A review by dankeohane
Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock by Gregory Alan Thornbury

5.0

I've been a fan of Larry Norman since the early eighties and this biography is exactly what I hoped it would be - a fair, relatively unbiased look at the man who effectively created modern contemporary Christian music, celebrated by the non-Christian music industry (and unknown among non-Christian music fans), and mostly reviled by Christians for his refusal to conform or accept what he saw as hypocritical living, especially among conservative Christianity. He was a major player in the Jesus movement of the late 60's and 70's, tried to support and build up young artists, and yet lived in his own bubble. Thornbury does a great job telling the facts, sorting through much of the mythology of Norman (some incidental over time but much of it deliberately sown by his enemies). He was a loner who needed people, an introvert who boldly stepped into the limelight to spread the gospel, had a problem with authority, and inspired many, many people - myself included, even now.

Many people today do not know who this man was, and if they read this and learn, they might shrug their shoulders. If they listen to his music, especially in context of its time, they'll be changed forever. Maybe a little dramatic, that last part, but it's my review. :P