Chris Norman

Life and career

Norman acquired his first guitar at the age of seven. His early musical influences were Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Otis Redding, and Lonnie Donegan.

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, and Nottingham. By 1962, however, the family had moved back to Norman's mother's home city of Bradford. Approaching his 12th birthday, Norman started at St. Bede's Grammar School, where he met Alan Silson and Terry Uttley, future members of Smokie. As teenagers, influenced by the new era of groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and then folk singer, Bob Dylan, Norman and Silson began meeting up and spent nearly all their spare time learning new songs on their guitars. 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.

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 then worked together on songs for other artists including hits for Kevin Keegan ("Head Over Heels in Love", a number-31 UK hit),{{cite book

In 1978, Norman recorded a duet with Suzi Quatro, "Stumblin' In", which made number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and sold over one million copies.{{cite book

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). 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". In 1994, Norman was honoured by CMT Europe as their International Video Star of the Year. In 2004, he took part in the Comeback Show on the German TV station ProSieben, and he performed "Stumblin' In" as a duet with C. C. Catch. In the final episode of the show, he was joined by Smokie for the final song.

On 2 June 2007, Norman performed at the Peel Bay Festival, Isle of Man.

In July 2017, he performed at the Rendezvous music festival in Jūrmala.

In 2019, he was the headliner of the White Nights music festival in St. Petersburg, the festival was a tribute to the 50-year career of Alla Pugacheva. Also headlining were Level 42, Bonnie Tyler, and Svetlana Loboda,

Discography

Main article: Chris Norman discography, Smokie discography

• 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)
• Junction 55 (2024)

Industry awards

|- |1986 |"Midnight Lady" | Goldene Europa Comeback des Jahres | |- |1986 |Best Male Singer | Bravo Otto - Best Male Singer (Bronze) | |- |1986 |Himself |Löwe von Radio Luxembourg Silver Award | |- |1986 |Male Singer |Gold Hammerschlumpf - Pop/Rocky | |- |1994 |"Jealous Heart" | CMT Europe International Video Star of the Year | |- |2001 |Himself |Gala zur Verleihung des Internationalen Schlagerpreises | |- |2004 |Himself |Radio Regenbogen Award | |-

Billboard Year End Charts 1979

Cashbox Year End Awards 1979

Record World Year End Awards 1979

References

References

1. Kohn, Michael. (January 2006). "Dateline Mongolia: An American Journalist in Nomad's Land". RDR Books.
2. "World premiere in Riga: legendary Chris Norman will present his new album".
3. "Interview with CHRIS NORMAN".
4. (2019-01-11). "Interview with Chris Norman {{!}} The original voice of Smokie".
5. Norman, Susan. "Official Chris Norman Fanclub - Private".
6. (1982). "The England World Cup Squad - This Time (We'll Get It Right) / England, We'll Fly The Flag (Vinyl)".
7. (June 1978). "Racey - Baby It's You (Vinyl)".
8. "Donovan - Donovan". [[AllMusic]].
9. "INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20". Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de.
10. Birchmeier, Jason. (25 October 1950). "Chris Norman | Biography & History". [[AllMusic]].
11. OfficialCCCatchtube. (2022-07-02). "CC Catch & Chris Norman - Stumblin In (Comebackshow 2004)".
12. [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-183080654.html] {{webarchive. link. (11 June 2014)
13. (2023-06-13). "Победитель Евровидения Сальвадор Собрал выступит на фестивале "Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala"".
14. Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala. (2017-08-16). "Chris Norman - Gypsy Queen (Laima Rendez Vous Jūrmala 21.07.2017)".
15. (2019-07-16). "Бонни Тайлер, Крис Норман и Лобода: как звёзды "зажгли" на "Белых ночах Петербурга"".
16. "Светлана Лобода, Григорий Лепс и Тимати на фестивале «Белые ночи» Санкт-Петербурга".
17. (December 2023). "ARD Goldene Europa".
18. "Die Otto-Sieger 1986".
19. "Silver Lion".
20. "Pop Rocky".
21. "CMT Europe".
22. (9 August 2016). "RPR.1".
23. "Radio Regenbogen".