Smokie Norful

Artist Image: Smokie Norful
Attribution
Image Credit: Bknight2872 (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

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. Norful received his second Grammy in 2015 at the 57th Annual Grammy awards for his song "No Greater Love", ten years after winning his first.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1975
Number of Albums 27
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Smokie Norful on Wikipedia
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Trivia

What was Norful's debut album called?

I Need You Now

...Virtually unheard of when he released his debut album, I Need You Now , in early 2002, Norful became Billboard Magazine's 1 Gospel Artist of 2003 and a...
Norful was named what magazine's Gospel Artist of 2003?

Billboard

...released his debut album, I Need You Now, in early 2002, Norful became Billboard Magazine's 1 Gospel Artist of 2003 and also won the coveted 2003 Stel...
When did Norful begin writing for a number of Gospel artists?

late 90s

...Stellar Awards for both Best Male Vocalist and Best New Artist. In the late 90s he began writing for a number of Gospel artists, including Shirley Mur...
How long did it take for Norful to record and release his first solo album?

four years

...cord and release his first solo album, a process that ended up taking four years . Norful was signed by EMI Gospel and released his debut, the sleeper ...
What label signed Norful?

EMI Gospel

...lbum, a process that ended up taking four years. Norful was signed by EMI Gospel and released his debut, the sleeper hit I Need You Now, in 2002. Whil...
How long did it take for the album to reach the Gospel charts?

over a year

...rban Adult Contemporary markets, and finally topped the Gospel charts over a year after its release. I Need You Now kicks off in high gear with It's A...
What is the name of the song that kicks off in high gear?

It's All About You

...ear after its release. I Need You Now kicks off in high gear with It's All About You . With a pulsating beat and Antonio Dixon's Chris Jasperstyle elec...
Who created the joyful dance number about faith and gratitude?

Norful

...and Antonio Dixon's Chris Jasperstyle electronic keyboard out in front, Norful created a joyful dance number about faith and gratitude that became one...
What was the name of Norful's 2004 release?

Nothing Without You

...s after Smokie Norful took the Gospel world by storm, he released Nothing Without You , which turned out to be one of the most awaited new releases of ...
What was the name of the first single on the album?

Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus

... that it shined, such as on the hot, hornladen first single, Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus and the beautiful Tommy Sims acoustic ballad, In The Middle...
What was Tommy Sims acoustic ballad?

In The Middle

...that it shined, such as on the hot, hornladen first single, Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus and the beautiful Tommy Sims acoustic ballad, In The Middle ....
When was I Need You Now released?

2002

...okie Norful 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 wo...
Norful is the son of whom?

African Methodist Episcopal Church minister

...in 2005. Norful, a minister who is also the son of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister , was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas but grew up in Mus...
Where was Norful born?

Pine Bluff, Arkansas

...n of an African Methodist Episcopal Church minister, was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas but grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, deeply involved in his father...
Where did Norful grow up?

Muskogee, Oklahoma

... Church minister, was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas but grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma , deeply involved in his father's church. He was interested in mus...
How old was Norful when he picked out onefinger piano melodies?

two

...oung age, reportedly picking out onefinger piano melodies from the age of two . His parents supported him with music lessons, and, unusually for his ba...
Norful's parents supported him with what?

music lessons

...r piano melodies from the age of two. His parents supported him with music lessons , and, unusually for his background, allowed him to experiment with ...
What major did Norful have at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff?

History

...ic. Norful graduated from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a History major and spent four years teaching high school. Upon graduation and o...
How many years did he spend teaching high school?

four

...om the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as a History major and spent four years teaching high school. Upon graduation and ordination, he took a po...
What was Norful's position at a church in Chicago?

assistant pastor

...high school. Upon graduation and ordination, he took a position as assistant pastor at a church in Chicago. He was then offered the opportunity to mak...
In what city was he offered the opportunity to make a solo album for EMI Gospel?

Chicago

...n and ordination, he took a position as assistant pastor at a church in Chicago . He was then offered the opportunity to make a solo album for EMI Gosp...
Where did Pastor Smokie spend his early life?

Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma

... Gospel Album in 2004. Pastor Smokie spent his early life in Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma . He then joined the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, gr...
Where did Norful receive his formal training in ministry?

GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary

...Furthermore, he received formal training in ministry at GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Norful worked as a history teac...
Where is GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary located?

