Singer/songwriter Bebo Norman has had a highly applauded musical career throughout his seventeen-year discography. Norman has announced that as of the end of 2013, he will officially retire from everything music. This announcement and decision comes after much prayer.
“For those closest to me, this really has been a decision that was years in the making, but after a lot of prayer and continued conversation, my wife Roshare and I made the final call back in December,” shares Bebo. “And honestly I wasn’t sure if I would be done right away, or what the exact timetable would be, but ultimately I decided that I really wanted to honor my label and publishing commitments through 2013 and tour this new record (Lights of Distant Cities) for at least a year from release just to make sure I “finish well.”
In October 2012, Bebo released his last full-length studio release, Lights of Distant Cities, on BEC Recordings to much acclaim – as with all of his releases. Media called this album a “triumph,” “beacon of hope,” “stunning masterpiece” and one of his best pieces of work.
“Everything that I had left in my heart for music, I feel like I squeezed out and emptied into writing and recording this latest project, which I love so dearly. And to have had the chance to write and record such a personal record with my close friend and longtime live collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Gabe Scott, was the perfect way to finish out my recording career.”
Pushing the fear of the unknown aside, Bebo knows he is following his heart just as he did 20 years ago when he entered into a musical career. As many may know, Bebo has often called himself an “accidental” musician as he turned away from his plans for medical school to a season of music. “The reality for me is that I don’t have any one specific calling moving forward – I feel pulled in quite a few different directions, but none of them are music-related. I don’t know that I really feel called to something else as much as I feel called away from music.”
“I’m still not even certain how I got here, how I landed on this particular course as an artist, but I do know that it wouldn’t have happened without the willingness of people all over the world to be a part of this with me. I will be forever grateful.”
To celebrate his career’s end, Bebo will be releasing his final radio single. “Sing of Your Glory” will be going for adds on April 19. He will also be touring throughout the summer and fall, anchored by a co-headlining tour “in the round” with his longtime friends and musical counterparts Andrew Peterson and Sara Groves.
Cultivating a substantial national following as a self-supported independent artist in the mid-90’s, Bebo became the poster child for Christian music’s acoustic singer-songwriter revival with his 1999 major label debut, which landed Norman on the cover of CCM—a rare honor for a new artist. The follow-up, Big Blue Sky, was voted No. 1 Christian album of 2001 by the editors at Amazon. Myself When I Am Real (2002) earned seven Dove Award nods and charted the defining hit, “Great Light of the World.” Projects Try (2004) and Between the Dreaming and the Coming True (2006) continued the steady climb. In 2007, Norman partnered with Seattle’s BEC Recordings to release his first Christmas project that garnered another Dove nomination. In 2008, he released the critically acclaimed self-titled project. In 2010, Bebo received a Dove Award for “Inspirational Recorded Song” for his song “The Only Hope” from this self-titled project. His next project, Ocean, released in 2010 and explored the theme of finding one’s real identity. Bebo resides in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife and two boys Smith and Miller.
BEC Recordings’ singer-songwriter Bebo Norman is set to release his eighth studio album, Lights of Distant Cities, on October 22. Throughout his seventeen years as an artist, Norman has been applauded for laying it all on the table with his lyrical transparency and musical vulnerability.
Lights of Distant Cities was co-produced with close friend and longtime live collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Gabe Scott along with Ben Shive (Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves). Fans can now hear the debut single “Broken,” which is currently going for adds at radio. Click here to listen.
Norman’s music provides a common ground for the songwriter and the listener to collaborate in a discourse on life’s curious details, and how those day-to-day unknowns play in the greater mystery of faith.
“The last few years have been pretty intense - a long, slow progression, or digression, into a spiritual desert,” Norman remembers, disclosing the process of writing songs in the dark of the desert. “I struggled to write anything hopeful. But I wanted to be true to the season I was in, so I simply wrote about the hopelessness I was experiencing.”
With the same transparency that has attracted listeners to his lyrics for nearly two decades, Norman admits, “My tendency is to allow the darkness to override the hope I have in Christ. A few months prior to recording I experienced an intense season of recovery and renewal. I finished nearly all of the songs after the recovery process. So you have desperation and recovery – darkness and light – represented within the same song.”
