music.wikisort.org - Musician

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), who found success in Europe in the 1970s. "Stumblin' In", a 1978 duet with Suzi Quatro, was a big US hit.

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (August 2011)

Chris Norman
Norman in 2008
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Ward Norman
Born	(1950-10-25) 25 October 1950 (age 72) Redcar, North Yorkshire, England
Genres	Soft rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Years active	1964–present
Labels	BMG, Edel Records
Website	www.chris-norman.co.uk

Life and career

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, 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 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. 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.

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),[2] and the England football team song "This Time (We'll Get It Right)".[3] He also worked with Agnetha Fältskog (on her solo album), Racey (co-writer of "Baby It's You"),[4] Donovan (backing vocals on Donovan),[5] 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.[6][7]

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).[8] 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".[9] 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.[10]

Discography

Awards

• Löwe von Radio Luxemburg Silver Award [11]
• Goldene Europa [12]
• CMT Europe International Video Star of the Year [13]
• Gala zur Verleihung des Internationalen Schlagerpreises [14]
• Radio Regenbogen Award [15]

References

External links

Official website

На других языках

---

[de] Chris Norman

Christopher Ward „Chris“ Norman (* 25. Oktober 1950 in Redcar, Vereinigtes Königreich) ist ein britischer Singer-Songwriter. Von 1975 bis 1986 war er Sänger und Gitarrist der britischen Pop-/Rockband Smokie.

---

- [en] Chris Norman

---

[es] Chris Norman

Chris Norman, cuyo nombre real es Christopher Ward Norman, (Redcar, North Yorkshire, 25 de octubre de 1950), es un cantante de soft rock inglés. Ha realizado 10 trabajos con el grupo inglés de estilo glam rock Smokie, del cual fue miembro fundador, y más de 20 de solista.

---

[fr] Chris Norman

Chris Norman, né Christopher Ward Norman le 25 octobre 1950 à Redcar, est un chanteur anglais de soft rock. Il a été le chanteur de Smokie[1], un groupe anglais de glam rock originaire de Bradford, qui a eu du succès en Europe dans les années 1970.

---

[ru] Норман, Крис

Крис Норман (англ. Chris Norman, полное имя Кри́стофер Уо́рд Но́рман, англ. Christopher Ward Norman; 25 октября 1950, Редкар[en], Северный Йоркшир) — британский певец и гитарист классического состава «Smokie», композитор и мультиинструменталист, в настоящее время — сольный артист.

---

---