GRAMMY® Award winning artist Smokie Norful's new CD release SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart this week-his second #1 CD debut and third #1 record.  Released in stores on April 7, the multiple-award winning artists' fourth CD offering is also riding high on other charts─debuting at #5 on the Billboard R&B Album Chart (highest ever entry), returning to the #1 position (his first ever #1) on iTunes Christian Gospel Album Chart, and the album is Norful's highest debut to date on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart ranking at #55.  The project's lead single, "Justified" continues to grow at Urban Gospel radio, coming in this week at #14 with a bullet on R&R.

 Recorded live in front of a standing room audience at The Cannon Center in Memphis, the 10-track CD was produced by Norful and Jason Tyson, and includes guest performances by Tony Award® winning artist, Heather Headley and Stellar Award winner Tye Tribbett.  Released on TréMyles Music/EMI Gospel, 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 based in Naperville, Illinois.

"Smokie's hard work, talent and commitment to the ministry shine through on his new album," states Ken Pennell, President of EMI Gospel about SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE.  "We could not have asked for a better project to launch our new, joint venture with him."
 
In a recent "Critics' Choice" lead review of SMOKIE NORFUL LIVE, THE NEW YORK TIMES music critic Ben Ratliff writes: "[Mr. Norful], a smooth but powerful singer in the Donny Hathaway mold is the pastor of a church outside Chicago...Gospel may be the last remaining pop genre in which live albums make sense and mean something, because it operates on a built-in context of real time. Even a slick concert recording like this one refers to the tension-and-release patterns of a church service, and the vamps, transitions and intermittent sermons are part of its strength...The ballad "Dear God," with Mr. Norful singing and playing piano, accompanied at first only by strings and chorus, moves into flyaway magic."
 
Cory "Coco Brother" Condrey, host of "The Coco Brother Show," who recently interviewed Norful on his Atlanta-based, nationally-syndicated radio program offered his well wishes, "Congratulations to Pastor Smokie Norful on his debut at #1 and powerful single, 'Justified!'  We had Pastor help us launch our new syndicated show 'Coco Brother Live,' now syndicated in (16) national markets daily.  I always enjoy interviewing people who have content and great things to say.  Smokie's interview was powerful and captured people.  He's not just an artist...He's a man of GOD!"