Smokie Norful

Infobox musical artist
Name = Smokie Norful

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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = W.R. Norful, Jr.
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Origin = Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Gospel, Praise & Worship
Occupation = Vocalist/Singer, Songwriter
Years_active = 2002 - present
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URL = [http://www.smokienorful.com/ www.smokienorful.com]
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Rev. W.R. "Smokie" Norful, Jr. is an American gospel singer and pianist, best known for his 2002 album, "I Need You Now" and his 2004 release, "Nothing Without You," which won a Grammy at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2004. [http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=&year=2005&genreID=0&hp=1 | Grammy Winners Search]

Early life

Norful, a minister who is also the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, deeply involved in his father's church. He was interested in music from a very young age, reportedly picking out one-finger piano melodies from the age of two. His parents supported him with music lessons, and, unusually for his background, allowed him to experiment with and listen to the current R&B and soul music of the day as well as gospel music. Norful attended Pine Bluff High School, where he occasionally performed in school assemblies and programs. In October 1990, he sang "My My My" at the Homecoming Coronation ceremony. He was a member of the PBHS Class of 1991. Norful graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a History major and spent four years teaching high school. Also a member Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 1998 he felt "called" to the ministry, and pursued a Master of Divinity degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. While working toward ordination in the A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) church, he took a position as assistant pastor at a church in Chicago. He currently pastors Victory Cathedral Worship Center in Romeoville, IL, which he founded on September 20, 2005.

Recording career

He participated in an album release by the Thompson Community Choir, a well-known gospel group, and contributed a song as well as solo vocals. He was then offered the opportunity to make a solo album for EMI Gospel, "I Need You Now". The album was a slow starter but eventually went gold, spending two years in the upper reaches of the Billboard Gospel Charts.

He was nominated for and won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. He is also signed to EMI-CMG Publishing and his own Norful Music Publishing as a songwriter. He performed on June 6, 2005, for President George W. Bush in a concert honoring Black Music Month.

Norful's music is best described as a fusion between gospel, 70's soul and contemporary R&B; the influences of artists such as Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and other male soul/R&B vocalists of the 70's and 80's is clear.

On October 3rd 2006, Norful released his 3rd album, "Life Changing".

Personal life

Norful describes his first single, "I Need You Now"...

"I wrote that at a time when my wife [who was told she may have cancer and wouldn't be able to conceive] , my father [who had just had emergency heart-surgery] and my grandmother were all dealing with some serious medical issues, and I was seriously reaching out to God for comfort and guidance and healing. I was crying out to God and realizing my total dependence on Him, and ultimate victory through Him."

Norful and his wife, Carla, are the proud parents to two boys, Tre' and Ashton. Norful also has an adopted daughter named Ashley.

Smokie Norful is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Discography

Albums

*"I Need You Now (Chordant Music Group, 2002)"
*"I Need You Now Limited Edition (EMI, 2003)"
*"Nothing Without You(EMI, 2004)"
*"Nothing Without You Special Edition CD+DVD (EMI, 2005)"
*"Life Changing (EMI, 2006)"

References

External links

*http://www.smokienorful.com/
*http://www.blackgospel.com/psalmists/smokienorful/interview/2006/
*http://www.getthevictory.org