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Chris Norman

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For other uses, see Chris Norman (disambiguation).

Chris Norman
Norman in 2020
Norman in 2020
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Ward Norman
Born (1950-10-25) 25 October 1950 (age 74)
Redcar, North Yorkshire, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Years active1964–present
Labels
Formerly of
Websitewww.chris-norman.co.uk

Christopher Ward Norman (born 25 October 1950) is an English soft rock singer. Norman was the original lead singer of the English rock band Smokie[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 he toured the countries of Eastern Europe. It is most popular in the Baltic countries.[2]

Life and career

[edit]
Chris Norman in Tallinn, Estonia in 1995

With the advent of rock and roll, Norman acquired his first guitar at the age of seven. His early musical influences were Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Otis Redding, and Lonnie 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, and Nottingham. By 1962, however, the family had moved back to Norman's mother's home city of Bradford. Approaching his twelfth birthday, Norman started at St. Bede's Grammar School, where he was to meet 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.[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 for Kevin Keegan ("Head Over Heels in Love", a No. 31 UK hit),[6] and the England football team song "This Time (We'll Get It Right)".[7] He also worked with Agnetha Fältskog (on her solo album), Racey (co-writer of "Baby It's You"),[8] Donovan (backing vocals on Donovan),[9] and Heavy Metal Kids.

In 1978, Norman recorded a duet with Suzi Quatro, "Stumblin' In", which made No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 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 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.[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 in Jurmala.[16][17]

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,[18][19]

Discography

[edit]
Norman in 2008
Main articles: Chris Norman discography and 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)

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 von Radio Luxembourg Silver Award[22] Won
1986 Male Singer Gold Hammerschlumpf - Pop/Rocky[23] Won
1994 "Jealous Heart" CMT Europe International Video Star of the Year[24] Won
2001 Himself Gala zur Verleihung des Internationalen Schlagerpreises[25] Won
2004 Himself Radio Regenbogen Award[26] Won

Billboard Year 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

Cashbox Year 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 World Year 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]
  1. ^ Kohn, Michael (January 2006). Dateline Mongolia: An American Journalist in Nomad's Land. RDR Books. pp. 87–. ISBN 978-1-57143-155-4. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  2. ^ "World premiere in Riga: legendary Chris Norman will present his new album". www.baltictimes.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Interview with CHRIS NORMAN". DMME.net. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Interview with Chris Norman | The original voice of Smokie". blackvelvetradio.gr. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  5. ^ Norman, Susan. "Official Chris Norman Fanclub - Private". www.chrisnorman-fc.com (in German). Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 297. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "The England World Cup Squad - This Time (We'll Get It Right) / England, We'll Fly The Flag (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1982. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Racey - Baby It's You (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. June 1978. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Donovan - Donovan". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  10. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 785–786. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 444. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ "INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20". Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  13. ^ Birchmeier, Jason (25 October 1950). "Chris Norman | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  14. ^ OfficialCCCatchtube (2 July 2022). CC Catch & Chris Norman - Stumblin In (Comebackshow 2004). Retrieved 5 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ [1] Archived 11 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Победитель Евровидения Сальвадор Собрал выступит на фестивале "Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala"". TiTANIUM - International lifestyle magazine (in Russian). 13 June 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  17. ^ Laima Rendezvous Jūrmala (16 August 2017). Chris Norman - Gypsy Queen (Laima Rendez Vous Jūrmala 21.07.2017). Retrieved 5 August 2024 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Бонни Тайлер, Крис Норман и Лобода: как звёзды "зажгли" на "Белых ночах Петербурга"". metronews.ru (in Russian). 16 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Светлана Лобода, Григорий Лепс и Тимати на фестивале «Белые ночи» Санкт-Петербурга". Lisa.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  20. ^ "ARD Goldene Europa". Web.ard.de. Retrieved 6 April 2020.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Die Otto-Sieger 1986". Bravo-archiv.de. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Silver Lion". Rtlradio.de. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Pop Rocky". Poprocky.net. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  24. ^ "CMT Europe". Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  25. ^ "RPR.1". Rpr1.de. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Radio Regenbogen". Regenbogen.de. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
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