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MUSIC BUZZ: Larry Norman faces bypass surgery; Relient K moves to new management


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Larry Norman, scheduled to be inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame, was scheduled to undergo triple bypass heart surgery Nov. 18.

Norman, considered by many to be the “father of Christian rock,” had been hospitalized in a Portland, Ore., hospital with a serious heart ailment. On. Nov. 15 he suffered a heart attack.

An angioplasty to restore normal blood flow to Norman’s heart was unsuccessful, according to a statement posted on Norman’s official website.

Norman’s family requested prayer for the ailing musician as well as the doctors who are scheduled to perform the bypass.

Persons interested in assisting Norman financially can inquire at Larry Norman Medical Fund, c/o Solid Rock, 3760 Market Street, NE PMB #306, Salem, OR 97301.

In other music industry news:

— RELIENT K — Gotee recording artists Relient K have signed a multi-year artist management agreement with Nashville-based Alabaster Arts, Inc., effective immediately. The new agreement comes just as Relient K is finishing the last leg of the Electric Youth tour with Five Iron Frenzy and label-mate John Reuben.

Relient K joins an Alabaster Arts management roster that includes the O.C. Supertones and Red Hill recording artist Katy Hudson. The band was originally represented by Timothy Eddings Management.

— JACI VELASQUEZ — Jaci Velasquez has been nominated in the “Favorite Latin Artist” category at the upcoming 29th Annual American Music Awards, adding to an already incredible year for the 21-year-old singing sensation.

On Thanksgiving, Velasquez will be featured in the “CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade,” performing songs from her critically acclaimed and first holiday offering, “Christmas.” The Nashville segment of the show, the “Opryland Aqua Parade,” will be hosted by Lee Ann Womack and is scheduled to air during the third hour of the program.

— WES KING – Recording artist Wes King participated recently in a Pentagon memorial service near Washington.

The event, sponsored by Salem Communications and WAVA radio, was attended by more than 3,300 people and raised more than $25,000.

Also taking part in the service were Ashley Cleveland, Selah and Charles Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, and host of the inspirational television program “In Touch.”

— THIRD DAY — Nearly 2,300 Christian music fans turned out at a Best Buy electronics store to welcome Third Day during an in-store promotional tour for “Come Together,” the band’s newest release. Best Buy executives said the Christian band’s appearance made history with the company’s 400 retail stores.

“No artist has ever sold as many CDs at a Best Buy in-store event in the nine years that I have been with the company,” said Scott Freeman, the company’s regional media manager. “There were about 2,300 people, some of whom drove for two-and-a-half hours to meet the band and get an autograph, and Third Day members greeted every one of them personally. Third Day is a world-class band — they are one of the most accommodating bands I’ve worked with in my 22 years in music retail.”

Come Together is also making waves across the country. The album, which released Nov. 6, not only debuted at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums chart, but also landed at No. 31 on the Billboard Top 200.

The next opportunity for fans to see Third Day will be on its 45-city major market headline tour beginning in February. The tour will feature special guest Bebo Norman and Australia’s Paul Colman Trio, hailed as one of Christian music’s best unsigned acts.

— POINT OF GRACE — Point of Grace, home from their Free to Fly tour, have started preparing for the upcoming Girls of Grace women’s conferences.

The Point of Grace ladies, along with special guest speakers and artists, will speak with young girls and teens about peer pressure, dating and self-esteem through single-day events in Dallas, Houston, Denver and Orlando, Fla., in the fall of 2002.
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(BP) photos posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo titles: BEST BUY CROWD, SELAH ON HOUR OF POWER, CHRISTMAS SHOES and TOUCHDOWN.

    About the Author

  • Todd Starnes