Source: smokienorful.com
Smokie Norful catapulted on top of the gospel music scene over a decade ago, since then the 2 – time Grammy® award-winning recording artist has accomplished one feat after another. Today Smokie shows no sign of slowing down. The world-renowned vocalist, Pastor, educator and visionary now brings his music and ministry efforts towards global humanitarianism.
As an internationally known musician, composer, and singer, Norful’s 2002 debut release I NEED YOU NOW propelled him to worldwide recognition. Since that time he has found commercial success with three Number 1 Billboard Albums (I NEED YOU NOW, NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE) and over 2 million albums sold worldwide. Norful is a multiple RIAA certified platinum-selling artist and has been named Billboard’s “Gospel Artist of the Year” in 2003 and 2004. He is a multiple Stellar, Dove awards winner, has earned Grammy® Soul Train, NAACP Image award nominations. Norful received the Grammy Award in 2005 for Contemporary Soul Gospel Album of the Year for his chart topping CD NOTHING WITHOUT YOU. Again in 2015, Norful received his 2nd Grammy Award for Best Song/Performance of the Year for No Greater Love.
Norful has also contributed to five platinum selling compilations and has written songs for several major Gospel recording artists. His notable performances include appearances on The Trumpet Awards, Save Africa’s Children Event in Soweto, the BET Awards, the Stellar Awards, Soul Train, hosting and performing on the Dove Awards, the Parade of Stars, the Essence Music Festival, the New Orleans Jazz Festival and numerous other festivals, events, concert halls, and tours. He has starred on the Hopeville Tour along side Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin and will headline the McDonalds Inspiration Celebration tour this summer.
Norful is an educator at heart. Having received his degree in history from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Norful went on to teach for seven years. He attended both Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (in Evanston, IL) and Trinity International Seminary (in Deerfield, IL) and formerly served the board of Regents for Trinity International University.
Norful launched his church Victory Cathedral Worship Center in Bolingbrook, IL on September 20, 2005 where he serves as Senior Pastor. Since its launch, Norful and the Victory Cathedral Church Family have experienced an extraordinary and unprecedented growth in this community. He launched a second campus on the south side of Chicago in September 2008. The ministry has been focused on reaching the community and encouraging its members to live a life to be remembered through volunteerism, charity and philanthropy via their “Give Yourself Away” initiative.
Smokie’s proudest roles are that as a husband, father. He & his wife Carla are proud parents of Ashley, Tre and Ashton; they reside in suburban Chicago, IL.