Violinist whose early credits include Stan Getz’s Focus, recorded and released in 1961. In 1964, he appeared on a pair of Carmen McRae albums, Alfie and The Ultimate Carmen McRae. A year later, he was collaborating once again with Stan Getz on the soundtrack of Mickey One. It would not be the last of his film work. When Godspell hit the big screen in 1973, Norman was in the string section.
The same year, he appeared on what could be deemed his most famous recording, playing violin on Gladys Knight & the Pips’ mega-hit, “Midnight Train to Georgia”, which won a Grammy on 2nd March 1974. No rest for the wicked, however. It was quickly back into the studio for Norman on Jan Akkerman’s 1974 offering, Tabernakel. In 1975, things got reflective on Peggy Lee’s Mirrors.
America’s bicentennial year was a busy one for Norman: He served as concert master and played violin on Earl Klugh’s album, Living inside Your Love, he was in the strings section on O’Donel Levy’s Windows, recorded The Mean Machine and Red Beans with Jimmy McGriff, helped Lonnie Smith Keep on Lovin’ and Joe Thomas explore Feelin’s from Within, and recorded a pair of albums with Stanley Turrentine, The Man with the Sad Face and Stanley Turrentine with Strings.
In 1978, he helped Diana Ross and company ease on down the road on the soundtrack of The Wiz. A year later, he appeared on Frank Sinatra’s boxed set, Trilogy. In 1980, Earth, Wind & Fire employed his services on their LP, Faces. The following year, he re-united with Earl Klugh on Crazy for You. In 1984, he was part of the strings section on the Ramsey Lewis-Nancy Wilson collaboration, The Two of Us.
One of his last recordings appears to be the Prince project, The Family, released in 1985. Of course, the CD era has made available many of Norman’s earlier recordings, including Shalamar’s Big Fun, Nancy Wilson’s Greatest Hits, Bill Watrous’s Reflections, Peggy Lee Sings Leiber & Stoller, and Stan Getz Plays Music from the Soundtrack of Mickey One.
Here he is playing violin on “A Summer Afternoon” with Stan Getz and the Hershey Key Orchestra…
Sources:
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