A touching contrast evidenced throughout the eleven-song track list, and especially affective when heard within the brief parameters of individual songs, he says the end result is perhaps the most unique offering of his career.
As a husband to Roshare, his wife of nine years, and dad to Smith, 5, and Miller, 3, Bebo’s perspectives have broadened dramatically since he first graced the music scene as a post-collegiate bachelor. Perspectives, he says, that poignantly color the hopeless to hopeful songs on Lights of Distant Cities.
This week signature lyricist Bebo Norman celebrated a No. 1 INSPO single with his heartfelt song “I Hope You See Jesus” from his critically acclaimed album Ocean. This song can be heard here.
Released last year, Ocean was touted as Bebo’s “finest effort,” one of the “top overall album(s) of 2010,” and “beckons you into the depths of God’s love.” Ocean explored the theme of finding one’s real identity - where we find it, who we are, and where we draw life from.
Celebrate Christmas with Bebo Norman:
Fans can catch Bebo Norman this season on the MercyMe Christmas tour as well as select special Christmas concerts (dates below). In addition, Bebo’s Christmas album, Christmas… From The Realms of Glory (Extended Edition) is currently $7.99 at AmazonMP3. Click here to purchase the holiday favorite filled with 18 seasonal tracks. Also enjoy the full album with the festive Bebo Norman Yule Log.
December 9 Effingham, IL with MercyMe
December 11 Buffalo, NY with MercyMe
December 14 Greenville, SC
December 15 Norwood, MA
December 16 Tolland, CT
December 18 Memphis, TN
Today fans jump with both feet into Ocean, the newest release from acclaimed singer/songwriter Bebo Norman. This album has already been touted as his “finest effort” and one of the “top overall album(s) of 2010.” Ocean explores the theme of finding one’s real identity - where we find it, who we are, and where we draw life from.
“I’m given the opportunity to create records that become sort of like a topographical map of all my past experiences,” says Norman. “And today I’m happily married with two boys that I love. Still, I find myself looking up and asking, ‘Who am I outside of music and beyond being a husband and father? How do I hide myself in who Christ is rather than relying on my own identity in the real world?’ Every song on Ocean speaks to that idea.”
To celebrate his seventh studio project, Bebo Norman will be on HearItFirst next Tuesday, October 5th at 8/7 PM Central. He’ll be performing songs live from Ocean as well as answering fan questions. Tune in next week at http://www.hearitfirst.com/live .
Here are some media highlights praising Ocean:
“Going deeper than a feel-good album, Ocean beckons you into the depths of God's love.”
- CBNMusic
“Bebo Norman puts words to unspoken emotions on Ocean …Norman is an expert word-painter, and the visuals on Ocean are extremely vivid. For those who appreciate a good turn of phrase and are drawn to the artistic, Norman's latest is a must.”
- Crosswalk.com
“Bebo inspires a new way to think about our personal relationships both with God and our loved ones through the songs on Ocean. His lyrics display a sense of honesty and faithfulness in the midst of confusion and challenge the listener to stretch out of his or her comfort zone to get lost in the Lord. This is definitely his best album yet!”
- Hearitfirst
“(Ocean) does bring back his signature lyricism.”
- JesusFreakHideout.com
“Ocean is full of poetic, folk-rock gems, but don't miss the Brandon Heath collaboration ‘Here Goes.’”
- Real Rhapsody
“Norman separates himself from many in the Christian worship pack with his soft musical tone....And with Ocean, Norman has earned our respect, which then makes us want to participate in his worship.”
- Soul-Audio.com
Bebo Norman has recently spent time with Relevant Magazine in their new studios performing “Here Goes” and “The Middle,” which can be heard on this week’s podcast. He also interviews with NewReleaseTuesday.com podcast, Charisma magazine podcast each available on their respected sites.
Follow Bebo’s journey on Twitter @bebonorman as well as his blog http://www.bebonorman.com with song descriptions and stories from Ocean.
On the heels of his 2010 Dove Award, Bebo Norman has just finished his seventh studio project with award-winning producer Jason Ingram. Bebo Norman will release his album, Ocean, on September 28th on BEC Recordings marking his second studio release with the label. This week the album cover as well as the debut single “Here Goes” will be available exclusively for his ‘fans’ on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/bebonorman). Fans can go to his Facebook page, or if you are a new fan "like" his page, and click on "Song Premiere" to see the album cover and hear the song.
