![]() "Continuous Grace" is a smooth, soulful expression of gratitude to God. The tender and touching "Nothing Without You" was originally written by Smokie in the late '90s upon his and Carla's marriage, and first performed by Smokie at the couple's wedding reception, beautifully expressing the divine love of both a husband for his wife, and a man for his God. "In the Middle" is a God-to-man expression of His abiding presence in the lives of His children that rides atop a gentle acoustic guitar and percussion. "I Understand" opens with an easy pop/R&B groove, gradually building to a rousing choral Gospel crescendo. Then a little over a year later, Carla found out she was expecting again, and we had our son Ashton in early 2004, who inspired 'God Is Able.' He was another miracle in our lives." "My wife Carla and I had been told by the doctor that medical complications would prevent us from ever having children, and yet our son, Tre, was born during the sessions for the first album, and was the inspiration for 'I Need You Now.' He was our miracle child. "That is literally the continuation of the testimony of 'I Need You Now,'" says Smokie. ![]() The showcase ballad, "God Is Able," is an unforgettable anthem and affirmation of faith, eliciting a soul-stirring performance from Smokie that renders it a worthy successor to-and even extension of-"I Need You Now." "Worthy" puts a contemporary, melodic spin on rocking, Sunday-morning traditional Gospel, while "I Know the Lord Will Make A Way" delivers the Good News. "Can't Nobody" and "Power" are hooky, high-octane, horn-driven proclamations of encouragement drawn from trust in the pervasive power of the Almighty in every facet of His creation. I try to bring a very universal approach to what I do." I want to try to give something good and of God that crosses lines of race, and age, churched and un-churched, that lots of people can relate to, as well as be empowered and inspired by. I don't want to be limited to any one market or niche. At the same time, it's important to me to reach out beyond those walls. "The church has been and always will be my home base," Smokie says, "not just in terms of supporters, but in where I draw my own strength and spiritual renewal. But whatever the song, format or genre, his one-of-a-kind vocal prowess-from sweet and silky to edgy and urban-remains pure and unmistakably Smokie. Still at home musically in what he describes as an "urban/inspirational" pocket, Smokie stretches into some serious, good-time funk and r&b, stirring songs of praise and worship, pop balladry, and down-home blues. Writing or co-writing the majority of the album's 11 songs, and enlisting the production assistance of some of Gospel and R&B's biggest hit-makers-including jazz great, George Duke, Percy Bady, Tommy Sims, and Victor & Cedric Caldwell-Smokie fully delivers on the promise portended by I Need You Now, even surpassing that already landmark work. I believe that the same God that did all this on the first go-round can do it on the second go-round as well." It has been a pretty amazing couple of years, but I feel very much at peace. My goal has always just been to see people blessed by the music God gives me, and that's happened beyond anything I ever imagined. "You can chase after success and recognition all you want," says Smokie, "but the truth is that unless God ordains it, it really doesn't matter. And while Nothing Without You promises to only extend and expand his recognition even further, the ever-gracious, good-natured Smokie sees his meteoric rise to fame from a very humble and down-to-earth perspective. I Need You Now spent an impressive two years on the magazine's Gospel Top 40 chart, and the single of the same name is still perched in the Top 10 of the recurrent mainstream R&B chart. ![]() With I Need You Now, currently on top of the Billboard Gospel catalog chart and its follow-up EP, the No.1 Limited Edition, still on the Gospel Top 40 chart, Smokie is more than a success. And the tidal wave of critical and popular acclaim he has generated with his gold-selling debut album, I Need You Now, and its title song-which has become an almost instant classic-for-the-ages-continues unabated, even as EMI Gospel Music proudly announces the release of Smokie's highly anticipated new release, Nothing Without You. ![]() Smokie Norful has been one of popular music's great success stories of 2002. ![]() Smokie Norful Bibliography: (click on each album cover to view tracks and Smokie Norful lyrics) ![]()
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