Evanston, Illinois

...raining in ministry at GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois . Norful worked as a history teacher for seven years at Jack Robey...
How many years was Norful a history teacher at Jack Robey Junior High School?

seven

...l Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Norful worked as a history teacher for seven years at Jack Robey Junior High School, Pine Bluff High School, and Eva...
How long did Smokie serve as the educational director for the Pine Bluff Housing Authority afterschool program?

two years

...igh School, and Evanston Township High School. Moreover, he served for two years as the educational director for the Pine Bluff Housing Authority afte...
What institution did Smoky Norful serve as a board member of in 1997?

Trinity International University

...l program. He also served as a board member of Regents for Trinity International University . Smokie Norful Church In 1997, Smokie got ordained an elde...
What church was he an associate minister of?

St. John AME Church

...nd licensed to be a preacher. He then started serving as a youth pastor, minister of music, and associate minister of St. John AME Church , Pine Bluff....
How long has Norful's music career spanned?

two decades

...f success in both music and ministry. A music career that has spanned two decades , Norful now brings his music and ministry efforts towards global hum...
Norful brings his music and ministry efforts towards what?

global humanitarianism

...cades, Norful now brings his music and ministry efforts towards global humanitarianism . As an internationally known musician, music composer, producer...
How many Number 1 Billboard albums has Norful had?

five

...dwide recognition. Since that time, he has found commercial success with five Number 1 Billboard Albums (I NEED YOU NOW, LIMITED EDITION, NOTHING WITH...
What was Norful's 2002 solo release?

I NEED YOU NOW

...sic composer, producer, and singer, Norfuls 2002 solo debut release I NEED YOU NOW catapulted him to worldwide recognition. Since that time, he has fo...
How many albums has Norful sold worldwide?

over 3 million

...DITION, NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE, FOREVER YOURS) and over 3 million albums sold worldwide. Norful is a multiple RIAA certified goldsell...
How many Stellar Awards has Norful earned?

8

...eral times as Billboard Magazines Gospel Artist of the Year. He has earned 8 Stellar Awards, 5 Dove Awards, 1 Soul Train Music Award, 2 NAACP Image aw...
How many BET award nominations does Norful have?

3

... 5 Dove Awards, 1 Soul Train Music Award, 2 NAACP Image award nominations, 3 BET award nominations, and 2 Grammy Awards. Norful received the Grammy Aw...
Where is Norful scheduled to perform his first performance in 2019?

Carnegie Hall

...ilations and has written songs for numerous majorlabel recording artists. In 2019, he is scheduled to complete his first performance at Carnegie Hall ....
Norful was raised in an African Methodist Episcopal household in what state?

Oklahoma

...alist Norful was raised in an African Methodist Episcopal household in Oklahoma . He played piano and sang from an early age, and had his first taste o...
Where did Norful go to study history?

University of Arkansas

...of Norfuls vocal talent. Norful went on to study history at the University of Arkansas and put music temporarily behind him to work as a high school t...
How long did Norful work as a high school teacher?

six years

... put music temporarily behind him to work as a high school teacher for six years . In 1998, Norful left education to pursue a Masters of Divinity degre...
In what year did he pursue a Masters of Divinity degree at Garrett Theological Seminary?

1998

...emporarily behind him to work as a high school teacher for six years. In 1998 , Norful left education to pursue a Masters of Divinity degree at Garrett...
Norful worked as an assistant pastor at what church in Chicago?

Rock of Ages Baptist Church

...subsequently worked in the city as an assistant pastor at the Rock of Ages Baptist Church , and also began to take a more prominent role as a featured ...
Norful's style draws on gospel, R&B, and what other genre?

hiphop

...hoir. Norfuls urban inspirational style, which draws on gospel, R&B and hiphop , bore immediate fruit on his 2002 debut I Need You Now. The album was a...
How long did I Need You Now make it to the Billboard Gospel chart?

five weeks

...bum was a major sales success, topping the Billboard Gospel chart for five weeks and also breaking into the R&B and pop charts, with the title track e...
At what age was he recorded for the first time as a featured artist on an album by a regional music director?

10

... by four he was playing and singing in his father's church. At the age of 10 , he was recorded for the first time as a featured artist on an album by a...
After finishing college, he spent the next four years as what?

a high school history teacher

...or. After finishing college, he spent the next four years as a high school history teacher . In 1998, Norful's life and career path took another turn a...
Norful moved to Chicago to earn what degree?

