William Ray Norful, Jr.

William Ray Norful, Jr. net worth is $3 Million. Also know about William Ray Norful, Jr. bio, salary, height, age weight, relationship and more …

William Ray Norful, Jr. Wiki Biography

William Ray Norful, Jr. was born on the 31st October 1975, in Muskogee, Oklahoma USA, and is a gospel musician and pianist, and is two-time Grammy winner. Norful has been active in the entertainment industry since 2002.

How much is the net worth of Smokie Norful? It has been estimated by authoritative sources that the outright size of his wealth is as much as $3 million, as of the data presented in early 2017. Music is the main source of Norful’s modest fortune.

To begin with, Smokie grew up in Muskogee, the son of a clergyman of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He came early to the church gospel, and sang from the age of four in the church community. At the age of ten, he made recordings for a regionally released album. Instead of music, he decided to study history at the University of Arkansas, and thus became a history teacher, but after four years in this profession, he moved to Chicago in 1998 and subsequently graduated from the Garrett Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. He stayed in Chicago and became a helper in the Rock of Ages Baptist Church, and was also active in various choirs; at the Thompson Community Choir, he appeared as a guest artist on an album recording.

In 2003, Norful released his first studio album “I Need You Now”, which immediately made it to the first position of the Gospel charts, and also into the official Billboard 200; the title song made it into the Hot 100 single charts. He was then signed to EMI and released a live EP in 2003, which also reached first place on the Gospel charts. Just a year later, the second album entitled “Nothing Without You” reached the top of the gospel charts like the debut album, and stayed in this chart for two years and was finally rewarded with gold certificate for half a million copies sold. He also received the award in the Best Pop / Contemporary Gospel Album category at the Grammy Awards 2005. Afterwards, Smokie released his third studio album, “Life Changing” in 2006, and the album “Smokie Norful Live” in 2009, neither of the two albums being as successful of the first two, but still adding to his net worth.

In 2010, Smokie released three preaching albums “Worship & Word”, which, in addition to a long sermon, contained a song, and were also quite successful. The same year, an album with the Victory Cathedral Choir was also released by Smokie, recorded live at the Sunday Baptist Church in Chicago. This was followed by “How I Got Over… Songs That Carried Us” (2011), an album with many guest singers, including his father. The following album, “Once in a Lifetime” (2012) continued his success, and with the album “Forever Yours”, he returned to the Top 100 of the official album charts in 2014. The song “No Greater Love”, which he had written himself with Aaron W. Lindsey, brought him his second Grammy Award for the Best Gospel Song in 2015.

Finally, in the personal life of Smokie Norful, he is married to Carla and they have two sons and a daughter. The family resides in Naperville, Illinois.

IMDB Wikipedia $3 Million 1973 2005 2007 2009 Aaron W. Lindsey Ashley Norful Ashton Norful BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Artist Carla Norful Entrepreneur Forever Yours (2014) Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston GMA Dove Award (2015) Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (2005) Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song (2015) Grammy Awards How I Got Over…Songs That Carried Us (2011) I Need You Now (2002) Illinois Jack Robey Junior High Jr. Life Changing (2006) music composer Musician Muskogee Norful Nothing Without You (2004) October 31 Oklahoma Once in a Lifetime (2012) Pastor Pianist Pine Bluff Pine Bluff High School Recording Artist Rev. W.R. “Smokie” Norful Singer Singers Smokey Norful Smokie Smokie Norful Smokie Norful Live (2009) Smokie Norful Net Worth Songwriter Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Song Tré Norful Trinity International Seminary in Deerfield United States United States of America University of Arkansas Vocalist/Singer Willie Ray Norful WOW Gospel (Music/Concert film WOW Gospel #1s (2007)

William Ray Norful, Jr. Quick Info

Full Name Smokie Norful
Net Worth $3 Million
Date Of Birth October 31, 1975
Place Of Birth Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States
Profession Vocalist/Singer, musician, music composer, recording artist, songwriter, pastor, entrepreneur
Education Jack Robey Junior High, Pine Bluff High School, University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, Trinity International Seminary in Deerfield
Nationality American
Spouse Carla Norful
Children Ashton Norful, Tré Norful, Ashley Norful
Nicknames Norful, Smokie , Willie Ray Norful, Jr. , Rev. W.R. “Smokie” Norful, Jr. , Smokey Norful
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/officialsmokienorful
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/smokienorful
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/smokienorful
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1356054
Allmusic www.allmusic.com/artist/smokie-norful-mn0000026952
Awards Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song (2015), Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album (2005)
Albums I Need You Now (2002), Nothing Without You (2004), Life Changing (2006), Smokie Norful Live (2009), How I Got Over…Songs That Carried Us (2011), Once in a Lifetime (2012), Forever Yours (2014)
Nominations Grammy Awards, BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Artist, Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Song, GMA Dove Award (2015)
Movies WOW Gospel #1s (2007), WOW Gospel (Music/Concert film, 2005, 2007, 2009)

William Ray Norful, Jr. Important Facts

  • Has two sons Tre and Ashton.

William Ray Norful, Jr. Filmography

Title Year Status Character Role
Freedom 2014/II writer: “I Need You Now” Soundtrack
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards 2014 TV Special performer: “I Need You Now”, “Stand” / writer: “I Need You Now” Soundtrack
So You Think You Can Dance Canada 2011 TV Series performer – 1 episode Soundtrack
Whatcha Cookin’ 2013 TV Series Bug Actor
Introducing Darrel Petties & Strength in Praise 2005 Video short Presenter Actor
Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story 2013 Documentary singer Music Department
Introducing Darrel Petties & Strength in Praise 2005 Video short executive producer Producer
Praise the Lord 2007-2015 TV Series Himself / Himself – Host / Performer / … Self
The 365Black Awards 2015 TV Movie Himself – Performer Self
22nd Annual Trumpet Awards 2014 TV Special Himself Self
Smokie Norful: Live in Memphis 2009 Video Himself Self
Can You Hear Me Now: The Evolution of Gospel Music 2008 TV Movie documentary Self
Nothing Without You 2005 Video Himself Self
2005 Trumpet Awards 2005 TV Special Himself Self
Soul Train 2003-2005 TV Series Himself – Guest / Himself Self
Look Up Sing Out… Power 2005 Video Himself Self
4th Annual BET Awards 2004 TV Special Himself Self
35th Annual GMA Music Awards 2004 TV Special Himself Self
An Evening of Stars: 25th Anniversary Tribute to Lou Rawls 2004 TV Movie Himself Self
Celebration of Gospel 2003 TV Movie Himself Self
The 18th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Preshow 2003 TV Special Himself Self