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Photo of Norman Greenbaum

Photo: Distributed by International Famous Agency Inc/Reprise Records / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Norman Greenbaum

Born November 20, 1942 (age 83). From Malden, Massachusetts, United States. Singer / songwriter / singer-songwriter.

American singer

  • Massachusetts
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • singer-songwriter

Norman Greenbaum is a singer, songwriter and singer-songwriter. Norman Greenbaum was born in Malden, Massachusetts, United States on November 20, 1942. That works out to 83 years old in 2026. Education on record includes Boston University College of Fine Arts.

My Take

Calling Norman Greenbaum a one-hit wonder always feels like a backhanded compliment to me. Yes, his fame rests almost entirely on 1969's Spirit in the Sky, but what a hit to be remembered by. That fuzzed-out guitar riff still surfaces in films and ads decades later, and it lands every single time. I find it wonderfully ironic that a Jewish songwriter from Malden penned one of pop's most enduring gospel-flavored anthems. Honestly, writing one song the whole world still sings half a century on is an achievement most artists would trade their entire catalog for. I respect that singular bullseye.

This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Norman Greenbaum
Name (Japanese)
ノーマン・グリーンバウム
Reading
のーまん・ぐりーんばうむ
Born
November 20, 1942 (age 83)
Origin
Malden, Massachusetts, United States
Occupation
singer / songwriter / singer-songwriter / recording artist / composer
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Scorpio / Horse

2. Background

University
Boston University College of Fine Arts

4. About this entry

Tags

  • Massachusetts
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • singer-songwriter
Last updated

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Norman Greenbaum born?

Born November 20, 1942 (age 83).

Where is Norman Greenbaum from?

Norman Greenbaum is from Malden, Massachusetts, United States.

What does Norman Greenbaum do?

Norman Greenbaum works as singer, songwriter, singer-songwriter, recording artist, composer.

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