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 were enjoying 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 together with Pete Spencer, now concentrated on songs for other artists including hits for Kevin Keegan ("Head Over Heels in Love", a No. 31 UK hit), and the England football team song "This Time (We'll Get It Right)". He also worked with Agnetha Fältskog (on her solo album), Racey (co-writer of "Baby It's You"), Donovan (backing vocals on Donovan), 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.

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. Written by Dieter Bohlen (of successful Modern Talking), it sold 900,000 copies in Germany alone. 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". 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. Robin Gibb and Bonnie Tyler also performed on the same night. He also performed a three song set at the 2012 Discoteka 80 concert in Moscow. The last song in his set was the "Stumblin' In" duet with C. C. Catch, who then continued on with her own set.

Norman continues to this day to record and perform gigs throughout Europe and beyond.

Discography

Solo albums

• 1982: Rock Away Your Teardrops
• 1986: Some Hearts Are Diamonds
• 1987: Different Shades
• 1988: Hits from the Heart
• 1989: Break the Ice
• 1991: The Interchange
• 1992: The Growing Years
• 1993: Jealous Heart
• 1994: The Album
• 1994: Screaming Love Album
• 1995: Every Little Thing
• 1995: Reflections
• 1997: Into the Night
• 1997: Christmas Together
• 1999: Full Circle
• 2000: Love Songs
• 2001: Breathe Me In
• 2003: Handmade
• 2004: Break Away
• 2005: One Acoustic Evening - CD & DVD (Live at the Private Music Club/Live in Vienna)
• 2006: Million Miles
• 2006: Coming Home
• 2007: Close Up
• 2009: The Hits! From His Smokie And Solo Years
• 2009: The Hits! Tour - Live at the Tempodrom, Berlin (Deutschland) DVD
• 2009: The Hits! Tour - Live at the Tempodrom, Berlin (Dänemark) DVD
• 2011: Time Traveller
• 2013: There And Back
• 2015: Crossover

Solo singles

• 1978: "Stumblin' In" — UK No. 41, US No. 4
• 1982: "Hey Baby"
• 1983: "Love Is a Battlefield"
• 1984: "My Girl and Me"
• 1986: "Midnight Lady" b/w "Woman"
• 1986: "Some Hearts Are Diamonds"
• 1987: "No Arms Can Ever Hold You"
• 1987: "Sarah"
• 1988: "Broken Heroes"
• 1988: "I Want to Be Needed"
• 1988: "Ordinary Heart"
• 1988: "Wings of Love"
• 1989: "Back Again"
• 1989: "Keep the Candle Burning"
• 1990: "The Night Has Turned Cold"
• 1991: "If You Need My Love Tonight"
• 1992: "I Need Your Love"
• 1993: "Come Together"
• 1993: "Goodbye Lady Blue"
• 1993: "Growing Years"
• 1993: "Jealous Heart"
• 1994: "As Good As It Gets"
• 1994: "I Need Your Love"
• 1994: "Wild Wild Angel"
• 1995: "Goodbye Lady Blue"
• 1995: "Obsession"
• 1995: "Red Hot Screaming Love"
• 1996: "Fearless Hearts"
• 1996: "Reflections of My Life"
• 1996: "Under Your Spell"
• 1997: "Baby I Miss You"
• 1997: "Into the Night"
• 1999: "Oh Carol"
• 2000: "Mexican Girl"
• 2002: "Ich Mache Meine Augen Zu"
• 2003: "Keep Talking"
• 2004: "Amazing"
• 2004: "Only You"
• 2004: "Too Much / Without Your Love"
• 2006: "Without Your Love"
• 2009: "Endless Night"
• 2011: "Chasing Cars"
• 2014: "Another Night in Nashville"

Albums - Smokie

• 1975: Pass It Around
• 1975: Changing All the Time
• 1976: Bravo präsentiert: Smokie (Germany)
• 1976: Midnight Café
• 1977: Greatest Hits
• 1977: Bright Lights & Back Alleys
• 1978: The Montreux Album
• 1979: The Other Side of the Road
• 1980: Greatest Hits Vol. 2
• 1981: Smokie-The Very Best of Smokie
• 1981: Solid Ground
• 1982: Die großen Erfolge einer Supergruppe (Germany)
• 1982: Midnight Delight
• 1982: Strangers in Paradise
• 1990: Smokie Forever
• 1994: The Collection - Komplett 'B' platten 1975-78 (Germany)
• 1998: Live - The Concert (Live in Essen/Germany 1978)

[ Source: Wikipedia ]