Norman Greenbaum

Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for writing and performing the 1969 song "Spirit in the Sky".

Norman Greenbaum
Birth nameNorman Joel Greenbaum
Born (1942-11-20) November 20, 1942
Malden, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1966–present
Websitewww.spiritinthesky.com

Early life

Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts. He was raised in an Orthodox Jewish household and attended Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Israel.[1] His initial interest in music was sparked by southern blues music and the folk music that was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school and studied music at Boston University for two years. In college he performed at local coffeehouses but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965.[2]

Career

Greenbaum is best known for his song "Spirit in the Sky". The song, with its combination of 'heavy' guitar, hand-clapping, and spiritual lyrics, was released by Reprise Records in 1969. It sold two million copies in 1969 and 1970,[3] and received a gold disc from the RIAA. It has subsequently been used in many films, advertisements, and television shows.[3]

Although "Spirit in the Sky" has a clear Christian theme, Greenbaum was and remains an observant Jew.[4][5] Greenbaum says he was inspired to write the song after watching country singers singing a song on television. In an interview Greenbaum stated that western movies were the real inspiration for "Spirit in the Sky":[6]

Norman Greenbaum: If you ask me what I based "Spirit In The Sky" on ... what did we grow up watching? Westerns! These mean and nasty varmints get shot and they wanted to die with their boots on. So to me that was spiritual, they wanted to die with their boots on.

Ray Shasho: So that was the trigger that got you to write the song?

Norman Greenbaum: Yes. The song itself was simple, when you're writing a song you keep it simple of course. It wasn't like a Christian song of praise it was just a simple song. I had to use Christianity because I had to use something. But more important it wasn't the Jesus part, it was the spirit in the sky. Funny enough ... I wanted to die with my boots on.

Though Greenbaum is generally regarded as a one-hit wonder,[4][5] several of his records placed prominently in the charts, including "Canned Ham" in 1970, which reached number 46 on the Billboard pop chart. In 1966,[7] as the leader and composer of Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, he recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago".[7]

Personal life

Greenbaum has been a long-time resident of Santa Rosa, California.[4] He was critically injured when the car in which he was a passenger made a left turn in the path of a motorcycle on Occidental Road on March 28, 2015, killing the motorcyclist and also injuring the motorcycle passenger.[8] Greenbaum has since gone back to performing.[9]

Discography
  • Spirit in the Sky (1969)
  • Norman Greenbaum with Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band (1969)
  • Back Home Again (1970)
  • Petaluma (1972)
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See also

References
  1. Scott R. Benarde, Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories (University Press of New England, 2003), ISBN 978-1584653035, pp. 186–187. Excerpts available at Google Books.
  2. McNichol, Tom (December 24, 2006). "A 'Spirit' From the '60s That Won't Die". The New York Times.
  3. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 280. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  4. McNichol, Tom (December 24, 2006), "A 'Spirit' From the '60s That Won't Die", The New York Times, retrieved December 22, 2009
  5. Benarde, Scott R. (2003). Stars of David: rock'n'roll's Jewish stories. UPNE. p. 186. ISBN 1-58465-303-5.
  6. Shasho, Ray (December 23, 2011). "Exclusive: Norman Greenbaum reveals the true origin of 'Spirit In The Sky'". Classic Rock Music Reporter. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2000). Top Pop Singles 1955–1999. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research Inc. p. 183. ISBN 0-89820-139-X.
  8. "Crash west of Santa Rosa kills motorcyclist; singer Norman Greenbaum hospitalized". Press-Democrat. March 28, 2015.
  9. Freedman, Richard. "December 22 Vallejo A&E Source: Greenbaum keeps finding the ‘Spirit in the Sky’", Vallejo Times Herald (December 21, 2016).
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