Mr. Norman Greenbaum

Norman GreenbaumJewhoo! - Biographies

Jewhoo!,
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Norman Greenbaum----What?
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And-- this was what was really weird--- the singer was a guy named Norman Greenbaum.

First of all, how often has there been a big solo rock hit by a guy with a very Jewish name like Norman Greenbaum?

It is almost as rare as a good pastrami sandwich in Mississippi.

I can only think of three solo rock hits by guys with pretty Jewish names: Greenbaum, Art Garfunkel, and Henry Gross.
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Well, here was a rock song-which mentioned Jesus-being sung by Norman Greenbaum.

Strange to say the least.The thought crossed my mind that Greenbaum was one of these new-fangled hippie types for Jesus.A Jewish guy who had become "born again".

But the song is, as I said, amazingly catchy and I found myself singing along wherever I'd hear it on the radio.I didn't think much about Greenbaum in the years to come because Spirit was his only hit.

Well, about two weeks ago, a Jewhoo! visitor asked me if I knew whether Norman Greenbaum was a born-again Christian type.

I did a quick web search and found two sites that were helpful.The first site was run by an evangelist who proclaimed that all rock music was sinful.

He noted that even Spirit in the Sky was not theologically "correct" and that it was written by one Norman Greenbaum.Greenbaum, the preacher said, has "admitted" he is not a believer in Jesus.
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This is a very nice site and it features the lyrics to Spirit, a brief biography of Mr. Greenbaum, letters from fans, movies that Spirit has appeared in, and some merchandise for sale.You can also listen to Spirit.I e-mailed Mr. Greenbaum and we arranged a telephone interview.

Mr. Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts in 1942.His parents ran a bakery.

Mr. Greenbaum had a traditional Jewish upbringing.He went to Hebrew school and was bar mitzvah.His early musical influences included the folk revival stuff of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

He was also influenced by traditional black blues musicians from the South.

Mr. Greenbaum told me he played in high school bands with a bunch of other Jewish guys.These guys, as Mr. Greenbaum put, ended up following the normal career path of young Jewish guys-they became doctors, lawyers, and accountants.Mr. Greenbaum says he stuck with the music.

Mr. Greenbaum went to Boston University for two years, but dropped out to pursue his musical career full time.I asked Greenbaum if he ever thought of changing his name to help his professional career.He said he never seriously considered changing his name and no one ever seriously suggested he should.

Greenbaum moved to Los Angeles in 1965.He quickly became the founder and the leader of a rather unique group: Dr. West's Medicine Show and Jugband.
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Greenbaum tells me his band had jugs, a washboard bass, AND a trippy light show.The band had one single that climbed to near 50 on the charts, The Eggplant that Ate Chicago.

This title is fairly humorous and Greenbaum says he was influenced by Jewish comedians.

Greenbaum eventually settled in nearby Petaluma and , for a time , ran a local goat farm as a sideline to his musical career.Greenbaum was not , incidentally , the first Jewish farmer in Petaluma.A rather large colony of Jewish socialist chicken farmers settled in the area early in the century and flourished until the early 1950's.

Greenbaum's first solo album , released in 1969 , was called Spirit in the Sky.Two singles flopped before the title track was released.Spirit went as high as number # 3 on the charts and sold two million copies.

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I asked Greenbaum the big question : Why did you write a sort of religious song that featured Jesus.Are you now or have you have been born-again.The answer is that Norman Greenbaum wasn't a Christian then , and still isn't a Christian.

The writing of Spirit is the story of a bunch of things coming together.
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Greenbaum figured , much like the many Jewish writers of Christmas songs , that there was a lot bigger market for a song that mentioned Jesus than one that mentioned , say , some Hebrew name for G-d.He told me that the lyrics came really quickly.The music took months to work out.Greenbaum's background in blues and a bit of gospel can be heard in the song.It is a wonderful mélange of gospel , rock , and other influences.

Maybe that is why Greenbaum says , it sounds as fresh today as when it was recorded..And he's right , the song is not dated.Some songs are meaningful to the people who heard them when they were young , but sound today like period pieces.Spirit comes out of the radio sounding like it could have been written last week.Maybe because there is nothing quite like it.Its gospel feel is different from most rock , so it stands alone in its own category.

Greenbaum told me that his parents were quite shocked when they heard their son singing a song about Jesus on the radio.However , when it climbed to the tops of the charts they asked got any more?.

Unfortunately , Greenbaum's subsequent albums and follow-up singles failed to sell.He tells me , and I believe him , that there was a lot of good music on those albums.But the public just didn't respond.By 1980 , he told me , his musical career dried up and he went to work in a restaurant as a cook.
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Spirit has been used in such films as Miami Blues , Contact , Apollo 13 and Wayne's World 2. Greenbaum says he has practically lost track of the number of projects it has been licensed to.

Greenbaum is frank about the marvel of his one-hit wonder.He told me it brings in more money today than when it was on the charts.He is able to live , albeit modestly , off of what Spirit brings in.But it was also clear from our conversation that he is proud of the song's artistic merit and the way it has affected many people.On his web site , he displays letters from fans who say how the song was important to them following a death or other tragedy.

For Greenbaum , personally , the song has provided continuous connection with his past.Old friends from high school visit his site and keep him apprised of their lives.Each time Spirit appears in a new film , another old friend or acquaintance contacts him and they usually tell him how they went on to be a success in some field or another.Greenbaum , by the way , says he tries to answer all his e-mail.

Greenbaum does not tour , anymore.Despite offers to go on the road , he says he would rather have people remember him and the song as it was performed decades ago.He told me that some days he can hit the notes and some days he cannot.Therefore , he'd rather let the recorded version be the memory in fans' minds.

So now you know the rest of the story.

NateJewhoo Editor