“People hear the name Norman Greenbaum and they say, ‘Who?’,” notes the singer from his adopted California home. But they hear the words ‘Spirit in the Sky’ and they say, ‘Oh yeah, I love that!’” ...

Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” is one of the most iconic hits of the ‘70s, with a killer guitar riff and unforgettable lyrics. It’s been covered by a diverse list of artists including Elton ...

The musical variety show—which also gave Dolly Parton her first big career break—almost always featured Wagoner and other notable guests performing a gospel song toward the end of the program.