Songs Of Faith And Inspiration

Lawrence Welk's First Lady of Song... With this album a gifted artist of rare talent takes her place among those who inspire our worship through song-and the entire repository of sacred recordings is enriched. For a number of years Norma Zimmer has been with the Lawrence Welk organization, garnering more than her share of response from the popular television program. As some might wonder how this qualifies her entry into the field of sacred music, here is a word more about her background: Norma, Idaho-born, grew up in Seattle. Here early years there were given spiritual direction by the University Christian Church. Carl Pitzer, then director of the church choir, encouraged her sacred music activities, providing a foundation that has remained to this day an important adjunct to her successful vocal career. Easter Sunday crowds at Southern California's famed Forest Lawn have thrilled to her sensitive artistry. Other crowds are having the same reaction to a burgeoning series of annual Hymn Festivals across the nation. From time to time she accepts the invitation of a well-known evangelist to john his team for city-wide crusades. When Norma sings "I believe in Miracles", adding lyrically, "because I believe in God," you are hearing an expression of her profound personal faith. To study a masterpiece of portraiture is to discover not only something of the subject, but something of the artist as well. Norma Zimmer paints a portrait of Christ in the first song of this album, The Man Beside The Galilee. With bold strokes, she outlines her subject, yet her tones are restrained, often sombre; for this is the One who was born to die. With the song's debut performance, Norma reveals a great deal about herself. Unless I am greatly mistaken, as you listen to this album your soul will respond to hers in a way which will motivate your ascent to a new pinnacle of praise and worship. - Dick Ross.