The Clark Sisters

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The Clark Sisters

The Clark Sisters is a Grammy Award winning, American gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters: Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth member, Denise Clark Bradford, no longer performs with the group. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered as pioneers of contemporary gospel.

Despite the similarity in names, there is no connection with the famous jazz quartet of the 1940's and '50's, the "Clark Sisters", also known as "The Sentimentalists", when they recorded with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

Biography

The Clark Sisters were born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. They each began singing at an early age and by the late 1960s they were all performing together in church services, usually singing songs written and arranged by their mother. A few years later, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark turned over control of the group to Twinkie, who would then go on to write, arrange, conduct and produce all of the Clark Sisters recordings. In 1973, the sisters recorded their first album, Jesus Has A Lot to Give, on their uncle's local label Billmo Records.[1]

The following year, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Clark Sisters was released, and people around Detroit began to take notice of the group. The Clark Sisters signed to Sound of Gospel Records in 1974. Under this association, the group released albums such as Unworthy, Count It All Joy, and He Gave Me Nothing to Lose. It was not until the early 1980s that The Clark Sisters began to become the phenomenon that they are now. Their popularity soared with the release of the live recording Is My Living In Vain. The album topped the Bilboard gospel charts for more than a year and yielded now famous songs such as the title track and "Expect Your Miracle."

Their next release You Brought the Sunshine would prove to be a monster hit as the title track, reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's "Master Blaster (Jammin')," became a hit in church houses and on dance floors.[2] The song performed well on both gospel and R&B charts and drove the album to Gold sales. The sisters delivered another progressive effort in 1982, Sincerely, which included "Name It And Claim It" and the politically-charged "World." After this release, sister Denise left the group to become a minister and start a family.

After a four-year gap between releases, the sisters would continue as a foursome, signing with Rejoice Records, a division of Word. This new deal yielded the Grammy-nominated Heart & Soul (1986) featuring the mainstream single "Time Out." Next would appear another studio release Conqueror (1988) and the live album Bringing It Back Home (1991).

Following their last Word Records release, Twinkie resumed her calling as a minister and recorded the independent solo album Comin' Home in 1992. Jacky, Dorinda, and Karen stayed behind and performed as a trio, signing with Sparrow Records and delivering one album Miracle in 1994 produced largely by BeBe Winans. Later that year, their mother died of diabetes-related complications.[3] Forging on in the face of their great loss, Twinkie Clark re-appeared in 1996 with a pair of albums to her credit: the solo studio release The Masterpiece for Ben Tankard's Tribute Records label and the live project Twinkie Clark-Terrell presents FAMU Gospel Choir. The latter released on CD, VHS, & DVD featured The Clark Sisters on a showstopping remake of their own hit "Nothing To Lose."

Karen delivered her much-anticipated solo debut Finally Karen in 1997. The album, featuring star turns from The Clark Sisters, Faith Evans, and daughter Kierra Sheard, was nominated for a Grammy in addition to winning a Soul Train Lady of Soul award. She has since released three more solo albums: 2nd Chance, The Heavens Are Telling, and It's Not Over. Dorinda and Jacky released their first solo efforts, Dorinda Clark Cole and Expectancy, respectively in 2002 and 2005. The Clark Sisters have all contributed in various capacities to each other's albums, whether they sang or wrote lyrics.

More recently, The Clark Sisters did a live recording on July 8, 2006 in Houston, Texas entitled One Last Time. The recording was directed and produced by Donald Lawrence and was released as a CD on April 10, 2007[4] on EMI Gospel, followed by a CD/DVD Special Edition release June 19, 2007.

The Clark Sisters will embark on a 25-city Concert Tour beginning on October 4, 2007. The tour will begin in Nashville, Tennessee and will visit cities such as New York, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Baltimore. [5]

Following the group's resurgence in popularity, Rhino Entertainment is releasing a greatest-hits collection sampling recordings from no less than 3 albums recorded for Word Records from the mid 80's through the early 90's, including the Grammy-nominated Heart & Soul. The album Encore: The Best of The Clark Sisters is scheduled to release February 12, 2008.[6][7]

Though The Clark Sisters have been thrice nominated previously for the Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy with 1983's Sincerely, 1986's Heart & Soul, and 1988's Conqueror without a win,[8] the group has netted several nominations in multiple categories this year. Live... One More Time is nominated this year for Best Traditional Gospel Album. The album track "Blessed & Highly Favored" is nominated for Best Gospel Performance. As songwriter, Karen Clark Sheard is also nominated for Best Gospel Song for "Blessed & Highly Favored."[9] On February 10th, 2008, The Clark Sisters won those awards taking away 3 Grammy's at the 50th ceremony.[10] Additionally, this 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to feature a gospel segment with Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Israel & New Breed, Trin-i-tee 5:7, The Madison Bumblebees, and The Clark Sisters. The ceremony will be broadcast on February 10th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.[11]

