The Clark Sisters
Best known for their 1983 pioneering cross-over hit, “You Brought The Sunshine,” The Grammy Award-winning Clark Sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark Cole, Karen Clark Sheard, songwriter/producer Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark and Denise Clark Bradford is one of the best selling female Gospel groups of our time. Following in the footsteps of The Caravans decades before, The Clark Sisters’ distinct familial vocals, tight harmonies, signature runs with Jazz, R&B and Blues infusions have influenced a generation of female singers from Faith Evans to Fantasia Barrino.
Their mother Mattie Moss Clark formed the group in the 1960s when they were just girls. They began creating a stir in their hometown of Detroit and signed their first deal with a local label in the early 1970s. However, they didn’t become the famed “Clark Sisters” until the 1980s. That’s when they started churning out hits (mostly written by Twinkie) they churned out cutting edge Christian themed hits in the 80s and blazed a trail as trendsetting pioneers in Contemporary Gospel Music, helping to move it closer into the mainstream.
Their music was a constant atop the Billboard Gospel charts throughout the 1980s. Among their hits were, “Endow Me,” “Is My Living In Vain?” “Hallelujah,” “Pure Gold, “Jesus Is A Love Song” and “Expect A Miracle.” And their biggest hit, the danceable “You Brought The Sunshine” (Sound Of Gospel Records) became s huge that you could turn on any number of Gospel and R&B stations and hear DJs jamming it. It charted on the Billboard Gospel Black Singles and Club charts. Churches were singing it at service and the clubs were rocking it on the dance floor.
One of their career highlights was performing at the 1983 Grammy Awards. Their mother joined them. She was later chastised by her denomination, The Church Of God In Christ, and ordered not to perform with The Clark Sisters again.
By 1986 Denise had left the group and remaining members Dorinda, Karen, Twinkie and Jacky continued to record. The Clark Sisters’ hit albums as a foursome include Heart & Soul, Conqueror, the live album Bringing It Back Home and Miracle. In 1990s they started solo careers. However, Dorinda and Karen have enjoyed the most commercial success.
Although, today they are still enjoying solo careers, the sisters reunited in 2006 to record the Donald Lawrence produced Grammy-winning Live”One Last Time (EMI Gospel) featuring hit, “Blessed and Highly Favored.”
