Christopher Ward Norman(born 25 October 1950) is an Englishsoft rocksinger. Norman was the original lead singer of the English rock bandSmokie[1](1964–1986), which found success in Europe in the 1970s. "Stumblin' In",a 1978 duet with Suzi Quatro, became a big hit in the United States and Europe. The single"Midnight Lady"also became an international hit. In the 1990-2000s hetouredthe countries ofEastern Europe.He is most popular in theBaltic countries.[2]
Chris Norman | |
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 Norman in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Christopher Ward Norman |
| Born | 25 October 1950 Redcar,North Yorkshire,England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of |
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| Website | www |
Life and career
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With the advent ofrock and roll,Norman acquired his first guitar at the age of seven. His early musical influences wereElvis Presley,Little Richard,Otis Redding,andLonnie Donegan.[3]
In these early years, Norman's parents moved around the country a lot, which resulted in him going to nine different schools, and living in various locations around England, such as Redcar,Luton,Kimpton,andNottingham.By 1962, however, the family had moved back to Norman's mother's home city ofBradford.Approaching his twelfth birthday, Norman started at St. Bede's Grammar School, where he was to meetAlan Silsonand Terry Uttley, future members ofSmokie.As teenagers, influenced by the new era of groups such asthe Beatlesandthe Rolling Stonesand thenfolksinger,Bob Dylan,Norman and Silson began meeting up and spent nearly all their spare time learning new songs on their guitars.[4]They managed to persuade Uttley to join them and, along with a drummer friend called Ron Kelly, they formed their first band. The Yen, Essence, and Long Side Down were just some of a variety of names they called themselves before settling on "The Elizabethans". When Ron Kelly left the group in 1973, an old friend called Pete Spencer was asked to take over on the drums, and the group, which was to become Smokie, was complete. In 1970, Norman married his wife, Linda, and they have five children together. Since 1986, they have resided on the Isle of Man.[5]
Between 1974 and the early 1980s, Smokie enjoyed success touring all over the world, but the strain and pressure of constantly being away from home and family was beginning to tell on Norman. By the early 1980s he decided to spend more time writing and working in the studio. Norman and Spencer now worked together on songs for other artists including hits forKevin Keegan( "Head Over Heels in Love",a No. 31 UK hit),[6]and theEngland football teamsong "This Time (We'll Get It Right)".[7]He also worked withAgnetha Fältskog(on her solo album),Racey(co-writer of "Baby It's You" ),[8]Donovan(backing vocals onDonovan),[9]andHeavy Metal Kids.
In 1978, Norman recorded a duet withSuzi Quatro,"Stumblin' In",which made No. 4 on the USBillboardHot 100and sold over one million copies.[10][11]
Norman's solo career took off in 1986 with the song, "Midnight Lady",which was a hit throughout Europe holding the number one spot in Germany for six weeks (where it sold 900,000 copies).[12]Further success followed by the songs "Some Hearts Are Diamonds","No Arms Can Ever Hold You","Broken Heroes","Fearless Hearts "," Sarah "and" Baby I Miss You ".[13]In 1994, Norman was honoured byCMT Europeas their 'International Video Star of the Year'. In 2004, he took part in theComeback Showon the German TV stationProSiebenand he performed "Stumblin' In" as a duet withC. C. Catch.In the final episode of the show, he was joined by Smokie for the final song.[14]
On 2 June 2007, Norman performed at the Peel Bay Festival,Isle of Man.[15]
In July 2017 he performed at the Rendezvous music festival inJurmala.[16][17]
In 2019, he was theheadlinerof theWhite Nightsmusic festival inSt. Petersburg,the festival was a tribute to the 50-year career ofAlla Pugacheva.Also headlining wereLevel 42,Bonnie TylerandSvetlana Loboda,[18][19]
Discography
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- Rock Away Your Teardrops(1982)
- Some Hearts Are Diamonds(1986)
- Different Shades(1987)
- Break the Ice(1989)
- Interchange(1991)
- The Growing Years(1992)
- The Album(1994)
- Reflections(1995)
- Into the Night(1997)
- Christmas Together(1997)
- Full Circle(2000)
- Breathe Me In(2001)
- Handmade(2003)
- Break Away(2004)
- Million Miles(2006)
- Close Up(2007)
- Time Traveller(2011)
- There and Back(2013)
- Crossover(2015)
- Don't Knock the Rock(2017)
- Just a Man(2021)
Industry awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Midnight Lady" | Goldene Europa[20]Comeback des Jahres | Won |
| 1986 | Best Male Singer | Bravo Otto- Best Male Singer (Bronze)[21] | Won |
| 1986 | Himself | Löwe vonRadio LuxembourgSilver Award[22] | Won |
| 1986 | Male Singer | Gold Hammerschlumpf - Pop/Rocky[23] | Won |
| 1994 | "Jealous Heart" | CMT EuropeInternational Video Star of the Year[24] | Won |
| 2001 | Himself | Gala zur Verleihung des Internationalen Schlagerpreises[25] | Won |
| 2004 | Himself | Radio Regenbogen Award[26] | Won |
BillboardYear End Charts 1979.
