| Twinkie Clark | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Elbernita Dionne Clark |
| Alias: | Twinkie Clark-Terrell Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ |
| Image Upright: | 1.0 |
| Birth Place: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 15 November 1954[1] |
| Origin: | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genre: | Gospel |
| Years Active: | 1966–present |
| Current Member Of: | The Clark Sisters |
Elbernita "Twinkie" Dionne Clark (born November 15, 1954) is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, musician, and evangelist. Clark is best known as the chief executive writer and member of the American gospel singing group the Clark Sisters. Often called the "Mother of Contemporary Gospel Music";[2] NPR named her one of the 50 Great Voices.[3] Known for her use of the Hammond Organ, she is often referred to as the "Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ",[4] and was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame in 2014.[5] She is a BMI Gospel Trailblazer honoree, and is the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards.[6] [7]
In 2012, Clark was honored by Judith Christie McAllister and the International Music Department of the Church of God in Christ, as a living legend and influencer during the 105th International Holy Convocation, where Clark also received an honorary doctorate of sacred music from Dr. Tony Lewis and the Christian Bible Institute and Seminary (CBIS).[8]
Born to pioneering gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and Pastor Elbert Clark in Detroit, Michigan, Clark began her tutelage in music under the direction of her mother, very early in life. From the age of thirteen, she began touring nationally with her mother, ministering and training choirs in three-part vocal harmony. In 1967, she made her recording debut as a featured vocalist alongside her mother, sister Denise Clark, and Dolores Jones on the Southwest Michigan State Choir of the Church Of God in Christ's "He Will Supply Your Need", from the album A Closer Walk with Thee. Clark later received formal music education at Howard University in Washington, D.C.[9] Twinkie was inspired by her mother The late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and her ability to compose music, and she began to write and compose her own compositions. From this point Dr. Mattie Moss Clark passed the torch to be in charge of the group (The Clark Sisters). Twinkie became the chief writer for the group, producer and arranger, Twinkie also played the Hammond Organ, Roland Juno Synthesizers, Keyboard and piano on the albums recorded by The Clark Sisters. All while being on the road with her Mother Dr. Mattie Moss Clark traveling across the country conducting choir workshops, Twinkie served as the National Organist for the Churches of God In Christ while her Mother was the International President for The Churches of God In Christ’s music department. Twinkie contributed greatly to the sound of music that came from the Churches of God In Christ, known as the “COGIC Sound”.Twinkie along with her Mother fashioned this sound from Twinkie’s well known skills as an organist to the numerous compositions she wrote. Twinkie created a sound that is now used across the country, which in church vernacular is known as “shout or dance music” which is played when the congregation is praising God through dance. Twinkie has created and mastered a unique blend of chords, rhythms, organ licks and a walking bass line that has been used widespread as the foundation for “shout or dance” music for many Christian denominations but it’s synonymous with the Church of God In Christ.
See main article: The Clark Sisters. Since their formation in 1973, Clark has been the leader, principal songwriter, and producer of the gospel group the Clark Sisters, which includes sisters Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard (sister Denise Clark Bradford departed the group in 1986).[10] The group achieved their biggest success with the mainstream, crossover hit "You Brought the Sunshine (Into My Life)" in 1983, which peaked within the top 20 of Billboards Gospel and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts and hit a top 30 peak on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[11] [12] [13] Other hit songs include, "Is My Living in Vain", "Expect Your Miracle" and "Jesus is a Love Song", all written by Clark.[14] Receiving their first Grammy nomination at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards for Sincerely (1982) in the Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group category, they received subsequent nominations for their follow-ups, Heart & Soul (1986) and Conqueror (1988), for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus at the 30th and 31st Annual Grammy Awards. In 1990, the group received its first Grammy nomination for a live album when Bringing it Back Home (1989) was nominated for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards.[15] In 2007, the Clark Sisters were awarded three Grammys at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Gospel Song and Best Gospel Performance for "Blessed & Highly Favored" and Best Traditional Gospel Album for its parent album ,[16] [17] which topped both the Billboard Gospel Albums and Christian Music Video charts.[18]
In 2016, the group was honored at the Essence festival.[19] In 2020, it was announced that the Clark Sisters would be honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th Annual Stellar Awards.[20] The same year, a Lifetime biographical film, was released, produced by Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliott, and became the highest rated original movie release by Lifetime in four years.[21]
Clark has recorded several solo albums. Her debut studio album, Praise Belongs to God (1979), was ranked at No. 28 by Billboard on the 1981 year-end Spiritual Albums chart and followed shortly by Ye Shall Receive Power (1981).[22] In 1992, she released Comin' Home and The Masterpiece in 1996. Also in 1996, she made her live solo debut in a collaborative album Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents the Florida A&M University Gospel Choir, which was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, where it was placed by Billboard as the 34th Top Gospel Album of 1996.[23] In 2002, she released Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte which received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album.[24] [25] In 2004, it was followed by the Asaph Ward-produced Home Once Again: Live in Detroit, which became her highest-charting album on Billboards Gospel Albums chart and also appeared on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2011 and 2013, Clark released With Humility and Live & Unplugged respectively on Larry Clark Gospel, before releasing a collaborative album with Larry Clark (the son of her sister Denise Clark Bradford), The Generations in 2020.[26]
Clark has been inspired by different genres of music, including jazz, reggae, classical, funk, and blues, and she lists artists such as Stevie Wonder, Walter Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Andraé Crouch, Charles Nicks, and her mother, Mattie Moss Clark, as musical influences. 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 married John Terrell in 1987. They had one son together prior to divorcing in 1994.
| Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [27] | |||
| Praise Belongs to God |
| 15 | |
| Ye Shall Receive Power |
| — | |
| Comin' Home |
| 40 | |
| The Masterpiece |
| 19 | |
| With Humility | 14 | ||
| The Generations (with Larry Clark) | — | ||
| Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark (with Donald Lawrence & Co.) |
| — |
| Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|
| US Gospel | ||
| Maestra |
| — |
| Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [41] | US R&B/<br>HH [42] | |||
| Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents The Florida A&M University Gospel Choir | 10 | — | ||
| Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte |
| 10 | — | |
| Home Once Again...Live in Detroit | 9 | 66 | ||
| Live & Unplugged | 16 | — | ||
| Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel | |||
| Praise Belongs to God / Ye Shall Receive | — | ||
| Praise & Worship |
| 39 | |
| You Brought the Sunshine (The Sound of Gospel Recordings 1976–1981) (with The Clark Sisters) |
| — |
| Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [60] | ||||
| "He Lifted Me" | 2005 | 14 | Home Once Again...Live in Detroit | |
| "When Praises Go Up"[61] | 2010 | — | ||
| "God's Got a Blessing"[62] [63] | — | With Humility | ||
| "Awesome God"[64] (featuring Larry Clark) | — | |||
| "God Gave Me Favor" | 2013 | 17 | Live & Unplugged | |
| "Speak Lord"[65] (featuring Karen Clark-Sheard) | — | |||
| "There is a Word" (featuring Larry Clark) | 2014 | — | ||
| "In My Spirit"[66] (with Larry Clark) | 2020 | — | The Generations | |
| "In Him There Is No Sorrow"[67] (with Donald Lawrence & Co. and Yolanda Adams) | 2023 | 17 | Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark[68] |
| Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel | ||||
| "I Gotta Feelin'"[69] (Eric Deon featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2013 | — | ||
| "I Thank God for Jesus"[70] (Anthony "Junebug" Turner & the Norfolk State University Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2014 | — | ||
| "Everything's Gonna Be Alright"[71] (The First Cathedral Mass Choir featuring Moses Tyson Jr., Twinkie Clark) | 2014 | — | The First Cathedral Gospel Music Extravaganza, Vol. 1 |
| Year | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| "He Will Supply Your Need"[72] (Southwest Michigan State Choir of the Church of God in Christ featuring Mattie Moss Clark, Denise Clark, Dolores Jones, Twinkie Clark) | 1967 | A Closer Walk with Thee | |
| "My Faith Holds Out Til He Comes"[73] (Mattie Moss Clark & the Michigan State Community Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1972 | That's Christ | |
| "Trust in Him (He'll Bring You Out)"[74] (Sister Mattie Moss Clark and the South Michigan State Community Choir featuring Twinkie Clark) | 1973 | The Hands of God Reached Out and Touched Me | |
| "I Want To Be More Like Jesus"[75] "[76] (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark, Dorinda Clark) | A Song Is Born Vol. 1 | ||
| "Oh Give Thanks"[77] (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Ora Watkins, Twinkie Clark) | 1974 | I Don't Know What I Would Do Without the Lord | |
| "Lord I Want to Be Ready" (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "The Wages Of Sin Is Death"[78] " (Mattie Moss Clark & the Michigan State Community Choir featuring Twinkie Clark) | 1975 | The Wages of Sin Is Death | |
| "He Was Hung Up for My Hang Ups"[79] (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Ora Watkins, Twinkie Clark) | 1976 | He Was Hung-Up for My Hang-Ups | |
| "If My People Which Are Called by My Name" (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark, Karen Clark) | |||
| "That Shall He Also Reap"[80] (Mattie Moss Clark & the Michigan State Community Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1978 | I Am Crucified with Christ | |
| "O, Saint of God"[81] (UNAC 5 featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1979 | Volume Three | |
| "The Wonderful Change"[82] (Missionary Essie Moss featuring Twinkie Clark, Maria Gardner) | 1980 | Take One Day at a Time | |
| "Running for the Lord" (Missionary Essie Moss featuring Twinkie Clark, Maria Gardner) | |||
| "I Can Do All things"[83] (COGIC International Mass Choir featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | I Can Do All Things | ||
| "Hallelujah" (COGIC International Mass Choir featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | |||
| "I've Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken"[84] (Mattie Moss Clark presents the Church Of God in Christ International Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1986 | A Song Is Born UNAC 5 Houston 1986 | |
| "The Anointing Breaks The Yoke" (Mattie Moss Clark presents the Church Of God in Christ International Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | |||
| "For Your Service, Lord"[85] (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1989 | The Southern California Holy Gospel Feast | |
| "Lift Those Hands and Bless Him"[86] [87] (Thomas Whitfield featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Larry Whitfield) | 1993 | A Tribute to "The Maestro" | |
| "More Like Thee"[88] (Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Mattie Moss Clark, Veronica Fly) | Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith | ||
| "I Found Jesus" (Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Mattie Moss Clark) | |||
| "Be Strong in the Lord"[89] (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark presents the C.O.G.I.C. National Music Choir featuring A. Lyle, Aljarita Stewart, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1994 | Live in Atlanta | |