"The Clark Sound"

The Clark Sisters are renowned for their unique vocal stylings, dubbed as "The Clark Sound". They incorporate high and fast melismas, acrobatic trills and riffs, and deep, soulful growls, or "squalls". The sisters are also well known for each distinctive sound that they contribute. Jacky (alto/tenor) is known for her soft, deeper vocals. Dorinda (alto), the "jazzy" sister, inputs scats and riffs. Karen (soprano) is known for her riffs, runs and very high vocal range, and has also been known to implement an "echo" in her live performances. Twinkie (bass,alto,tenor and soprano) is credited with being the "heart of the Clark Sisters", due to being the chief songwriter, music and vocal arranger, producer and also possessing a range from soprano to low contralto and even bass.

There is no set lead singer for the Clark Sisters, as they trade off singing lead from song to song. Jacky sings lead on songs such as "Wonderful Counselor," "I've Got An Angel," and "So Much Joy." Dorinda sings lead on "Overdose of the Holy Ghost," "Time Out" and "My Redeemer Liveth." Twinkie sings lead on "Pray for the U.S.A.," and their biggest hit "You Brought the Sunshine." Karen sings lead on "Hallelujah," "Endow Me," and one of their new singles "Blessed and Highly Favored."

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Is My Living In Vain" (Sound of Gospel, 1980)
  • "You Brought The Sunshine " (Westbound/Elektra, 1983)
  • "Time Out" (Rejoice/Word/A&M, 1986)
  • "Blessed & Highly Favored" (EMI Gospel, 2007)
  • "Livin'" (EMI Gospel, 2007)

Other Appearances

  • "Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates" - Commissioned & The Clark Sisters (from Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration) (Reprise, 1992)
  • "Nothing To Lose" - Florida A&M University Gospel Choir featuring The Clark Sisters (Crystal Rose, 1996)
  • "Jesus Is A Love Song" - Karen Clark-Sheard featuring The Clark Sisters (from Finally Karen) (Island, 1997)
  • "Pure Gold" - Karen Clark-Sheard featuring The Clark Sisters (from Finally Karen... Live! - VHS Only) (Island/Polygram Video, 1997)
  • "Show Me The Way" - Dorinda Clark-Cole featuring The Clark Sisters (from Dorinda Clark-Cole) (Gospocentric, 2002)
  • "You Brought The Sunshine" - Kelly Price feat. The Clark Sisters (Def Soul, 2003)
  • "I'm Not Perfect" - Missy Elliott feat. The Clark Sisters (from This Is Not A Test) (Elektra, 2003)
  • "I Made It" - Twinkie Clark featuring The Clark Sisters (from Home Once Again) (Verity, 2004)
  • "Blessing Me" - Jacky Clark-Chisholm featuring The Clark Sisters (from Expectancy) (Entheos, 2005)

Trivia

  • The Clark Sisters' biggest hit "You Brought The Sunshine" was picked up from its original independent gospel record label Sounds of Gospel and distributed by both Westbound Records and Elektra Records and in 1983 peaked at #16 on the Black Singles chart, #27 on the Club Play Charts, and #80 on the Hot R&B Charts.[12]
  • One of the Clarks' signature songs "Is My Living In Vain" was remade by R&B quartet Xscape as well as gospel quintet Zie'l.
  • An early Clark favorite "Endow Me" from their chart topping album You Brought The Sunshine was remade by Coko featuring Faith Evans, Fantasia Barrino, and Lil' Mo on her 2006 gospel debut.
  • "You Brought The Sunshine" has been covered several times by artists such as Al Green and Kelly Price.

References

  1. ^ "The Clark Sisters Biography". JLEntertainment.com.
  2. ^ J. Matthew Cobb (August 31, 2007). "80's Countdown". PraiseHymnOnline.com.
  3. ^ "The Clark Sisters Tribute". GospelFlava.com.
  4. ^ http://theclarksisters.com/whatsnew.htm
  5. ^ Gospel Music - The Clark Sisters Concert Tour - Entertain Your Belief
  6. ^ NuthinButGospel.com New Releases 2008
  7. ^ Encore: The Best of The Clark Sisters on Amazon.com
  8. ^ "Awards Database". The Envelope.
  9. ^ "50th Annual Grammy Awards Nomination List". Grammy.org.
  10. ^ "50th Annual Grammy Awards Nomination List". Grammy.org.
  11. ^ Mariel Concepcion (January 24, 2008). "Beyonce, Rihanna, Underwood Performing At Grammys". Billboard.com.
  12. ^ "The Clark Sisters Chart History". All Music Guide.

External links

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