| Nominee/work | Year End Charts | Result |
|---|---|---|
| "Stumblin' In" | Top Singles | 23rd place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top singles Artists | 50th place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top New Duo | 4th place |
| "Stumblin' In" | Top Single Duos | 3rd place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top Adult Contemporary Singles | 28th place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top Overall Pop Duos | 11th place |
CashboxYear End Awards 1979.
| Nominee/work | Year End Awards | Result |
|---|---|---|
| "Stumblin' In" | Top 100 Singles | 62nd place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top Duo | 4th place |
Record WorldYear End Awards 1979
| Nominee/work | Year End Awards | Result |
|---|---|---|
| "Stumblin' In" | Top Single Duo | 4th place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top Duo | 3rd place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top New Duo | 2nd place |
| Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman | Top Mixed Duo (Male/Female) | 2nd place |
References
edit- ^Kohn, Michael (January 2006).Dateline Mongolia: An American Journalist in Nomad's Land.RDR Books. pp. 87–.ISBN978-1-57143-155-4.Retrieved7 August2011.
- ^"World premiere in Riga: legendary Chris Norman will present his new album".Baltictimes.com.Retrieved5 August2024.
- ^"Interview with CHRIS NORMAN".DMME.net.Retrieved8 March2023.
- ^"Interview with Chris Norman | The original voice of Smokie".blackvelvetradio.gr.11 January 2019.Retrieved8 March2023.
- ^Norman, Susan."Official Chris Norman Fanclub - Private".Chrisnorman-fc.com(in German).Retrieved4 March2023.
- ^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 297.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^"The England World Cup Squad - This Time (We'll Get It Right) / England, We'll Fly The Flag (Vinyl)".Discogs.com.1982.Retrieved26 January2016.
- ^"Racey - Baby It's You (Vinyl)".Discogs.com.June 1978.Retrieved26 January2016.
- ^"Donovan - Donovan".AllMusic.Retrieved26 January2016.
- ^Strong, Martin C. (2000).The Great Rock Discography(5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp.785–786.ISBN1-84195-017-3.
- ^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 444.ISBN1-904994-10-5.
- ^"INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20".Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Archived fromthe originalon 26 March 2023.Retrieved2 March2014.
- ^Birchmeier, Jason (25 October 1950)."Chris Norman | Biography & History".AllMusic.Retrieved26 January2016.
- ^OfficialCCCatchtube (2 July 2022).CC Catch & Chris Norman - Stumblin In (Comebackshow 2004).Retrieved5 August2024– via YouTube.
- ^[1]Archived11 June 2014 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Победитель Евровидения Сальвадор Собрал выступит на фестивале" Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala "".TiTANIUM - International lifestyle magazine(in Russian). 13 June 2023.Retrieved5 August2024.
- ^Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala (16 August 2017).Chris Norman - Gypsy Queen (Laima Rendez Vous Jūrmala 21.07.2017).Retrieved5 August2024– via YouTube.
- ^"Бонни Тайлер, Крис Норман и Лобода: как звёзды" зажгли "на" Белых ночах Петербурга "".metronews.ru(in Russian). 16 July 2019.Retrieved5 August2024.
- ^"Светлана Лобода, Григорий Лепс и Тимати на фестивале «Белые ночи» Санкт-Петербурга".Lisa.ru(in Russian).Retrieved5 August2024.
- ^"ARD Goldene Europa".Web.ard.de.Retrieved6 April2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Die Otto-Sieger 1986".Bravo-archiv.de.Retrieved4 March2023.
- ^"Silver Lion".Rtlradio.de.Retrieved6 April2020.
- ^"Pop Rocky".Poprocky.net.Retrieved6 April2020.
- ^"CMT Europe".Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2012.Retrieved6 April2020.
- ^"RPR.1".Rpr1.de.9 August 2016.Retrieved6 April2020.
- ^"Radio Regenbogen".Regenbogen.de.Retrieved6 April2020.
External links
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