“Being in the studio and writing songs hands down is why I play music,” Bebo shared while in the studio. “It’s not that I don’t love playing shows in their own right and being in front of people, but if I were to make a list of why I play music, writing and being in the studio would be at the top.”
For Ocean, Bebo once again teamed up with Ingram in the studio for production as well as co-writing. On the last four records, Bebo and Ingram have established a mutual respect working together creatively to create a sonic landscape listeners love.
Ingram gives props to Bebo, “I love working on Bebo’s albums, it is working with a friend as well as someone I admire. He is one of our better songwriters that our industry has ever had.”
Bebo also partnered with Brandon Heath and Laura Story to write for this upcoming release. The debut radio single “Here Goes” was co-written with Brandon Heath, based on conversations they’d had over the years. It is a song about stepping into the difficult with the determined trust that there is indeed a God who is completely in control and completely good.
“Each of us stands on the precipice of extremely difficult decisions many times over in our lives…from the moment we first step into faith in Christ we are called to trust in something larger than ourselves,” Bebo explains. “‘Here Goes’ does nothing more than claim that scripture as truth and sing it out as a proclamation of the goodness of God as we stand on the edge of difficult decisions.”
Follow Bebo’s journey on Twitter @bebonorman as well as his blog http://www.bebonorman.com .
Last week BEC Recordings’ artist Bebo Norman decided to help make a difference giving back to Haiti relief by auctioning his personal Everett Laurel guitar on EBay. After one week of bidding, the auction closed on Friday night with an amazing closing price of $51,100. All funds will be going to Compassion International for Haiti relief.
“I don’t have the words to explain how overwhelmed I’ve been by this entire process - from the initial response of Twitterers who really inspired this in the first place, to the BEC publicity and radio teams who hit it out of the park, to the extreme willingness of radio stations all over the country to support it in any way they could,” shares Bebo. “And the final results of the auction absolutely blew the doors off any expectations I could have ever dreamed of with such generosity from the bidders and the overabundance of God. Obviously, this was not at all about a guitar, but instead was such a beautiful picture of the body of Christ actually being the body of Christ – using whatever gifts they have at their disposal to serve the people in Haiti that are so desperately in need.”
Bebo and his team would like to thank the radio stations, press outlets and his fans for helping make this auction a success. Bebo also continues to urge fans to give to those hurting in Haiti through organizations such as Compassion International.
Making his passion known this past year with the release of "Speaking Louder Than Before," BEC Recordings artist Jeremy Camp is introducing his fall tour named after the recently released CD and with a purpose at hand. As his first headlining tour in almost two years, Camp will be joined by reigning Dove Female Artist of the Year Natalie Grant and label-mate Bebo Norman. The "Speaking Louder Than Before" The Tour is kicking off in Florida on September 10th (dates below). The tour will also be sponsored by Compassion International.
Tickets for the anticipated tour will go on sale Friday, July 10th in addition to a special iTickets / iTunes promotion. For those who purchase tickets via iTickets from July 10th until July 24th, they will receive a code for two free downloads at iTunes ("Beyond Measure" by Jeremy Camp and "Never Saw You Coming" by Bebo Norman). The codes will be given out for each ticket purchased (not per order).
Earlier this year, Camp and his management company began a ministry called "Speaking Louder Ministries," a direct correlation to his recent release, which produced his seventeenth No. 1 radio single ("There Will Be a Day"). The purpose behind "Speaking Louder Ministries" is tri-fold: bringing a raised awareness to the local outreaches in the cities that Jeremy Camp performs, helping equip the church body and local community to get involved in ministry together, and impacting the needs of the community/organization with physical goods. For more information and specific local market info go to the ministry homepage.
On the fall tour, Speaking Louder Ministries will partner with a local radio station to promote the local outreach. At each concert, there will be a booth present as a distribution point to draw a larger awareness for the ministry organization.
This 30+ city tour will make a huge impact in each market, and Camp is thrilled about this opportunity. "I'm really looking forward to the tour and to what's being planned with Speaking Louder Ministries," shares Camp. "We'll have unique opportunities in each and every town that we play on this tour to be a part of local ministry. I'm hoping to see the body of Christ engaged and fired up to help local ministries in need. This will be more than just a typical concert experience, we will be working and worshiping together for the Kingdom of God."
