Twinkie Clark
Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark | |
---|---|
Birth name | Elbernita Clark |
Born | [1] | November 15, 1954
Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Genres | Gospel |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, organist, pianist |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, organ, piano |
Years active | 1966–present |
Labels | Sound of Gospel, Tyscot, Crystal Rose, Tribute, Verity, EMI Gospel |
Website | www |
Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark-Terrell (born November 15, 1954) is an American gospel singer, composer, musician, and evangelist, as well as member of the Hammond organ Hall of Fame.[2] She is a member of The Clark Sisters, an influential gospel vocal ensemble active since the late 1960s.
Biography
The Clark Sisters
Clark is the leader of the gospel group the Clark Sisters, which included Gospel musicians such as Karen Clark-Sheard, Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole and Jacky Clark-Chisholm. She wrote much of the music for the group. The group is mostly known for their hit singles, "You Brought the Sunshine" and "Is My Living In Vain". In 2016 the group was honored at the Essence festival.[citation needed]
Solo career
Since leaving The Clark Sisters she has recorded several solo albums intermittently including Comin' Home, Masterpiece ( Produced by top gospel/jazz artist and musician, Ben Tankard. In 2002, she recorded her first live solo album Live in Charlotte.[3] Twinkie's son John Terrell raps on the album. Its success warranted another live effort, the Asaph Ward-produced Home Once Again: Live in Detroit, two years later. She also released a collaboration project with the Florida A&M University Gospel Choir called Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents the Florida A&M University Gospel Choir which also was a mainstay in the Billboard Gospel top 10 in late 1996.
Musical influence
Clark's influences include jazz, reggae, classical, funk and blues. This is evidenced by listening to her first two solo albums Praise Belongs to God and Ye Shall Receive Power recorded for Sound of Gospel Records while still with The Clark Sisters.
Twinkie Clark is a Stevie Wonder fan, and hopes to one day do a duet with him.[1]
Discography
- Praise Belongs To God (Sound of Gospel, 1979)
- Ye Shall Receive Power (Sound of Gospel, 1981)
- Comin' Home (Tyscot, 1992) (No. 40 US Gospel)
- Masterpiece (Tribute/Verity, 1996) (No. 19 US Gospel)
- Twinkie Clark-Terrell presents FAMU Gospel Choir (Crystal Rose, 1996) (No. 10 US Gospel)
- Twinkie Clark and Friends: Live In Charlotte N.C. (Verity, 2002) (No. 10 US Gospel)
- Home Once Again: Live In Detroit (Verity, 2004) (No. 66 US R&B/Hip-Hop) (No. 9 US Gospel)
- Praise & Worship (Verity/Legacy, 2006) (Compilation)
- With Humility (Larry Clark Gospel, 2011) (No. 14 US Gospel)
- Live and Unplugged 2013 (No. 16 US Gospel)
Notable singles
- "Power" (Ye Shall Receive Power) 1981
- "You Brought The Sunshine" (The Clark Sisters) (1981)
- "Balm in Gilead" (Karen Clark Sheard) (1997)
- "I Tried Him And I Know Him" (Mattie Moss Clark) (1986)
- "Something New" (The Clark Sisters) (2007)
- "Is My Living in Vain" (The Clark Sisters) (1980)
- "Awesome" (Masterpiece) (1996)
- "Bless You Real Good" (Masterpiece) (1996)
- "Worship the King" (Twinkie and Friends: Live in Charlotte) (2001)
- "Everything You Need is Right Here" (Home Once Again: Live In Detroit) (2004)
- "God's Got a Blessing" with Humility (2011)
- "Awesome God" with Humility (2011)
- "I Can Do All Things Through Christ" (The Clark Sisters) (1976)
References
- ^ a b Gay, Gregory (September 1, 2005). "Twinkie Clark -- A Look Back". GospelFlava.com.
- ^ http://hammondorganco.com/artists/hammond-hall-of-fame/
- ^ Clark, Melanie (August 2002). "Twinkie Clark Live in Charlotte Album Review". GospelFlava.com.
External links
- African-American singers
- African-American musicians
- American gospel singers
- American singer-songwriters
- American organists
- Singers from Detroit
- Howard University alumni
- 1954 births
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- Living people
- Musicians from Detroit
- African-American Christians
- American Pentecostals
- Members of the Church of God in Christ
- Songwriters from Michigan
- 21st-century women singers