree. On a hill. With a view.

They said "We'll take it!"

Meanwhile, I was at home wondering for the first time about a gravestone. Larry died somewhat unexpectedly and we had never discussed it. I couldn't think straight at all, but I had to figure out something. I sat on his bed, crying, and couldn't think of what might be a suitable gravestone. And more importantly, what would the epitaph say? How could I possibly sum up my brother's life in just a few words? I thought that making some sketches might give me some ideas, so I reached over for a notebook that was next to his bed, opened it up, and started laughing out loud.

There on the first page was a drawing Larry had done of a cross-shaped gravestone with an epitaph that read:

LARRY NORMAN
EVANGELIST

and then in underneath that in smaller letters, it said:

WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

At the base of the gravestone Larry had written:

BLOODSTAINED ISRAELITE

I couldn't help but laugh and say "thank you" out loud. My big brother was still giving me suggestions and helping me out even though he wasn't around to do it in person.

And then I started crying again when I saw that the dates Larry had written read:

1947 - 2009

I wish we'd had that extra year together. We had some great plans.

But I guess God had an even better one.

- Charles Norman - February 25, 2009

Click to enlarge

VIDEO

This is a compilation video with short pieces of live footage from 1977 to 2005. This video was shown at Larry's memorial service. The various musicians include Mark Lemhouse, Frank Black, and Guards Of Metropolis.

PRESS PLAY TO BEGIN

This is the montage that was shown at the service. Most of these images have never been seen before, and we felt that showing the following photographic history was a way of sharing the person that Larry's family knew and loved...

PRESS PLAY TO BEGIN

CONCERT VIDEOS FROM YOUTUBE:

I Love You (video from 1968 with People!)

Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music

Let That Tape Keep Rollin'

Song For A Small Circle Of Friends:

The Weight Of The World

Why Don't You Look Into Jesus (1980s - England)

Why Don't You Look Into Jesus (band version)

I Wish We'd All Been Ready:

Sweet Song Of Salvation:

Messiah