See below for the tour dates as well as additional information regarding each artist on the "Speaking Louder Than Before" The Tour. Tour publicity contact also listed below.
"...feels like the beginning of a vibrant new chapter in an already distinguished career."
--Billboard
SEATTLE, WA...September 30, 2008...After the recent release of Bebo Norman, the media has been a buzz about his best work to date. In addition to media praise, digital buyers clamored to iTunes to purchase the album as Bebo Norman peaked at No.1 on the Overall Christian Album Chart during his street week (September 16). Bebo Norman is rooted in the tuneful sensibilities of comparable artists like James Taylor and John Mayer; all the while, he is confidently stretching the musical arrangements to his worshipful melodies.
In addition to releasing his new project, Bebo has been touring spot dates throughout the summer and early fall. He also made time to stop by FamilyNet's "EveryDay with Marcus & Lisa" to sing his two radio singles "Pull Me Out" and "Britney".
Fans will soon be able to get a taste of the new music, as Bebo will head out on the MercyMe fall tour as a special guest beginning October 16, 2008 in Virginia Beach, VA. For a complete list of tour dates and posters, click here. Following the fall tour with MercyMe, Bebo will head out on a special Christmas tour, dates can be found on his MySpace.
Here is what the media have to say about Bebo Norman:
"Brutal honesty, delivered beautifully. Bebo Norman's self-titled release offers up a lot of great music and more highlights than should be legal. Like all of Bebo's music so far, the bottom line is that Bebo Norman outdid himself with this release."
-About.com
"Bebo Norman has built a reputation as one of the Christian community's most insightful singer/songwriters, one likely to increase with this self-titled effort. This collection marks Norman's debut for Seattle-based BEC Recordings, and it feels like the beginning of a vibrant new chapter in an already distinguished career."
--Billboard
"Self-titled gem personalizes new chapter for Norman. Bebo Norman the singer/songwriter takes the next step in a career that is sure to be celebrated for many years."
--ChristanMusicPlanet.com
"Some of Bebo Norman's best songs to date can be found on his generally excellent self-titled effort."
--ChristianMusicToday.com
"It's amazing how simplicity can envelop an album into a masterpiece. The fact is, Bebo Norman surpassed all of his past material with this brilliant masterpiece!"
--Musicfaith.com
"Bebo Norman's highly anticipated self-titled studio album is his best album to date. This album is just amazing. Overall this is a sensational album...I was left wanting more. Bebo Norman is definitely worthy of a Dove Award next year."
-- NewReleaseTuesday.com
Artist/producer/composer Bebo Norman has announced the September 19th release of his fifth studio album, and first in two years,
Between the Dreaming and the Coming True, on Essential Records.
According to Norman, “Between the Dreaming and the Coming True is a turning point for me as an artist. Everything feels new to me again; from the writing process to production and performance. I really couldn’t be more pleased with how these songs turned out, and I can’t wait to get on the road and play them live.” With the arrival of the new album, fans are certain to see and hear a new Bebo Norman, one that has fully stepped into a new place in life.
The first nine songs on the album tell a story, one that Bebo did not set out to tell, but is thankful it came together. Bebo shares, “I’ve never written a group of songs that expressed more intently life lived in the real and in the everyday. It is about hope eternal played out against the backdrop of a difficult world and a sometimes dark age. This is a record about a life of true and honest hope lived somewhere ‘Between the Dreaming and the Coming True’.”
“The title Between the Dreaming and the Coming True was inspired by a book by Robert Benson with the same name. It was so poignant to me because this really is where life as a believer is lived,” says Norman. The story unfolds in the following eleven tracks: “Into The Day,” “Be My Covering,” “Time Takes Its Toll,” “I Know Now,” “I Will Lift My Eyes,” “The Way We Mend,” “To Find My Way To You,” “Bring Me To Life,” “My Eyes Have Seen Holy,” “Sunday,” and “Now That You’re Gone.”
Norman will be touring heavily this fall. For upcoming tour dates and additional information on Bebo Norman, visit www.bebonorman.com.
