Gospel singer Smokie Norful brings joy and comfort with CD 'I Need You Now'

Jet, August 4, 2003

New contemporary gospel singer Smokie Norful celebrates the power of the Lord with his Stellar Award-winning debut CD I Need You Now.

"Music is a power ... it's a force," he says. "The Lord is the ultimate source of that power and He has no limitations or boundaries. If you tap into that source, people can't help but take notice, whether they realize it or not. I try to write and perform songs that come out of my personal experience; when I do that, it seems to reach the heart of people."

The title track the hit single I Need You Now, is touching the hearts and soothing the stalls of listeners.

"I wrote that at a time when my wife, my father 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."

Among the other inspiring gems on the CD are the worship melody, The Least I Can Do, Psalm 64, Praise Him and his latest hit single Still Say, Thank You. "Whether we're up or down, we have to tell the Lord thank you," he says. "And if we do, we find that in that faith, bigger trials will bring bigger blessings."

A major new voice in gospel, he won three Stellar Awards earlier this year--New Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year.

Smokie, 28, was raised until his early teens in Muskogee, OK, and graduated with a bachelor's in history from the University of Arkansas. Before his hit record took off, he taught history full-time at Evanston High School, near Chicago.

Reflecting on his mission in gospel, he notes: "My greatest goal is to please God in all I do ... my life, my music, my ministry. The only way to do that is to be a servant. My service at this point is uplifting and encouraging others with the gifts that God has given me."