Gospel greats the Clark Sisters will be honored with an An-Star Gospel Tribute on July 3 as part of the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience at the 2016 ESSENCE Festival. Don’t miss it!
Multi-GRAMMY® Award winning sisters Jacky, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen are true gospel music legends and noted as pioneers of contemporary gospel since the 1980s. Daughters of the legendary Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, these dynamic Gospel trailblazers have given us hits such as, “You’ve Brought the Sunshine”, “Endow Me”, and “Is My Living in Vain.” Their music continues to inspire artists such as Faith Evans, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot and many more. This year, they will be honored at the Essence Festival!
The Clark Sisters are renowned for their vocal stylings, dubbed as “The Clark Sound.” They incorporate high and fast melismas, acrobatic trills and riffs, and deep, soulfulgrowls, or “squalls”. The sisters are also known for the individual distinctive sounds that they contribute. Jacky ([contralto]) is known for her soft, smooth, deeper vocals.Dorinda ([mezzo-soprano]), the “jazzy” sister, inputs scats and riffs. Denise, who is no longer associated with the group ([Soprano]) is known for her high pitched singing voice. Uses her piercing soprano vocals that can be cleary heard on early tracks. Also known for her runs and high melismas. Karen ([soprano]) is known for her unique riffs, runs, growls, scats, very vast vocal range, ability to belt whilst in the whistle range, and has also been known to implement an “echo” in her live performances. Twinkie is known for her complex runs, riffs, powerful mixed-voice belts, soulful squalls and deep growls. Twinkie (Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano/Alto/Contralto/Tenor/Baritone) 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 a low baritone.
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”, and “God Understands All”. Dorinda leads “Overdose of the Holy Ghost,” “Time Out” and “My Redeemer Liveth”, “I Won’t Let Go ‘Til You Bless My Soul”, “Determination”, “Looking To Get There (Heaven)”, and “Sanctify Me Lord”. Karen sings lead on “Hallelujah,” “Endow Me,” 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 sings lead on “Something Worth Living For”, “Count It All Joy”, and “Christ Is Born Today.”
The group’s sound and success have been highly influential on the contemporary genre of gospel music.
