Celebrating Black Music Month…..This one of the most influential groups of our time..They set the standard for music ministry beginning with their mother Dr Mattie Moss-Clark….With a Inspirational Classic….The Clark Sisters with “Is My Living In Vain”….Check out their Bio below:
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 Billesse 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 first live recording by The Clark Sisters spent an entire year at number one on Billboard’s Gospel Music chart. Opening with the bluesy title track, each sister vocally declares that their dedication to Christ is not a useless effort. The innovative “Haya” was funky enough to find its way into a Tonex produced track over two decades later. Songs such as “Pure Gold” and “They Were Overcome” were derived straight from the word of God. Deep faith is roused by Karen Clark’s positively possessed lead on “Speak Lord” while the call to worship is raised on the emphatically delivered “Now Is The Time”. Another hit from this release “Expect Your Miracle” is still a staple on Sunday mornings in black churches across the country.[2]
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.[3] “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[4] driving the album to Gold sales.The classic ‘80s release from The Clark Sisters features the title track that secured their bonafide hit on the Gospel charts while establishing their controversial crossover appeal into secular music genres. This album continues to display Twinkie’s signature blend of scripture with unprecedented vocal and musical arrangements on biblically based songs like “Psalms 31.” Nostalgic Clark fans find their favorites like the sincere prayer found within the lyrics of both “Center of Thy Will” and “Endow Me,” featuring a young but still vocally mature Karen, and also the simply sassy “Overdose of the Holy Ghost” where Dorinda’s alarming similarity to her mother’s vocal dexterity is evident. The discothèque-inspired “He Keeps Me Company,” complete with its bubbly syncopation, is sure to encourage listeners everywhere during even the loneliest of moments as we continue to fight the good fight of faith.[5] The sisters delivered another progressive effort in 1982, Sincerely, which included “Name It And Claim It” and the politically-charged “World.” The only problem is that its success was overshadowed by the prepotency of the previously released block buster hit “You Brought The Sunshine”, but that did not stop this from receiving a Grammy nomination.[6]
After a four-year gap between releases, the sisters would continue as a fivesome, signing with Rejoice Records, a division of Word. This new deal yielded the Grammy-nominated Heart & Soul (1986) featuring the mainstream single “Time Out.”. This project made an impressive top 5 debut on Billboard’s Gospel Charts and garnered the group a coveted Dove Award. Featuring the original versions of “Jesus Is A Love Song”, “Balm in Gilead” and the prophetic “Pray for the USA”, which has been re-recorded several times. The harmonies and musicianship present us the maturing and seamless sound of The Clark Sisters that we have grown to love. The music takes on a more contemporary sound with programmed drums and synthesizers, but the vocals remain true to form. Also included on this hard to find classic is “Smile, God Loves You,” “Time Out” “I Am Blessed” and the funky “He’ll Turn Your Scars Into Stars.”[7]
