The Full Wiki

More info on The Clark Sisters

The Clark Sisters: Map
  
  
  

Wikipedia article:

Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article:


The Clark Sisters are an Americanmarker gospel vocal group consisting of four sisters: Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark-Terrell, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. A fifth sister, 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. The Clark Sisters have won three Grammy Awards. Despite similarity in names, there is no connection with the 1940s/1950's jazz quartet "The Original Clark Sisters" (also known as The Sentimentalists when they recorded with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra).

History

The early years

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.

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 Billboard 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, including New York's fabulous Studio 54. "Sunshine" was picked up from its original independent gospel record label Sounds of Gospel and distributed by both Westbound Records and Elektra Records. In 1983, the song peaked at #16 on the Black Singles chart, #27 on the Club Play Charts, and #80 on the Hot R&B Charts driving 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 (1989).

Emerging solo artists

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. 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 released her first solo album, Dorinda Clark-Cole in 2002, earning her two Stellar awards, and a Soul Train Lady of Soul award. Dorinda has since released two more solo albums: Live in Houston and the most current release Take It Back, each of which have earned Dorinda the award for Female Vocalist of the Year at the annual Gospel Event, The Stellar Awards. Jacky released her first solo effort, Expectancy respectively in 2005 which features The Clark Sisters on the soul-stirring track "Blessing Me." The Clark Sisters have all contributed in various capacities to each other's albums, whether they sang or wrote lyrics.

The sisters' reunion

More recently, The Clark Sisters did a live recording on July 8, 2006 in Houston, Texasmarker entitled Live... One Last Time. The recording was directed and produced by Donald Lawrence and was released as a CD on April 10, 2007 on EMI Gospel, followed by a CD/DVD Special Edition release June 19, 2007. In support of the reunion album, The Clark Sisters embarked on a 25-city Concert Tour beginning October 4, 2007. The tour began in Nashvillemarker, Tennesseemarker and visited cities such as New Yorkmarker, Atlantamarker, Las Vegasmarker, and Baltimoremarker.

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 was released February 12, 2008.

Clark sister Dorinda mentioned during an acceptance speech at the 2008 Stellar Awards that due to the overwhelming response to Live... One Last Time, the group may soon record again.

Pastor J. Drew Sheard, (Karen's husband) hinted at the sisters' Grammy Celebration on talks of a new album, that would be aptly titled, The Clark Sisters..."Back By Popular Demand!"

Gospel Grammy awards sweep

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, the group won three Grammys in 2008. Live - One Last Time won the Best Traditional Gospel Album. Its album track "Blessed & Highly Favored" won the Best Gospel Performance. As songwriter of "Blessed & Highly Favored," Karen Clark Sheard won the individual Best Gospel Song.

Additionally, at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony featuring a gospel segment with Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Israel & New Breed, and Trin-i-tee 5:7, The Clark Sisters performed a snippet of their signature "You Brought The Sunshine" when the ceremony was broadcast on February 10 at the Staples Centermarker in Los Angeles, CAmarker.The Clark Sisters recorded a Christmas Cd followed special appearances with Karen's daughter Kierra Sheard and there cousins Bill Moss Jr. and James Moss known as J Moss and produced by J Drew Sheard

"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 (alto/tenor/soprano) is credited with being the "heart of the Clark Sisters." Early in the group's development, Twinkie was the chief songwriter, music and vocal arranger, producer and also possessing a wide vocal range from soprano to contralto.

There is no single lead vocalist in the group. Jacky leads songs such as "Wonderful Counselor," "I've Got An Angel," and "So Much Joy." Dorinda leads "Overdose of the Holy Ghost," "Time Out" and "My Redeemer Liveth." Karen sings lead on "Hallelujah," "Endow Me," and the Grammy-winning "Blessed and Highly Favored." Twinkie leads on "Pray for the USA," "I've Got The Victory", and their biggest hit "You Brought The Sunshine." Denise Leads On Songs Something Worth Liveing For,Count It All Joy And Christ Is Born Today."

The Clark Sisters are the largest selling female gospel group of all time having sold millions of albums and have paved the way for the contemporary genre of gospel music.

Discography

Albums

  • 1973: Jesus Has a Lot to Give
  • 1974: Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents the Clark Sisters
  • 1976: Unworthy
  • 1978: Count It All Joy
  • 1978: New Dimensions of Christmas Carols
  • 1979: He Gave Me Nothing to Lose (But All to Gain)
  • 1980: Is My Living in Vain #1 (US Gospel)
  • 1981: You Brought the Sunshine
  • 1982: Sincerely
  • 1986: Best
  • 1986: Heart and Soul #4 (US Gospel)
  • 1988: Conqueror #7 (US Gospel), #29 (US Contemporary Christian)
  • 1989: Bringing It Back Home #13 (US Gospel)
  • 1994: Miracle #8 (US Gospel)
  • 2007: Live - One Last Time #1 (US Gospel), #56 (US Billboard 200)
  • 2008: Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters
  • 2008: The Clark Sisters Definitive Gospel Collection
  • 2009: A Clark Family Christmas


Singles

  • 1978: "A Praying Spirit"
  • 1980: "Is My Living in Vain"
  • 1980: "Ha Ya(Eternal Life)"
  • 1980: "Expect A Miracle"
  • 1982: "Name It Clam It"
  • 1982: "World"
  • 1983: "You Brought the Sunshine" (#80 US R&B)
  • 1986: "Time Out (Remix)" (#43 Dance/Club Play Songs)
  • 1988: "More Then A Conqueror"
  • 2007: "Blessed & Highly Favored" (#1 US Gospel)
  • 2007: "Livin'" (#2 US Gospel), (#117 US R&B)
  • 2007: "Something New"
  • 2008: "Looking to Get There (Heaven)"


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)
  • "Higher Ground" - Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters (from Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration) (EMI Gospel/Vector Recordings, 2009)
  • "I Wanna Thank You"- The Clark Sisters, Kierra Sheard, and J Moss(from "Silky Soul Music... an All-star Tribute to Maze feat. Frankie Beverly) (Brantera Music Group, 2009)


Covers



References

  1. http://theclarksisters.com/whatsnew.htm
  2. The Clark Sisters Concert Tour GospelCity.com.
  3. NuthinButGospel.com New Releases 2008
  4. Encore: The Best of The Clark Sisters on Amazon.com


External links




Embed code:






Got something to say? Make a comment.
Your name
Your email address
Message