Norman Greenbaum
American singer-songwriter
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Key Takeaways
- Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter, known for his 1969 hit song "Spirit in the Sky".
- Early life and education Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts, southeast of Lowell.
- His initial interest in music was sparked by southern blues music and the folk music which was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- In college, he performed at local coffeehouses but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965.
- West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, which recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago".
Norman Joel Greenbaum (born November 20, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter, known for his 1969 hit song "Spirit in the Sky". The song made him one of the most famous acts with a best-selling one-hit wonder for all time.
Early life and education
Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts, southeast of Lowell. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household and attended Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Israel. His initial interest in music was sparked by southern blues music and the folk music which was popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He performed with various bands in high school and studied music at Boston University in Boston for two years. In college, he performed at local coffeehouses but eventually dropped out and moved to Los Angeles in 1965.
Career
In the late 1960s, Greenbaum was the leader and composer for Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, which recorded the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago". The group's psychedelic approach was too eccentric for mainstream show business; the group's name suggested a novelty or comedy act incorporating music.
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