![]() Oh, oh, whatever you do, just don't quit. Even when the enemy says this is it, oh my brother, my sister, what ever do just don't quit. But even when things don't go my way, I've got to hold on to my faith. Oh, oh, oh, sometimes it seems so helpless, hopeless. I'm trying to make sense of my life, trying to overcome all that's not right. Every now and then oh, I got wonder if my own family is countering(ph). And my friendships sometime they wear a little thin. I've got my own set of challenges yes, yes. Oh, oh, oh, whatever you do just don't quit. Oh, if you hold on long enough he will see you through even when the enemy says this is it. Every now and then it seems so helpless, hopeless.īut I'm a living, breathing testimony of what God can do. Trying to make ends meet, trying to pull myself above so I can see. NORFUL: (Singing) The economy's down, and prices seem so fat. MARTIN: Speaking of coming a long way, why don't we hear something from the new disk? So I think we've very - we've come a long way, and people are more accepting of creativity. ![]() But I think that we have become a long way since Bebe and Cece started, you know, many, many years ago, introducing this nuance, you know. And I do concur that there is some backlash at times, you know, when you are presenting a style that's not the customary style of that individual that grew - that sect, whatever it is, you know, section of the gospel community. I don't think that we're necessarily completely over it, but the dynamic of my whole career has been that I have intentionally included some of everything musically, you know, the sound of everything to make sure that my ministry was able and my music was able to reach a broader audience. Has that happened to you, or are we over that? But a number of artists have told us that sometimes when they move from the traditional gospel sound, however that is defined - you know, the hand-clapping and the, you know, minimal musical accompaniment -they're criticized that you're straying from the core message. ![]() MARTIN: One thing I would say about that - and we've been fortunate to speak to a number of artists like Cece Winans, the Blind Boys of Alabama - and just to put in a little plug here, if you want to hear those interviews, you can find them on our Web site. The sound is whatever you desire out of this gospel message. I think at the core of it, you know, it just means that it's approachable. I've been called inspirational, urban inspirational, R&B, pop, gospel. That was a phrase that was coined when I first came into the market. NORFUL: You know, I'm still trying to figure that out. MARTIN: I've heard it described as urban inspirational. I know those are not sonic qualities, but they are the embodiment of what I would hope are the attributes of my sound. So, you know, sound, inspirational, encouraging, uplifting. But, you know, I know that there are certain influences that probably come out and come through in my music, you know, the Donny Hathaway, the Stevie Wonder, the Vanessa Bell Armstrongs, you know, the Tremaine Hawkins, even.Īnd so all of these have been great influences musically upon my career and my musicianship. NORFUL: I try not to describe the sound because I don't like to be confined to one area or another. MARTIN: How would you describe your sound? So I really wanted to capture the energy and the excitement of a live environment and be able to present that, you know, and present the music and ministry to the world in that way. I've never done a live one, and for me, it's like putting a fish back in water. And, of course, I'm very kindred to the live element in that whole dynamic. MARTIN: Why did you want to do a live album? It debuted at the top of Billboard's gospel chart, congratulations. MARTIN: And we have to say the CD is already a hit. SMOKIE NORFUL (Singer): Thank you for having me. Welcome, Smokie, thank you for joining us. He's currently on tour, promoting his latest CD, "Smokie Norful Live," and he joins us now for a performance and conversation right here in NPR Studio 4A. He's won a Grammy and also the top gospel honors, the Dove and Stellar awards, and he pastors a church, Victory Cathedral Worship Center. He stepped behind the pulpit and in front of the choir, preaching and singing his own songs of praise. When he grew up, Smokie Norful decided to live in both worlds. He is a preacher's son from Arkansas, and he spent his early years listening to the classic gospel stars like James Cleveland and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News.
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