| Smokie Norful LIVE In Stores April 7 |
| Music - Gospel |
 April 6, 2009-New York, NY - Multiple award-winning artist Smokie Norful will release SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE, his fourth CD offering, in stores on April 7, 2009. The 10-track project was recorded live at The Cannon Center in Memphis and includes guest performances by Tony Award® winning artist, Heather Headley and Stellar Award winner Tye Tribbett. Produced by Norful and Jason Tyson, SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE is steeped with the energy that was generated from the enthusiastic sold out audience in attendance at the live recording where Norful displayed his talents as a prolific singer and songwriter. Released on EMI Gospel/TréMyles Music, the CD is the first project released through a new agreement between the Christian music label and Norful's newly-established TréMyles Music-a label, production and publishing company based in Naperville, Illinois."Justified," the hit lead single release from SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE is already in the Top 15 on the R&R Gospel chart after only five weeks, making it the fastest growing single this year. Coupled with "Jesus Is Love," his hit duet with Heather Headley, Norful commands over seven million in listening audience. The re-make ranks at #13 with a bullet at Gospel, jumps to #22 Urban AC and #6 most increased audience this week. Norful teamed up with Headley to re-record the gospel classic written and produced by Lionel Richie, showcasing the incredible vocal talents of both artists. Commenting on the popularity of the single, Alvin Stowe, Program Director at WQMZ-FM/WPZS-FM in Charlotte notes, "My colleagues and I agree this rendition of 'Jesus Is Love' is as good, if not better than the original." Norful's promotional tour scheduled this month will include stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, DC (see tour dates below). Pre-promotional activities for the CD kicked-off in his hometown of Chicago on Sunday, April 5 with two special worship services at both locations of Victory Cathedral Worship Center-where Pastor Norful led the service and performed selections from the new CD. On Tuesday, April 7, Norful will partake in "The Experience," a special event celebrating the release of the new CD to include an interview, CD signing and performance to be held at the famed DuSable Museum of African American History. The special evening will include the preacher's kid tracing his steps from childhood to college, to the music world including the award-winning #1 hit, "I Need You Now" and the new single, "Justified," to the establishment of his ministry and church. Norful's schedule in each market is chock-full with visits planned at radio, television and other key visits. Some of the activities confirmed include an interview and performance at Sirius Satellite Radio's New York City studios, interviews on the "Keepin' It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton" Radio Show, KISS-FM's "The Wake-Up Club," WLIB-AM, "CoCo Brother Show," V-103, "The Tavis Smiley Show," WHUR-FM, BBC Radio, WDAS-FM, "The Warren Ballentine Show," a performance and interview at the National Public Radio (NPR) studios in Washington, DC with "Tell Me More" show host Michel Martin, as well as performances on local morning television in Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Atlanta. During his stops at various media outlets, Norful will be presenting special "LIFE PACK" gift bags to include the new CD, an audio copy of one of Pastor Norful's Sunday sermons, a bookmark, bible, and specially-created greeting cards featuring a selection of Norful's song titles and scripture. Internet marketing activities are also lined up in support of SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE to help his fans engage via the online community. A new MySpace page has been created (www.myspace.com/smokienorful) which will include Norful's music videos, behind the scenes footage shot at the live recording in Memphis, current tour dates, blogs and links to e-commerce music websites. An official YouTube page has also been initiated (www.YouTube.com/smokienorful) that will include official music videos for the new singles, "Justified" and "Jesus Is Love," as well as behind the scenes footage. A Widget (http://widget.nabbr.com/smokie_norful.html) is also now available as a one-stop online tool to access all types of promotional materials on Norful. Fans can log on to various sites beginning today, Monday, April 6, 2009 to listen to the entire CD including BET.com, Amazon.com, and GospelFlava.com. Smokie Norful-husband, father, pastor and recording artist-continues to solidify his place in today's continually changing gospel music landscape with the release of SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE. We all can learn a life lesson during today's challenging times from how Norful prophetically describes his own circumstance. "If I start to look at the condition of the circumstances-how busy I am and how much I have on my plate-that's when I will start to sink. But I don't look at it. I continue to do what God has called me to do and trust that He's going to give me strength and provision to be able to accomplish it." |
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