Masters of Divinity

...eing called into ministry. He moved to Chicago in order to earn a Masters of Divinity degree from Garrett Theological Seminary. Smokie Norful's Big Br...
Who asked Smokie to sing one of his original songs for the choir's Real album?

Joe Anne Brunson

...tive in several church choirs, and he eventually caught the ear of Joe Anne Brunson , leader of the Thompson Community Choir, who asked him to sing one...
Willie Ray Norful, Jr. is a gospel singer, songwriter, pastor, pianist, writer, entrepreneur, and what else?

businessman

...inger, songwriter, pastor, pianist, artist, writer, entrepreneur, and businessman who is well known for his 2002 album, I Need You Now and Nothing Wit...
Norful serves as the pastor of what church in Bolingbrook, Ill.?

Victory Cathedral Worship Center

...l currently serves as the pastor of the Bolingbrook, Ill., Victory Cathedral Worship Center . He together with the Victory family has witnessed excepti...
When did Norful open a second campus in Chicago?

September 28, 2008

...on, Norful opened a second campus on the south side of Chicago on September 28, 2008 . They have experienced similar dynamic growth and phenomenal move...
Where is Norful's second campus located?

south side of Chicago

...nce its start. In addition, Norful opened a second campus on the south side of Chicago on September 28, 2008. They have experienced similar dynamic gr...
What is the name of Norful's daughter?

Ashley

... three kids; two sons namely, Ashton Norful and Tré Norful and daughter Ashley Norful. At the GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill...
In what field did he receive advanced training in?

theology

...inity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., he also received advanced training in theology , where he studied to obtain a Master of Divinity....
What was he studying to obtain?

Master of Divinity

...inity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill., he also received advanced training in theology, where he studied to obtain a Master of Divinity ....
What is Smokie Norfula's profession?

pastor

...Smokie Norfula popular pastor in Chicago, Illinois, and a Grammy Awardwinning gospel singerspent most of his developing years in Pine Bluff (Jefferson...
Where was Willie Ray Norful Jr. born?

Little Rock

... artists to have emerged from Arkansas. Born Willie Ray Norful Jr. in Little Rock (Pulaski County) on October 31, 1975, to the Reverend W. R. Norful a...
How many boys does Willie Ray Norful Jr. have?

three

... to the Reverend W. R. Norful and Teresa Norful, Norful is the oldest of three boys. Like so many other AfricanAmerican gospel singers, he found churc...
In what county is Little Rock located?

Pulaski County

...e emerged from Arkansas. Born Willie Ray Norful Jr. in Little Rock ( Pulaski County ) on October 31, 1975, to the Reverend W. R. Norful and Teresa Norfu...
What is the name of Norful's mother?

Teresa Norful

...ulaski County) on October 31, 1975, to the Reverend W. R. Norful and Teresa Norful , Norful is the oldest of three boys. Like so many other AfricanAmer...
Who is Norful the oldest of?

three boys

... the Reverend W. R. Norful and Teresa Norful, Norful is the oldest of three boys . Like so many other AfricanAmerican gospel singers, he found church t...
What was the name of the Trinity Broadcast Networks flagship program in 2012?

Praise the Lord

...t a 2012 taping of the Trinity Broadcast Networks flagship program, Praise the Lord , Norful joked before a studio audience about growing up as a P. K....
Where did he relocate with his family to?

Pine Bluff

... in Muskogee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Norful relocated with his family to Pine Bluff , where he attended junior high and high school. Earning a bachelors d...
Where did he earn a bachelors degree in history?

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

...igh school. Earning a bachelors degree in history at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), Norful also prepared for the ministry by attendi...
In what state did Norful work as an educational director?

Arkansas

...ring a position at Evanston Township High School in Illinois. While in Arkansas , Norful served as educational director for the Pine Bluff Housing Auth...
Norful was a congressional aide for what congressional district?

Fourth Congressional District

...or the National Park Service, and congressional aide for the Fourth Congressional District . In Pine Bluff, Norful was also ordained a church elder and...
In what year did Bluff, Norful become a licensed minister?

1997

...ngressional aide for the Fourth Congressional District. In Pine Bluff, Norful was also ordained a church elder and became a licensed minister in 1997 ....