Two-time Grammy Award Winner Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark known as the “Godmother of Contemporary Gospel” and the heart and soul of the gospel group the Clark Sisters – Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark-Cole and Jacky Cullum Chisholm is enjoying a new wave of fans, who have recently discovered one of her classic hit songs.
JAY-Z’s newest album “4:44” features the song “Family Feud,” which samples the song “Ha-Ya (Eternal Life)” written by Twinkie Clark in 1980. Throughout the song you can hear Beyoncé singing in the background “Higher, higher, higher, higher”.
“I am just so pleased that JAY-Z has introduced my song to a whole new generation of young people who may have never heard of Twinkie Clark or the Clark Sisters. If it touches and inspires lives, I am all for it” said Clark, one of the most prolific songwriters and still one of the most sought-after organists worldwide.
Clark is a gospel singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, organist and pianist whose is no stranger to having her music sampled, which, over the years, has included various secular artists such as Al Green, Kelly Price, Coco, Dave Hollister, Escape, Aaliyah and Mary J. Blige. “I see myself as a vehicle, a vessel being used by God, having purpose and yielding to God,” Clark explained.
Attorney James L. Walker, Jr. of Walker & Associates (www.walkerandassoc.com) handled licensing for Clark and the sample clearing for the song. Walker stated, “Just honored to see a legendary artist and songwriter like Twinkie have her song sampled by Jay-Z.” 4:44 reached the Billboard 200 Chart. Twinkie is currently working on new music that will be released in the near future.
“It was a pleasure to work with the staff of Roc Nation and Jay-Z’s S. Carter Enterprises. related businesses who put the record out,” added Walker (@jameslwalkeresq). “They were all big fans of Twinkie and a delight to work with over the past few weeks.”
About Twinkie Clark
Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark was born in Detroit and at the age of four could play full songs on the piano. At the age of 12, she debut as an organist in the Southwest Michigan State Choir’s album A Closer Walk with Thee. She produced a couple of albums for her mother Dr. Clark but she is best known for music she produced for her siblings the Clark Sisters. She studied classical music at Howard University and loved jazz, reggae, R&B, hip-hop, disco and ragtime. Her solo albums include: Praise Belongs to God (1979), Ye Shall Receive Power (1981), Comin’ Home (1982), Masterpiece (1996), Live in Charlotte (2002), Home Once Again: Live in Detroit (2004), Humility in 2011 and Live & Unplugged in 2013. In 2007 she received two Grammy Awards – Best Gospel Performance for the song Blessed & Highly and Best Traditional Gospel Album.
