Getting to know Smokey (through his music)

July 31, 2013

This was written while I was at church Wednesday, listening to Smokey Norful perform. I never heard of him until 4 years ago. I still had the pics in one of my yahoo groups.

In 2009, I went to see my husband, Joe Thomas, perform at FSO (For Sisters Only) in Atlanta. I saw some great artists: some I Knew. Some I did not know. Jazmine Sullivan, Deborah Cox, Terrance Howard. I also got free swag (T-shirts, CDs, Pictures, etc). I got a CD by Frank Ski. I did not pay it any attention at first. I put it aside with the rest of my cds and/or copied it to the mp3 player.  I admit I am not a big fan of gospel music. I know some songs, I know some artists, but mostly I am a fan of Christian Rock (Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Avalon, Jars of Clay, Casting Crowns, Petra, etc). Yeah I know, I have been called non-black for years LOL. I do love old Kirk Franklin (The family, Nu Nation, etc).

2009 was also the year I had my 2nd miscarriage. I was hurt. I was depressed. I was devastated for many reasons. I was lonely. I was tired of men. Sick of sex. I was done. I didn't blame God. I blamed myself. The miscarriage is what started me on my slowwwwwwwwww road to celibacy. I did not listen to the voice, in my head telling me to stop having sex, to stop watching porn, and to get rid of the toys, years before. I did not listen. I listened then.

One day, either I  was walking with either the CD or MP3 player and I need you now came on. It was what I needed then. It got me through my situation mentally. That song will always have special significance to me. I eventually moved through life, past the depression, even though remnants still pop up at times, 4 years later.

The day at FSO changed my life. I had a date with a platonic friend to FSO. We made plans in advance. He said he bought the tickets. The night before, another friend called (was platonic then, became sexual later). He wanted to take some pics (yeah those pics). He even gave me $40 or $50 dollars. I thought, hey well dude bought the tickets for FSO, the least I can do is buy some food or souvenirs. Now getting to and from My friend's house took 2 hours each way. I got back to Atlanta, headed to the convention center. Called the date. He did not answer. Ok, so I went to get a ticket. 15 dollars. good price to see Joe perform. Of course I had to suffer through Plies to get to Joe (to get a good seat). My husband performed from his New Man Cd. I Got footage, but the camera did not record sound. Yet, somehow in the midst, I grabbed this cd produced by Frank Ski. It it wasn't for Joe, I would have never met Smokey through the one song, I knew he sang for the longest. 

There was some other great artists on the cd: DMX doing poetry, Kirk Franklin, Eddie Long (doing a few mini sermons), and other artists, who I do not know who they are. but I need you now is still one of my favorite Gospel Songs.