(May 29, 2016) Gospel crooner Smokie Norful and his piano entered into the public’s consciousness in 2002 with the plea to God for divine guidance and help – “I Need You Now.” That tune became a favorite for gospel singers to perform live because it combined the intimacy and vulnerability of the best secular love songs with lyrics that spoke about the absolute necessity of having God in our lives in times of need.
(May 29, 2016) Gospel crooner Smokie Norful and his piano entered into the public’s consciousness in 2002 with the plea to God for divine guidance and help – “I Need You Now.” That tune became a favorite for gospel singers to perform live because it combined the intimacy and vulnerability of the best secular love songs with lyrics that spoke about the absolute necessity of having God in our lives in times of need.
Norful continued to pen tunes that were personal, intimate confessionals and that cried out to be performed live. In recent years, secular artists such as Gregory Porter, Jose James and Emily King recorded versions of some of their biggest hits in a very intimate space – the Red Room, which is a small studio in New York where the One Mic One Take performances are recorded and often uploaded to YouTube. There is no place to hide in such a small space and with minimal accompaniment. If you ain’t got it, you won’t be able to hide in the Red Room. Smokie Norful has it, and he and his piano put in on full display in this One Mic One-One Take performance of “Forever Yours,” the SoulTracks Live Performance of the Week.
By Howard Dukes
Smokie Norful – “Forever Yours”