| "Trust in the Lord" (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark presents the C.O.G.I.C. National Music Choir featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | |||
| "Watch Ye Therefore"[90] (Mattie Moss Clark & The Michigan State Mass Choir featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | Watch Ye Therefore | ||
| "Hold On"[91] [92] (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Gerald Rivera, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1995 | Hold On | |
| "Trust in Jesus"[93] (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Shavonne Edwards, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | |||
| "The Praise"[94] [95] (Rodney Posey with the Whitfield Company featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | Live in Praise And Worship with the Whitfield Company | ||
| "Lord, Let Me Hear from Heaven"[96] [97] (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Mattie Moss Clark, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1996 | Lord, Let Me Hear from Heaven | |
| "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"[98] (Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1998 | The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 2 | |
| "Secret Place"[99] (Robert Lowe & Generations featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2000 | Total Experience | |
| "Joy Unspeakable"[100] [101] (Derrick Starks & Today's Generation featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 2001 | Sacrifice | |
| "Children Go Where I Send Thee"[102] [103] (Michael McDonald featuring Twinkie Clark) | In the Spirit: A Christmas Album | ||
| "Timmy's Choir"[104] (Timmy Vegas featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2009 | Motivation Too | |
| "Thank You"[105] (Dorinda Clark-Cole featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2011 | I Survived | |
| "Coming Out"[106] (Titus Jackson featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2015 | Changed | |
| "God's Got a Blessing"[107] (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah | |
| "There Is a Word" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "Sing & Shout" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "God Gave Me Favor" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "Awesome God" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "The Anointing Breaks the Yoke" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | |||
| "Praise Break" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie & the Clark Sisters) | |||
| "I'm Delivered"[108] (G E I featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | 2016 | GEI Live |
The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Clark has received two nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Best Gospel Artist | ||
| 2020 | "Victory" | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award |
The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Clark has won two awards from eight nominations.[109]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | |
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Artist of the Year | |
| Group of the Year | |||
| "Blessed and Highly Favored" | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | ||
| Live – One Last Time | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | ||
| 2020 | Victory | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | |
| Inspirational Film of the Year | |||
| The Return | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year |
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Clark has won 3 awards from 8 nominations, including a Lifetime Achievement award.[17] [110]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sincerely | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group | ||
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus | ||
| 1988 | Conqueror | |||
| 1990 | Bringing it Back Home | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | ||
| 2002 | Live In Charlotte | |||
| 2007 | "Blessed & Highly Favored" | Best Gospel Performance | ||
| Live: One Last Time | Best Traditional Gospel Album | |||
| 2009 | "Higher Ground" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | ||
| 2024 | The Clark Sisters | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award |
The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Clark has won two awards from four nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Clark Sisters | Outstanding Gospel Artist | ||
| 1989 | ||||
| 2020 | "Victory" | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary | ||
| 2021 | The Return | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album |
The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Clark has received three nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Heart & Soul | Best Gospel Album – Group or Choir | ||
| 1989 | Conqueror | Best Gospel Album | ||
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | Best Gospel/Inspirational Award[111] |
The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Clark has received 8 awards and 1 honorary award.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Live In Charlotte | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | |
| Traditional CD of the Year | |||
| 2006 | Home Once Again: Live in Detroit | Female Vocalist of the Year | |
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | CD of the Year | |
| Artist of the Year | |||
| Group or Duo of the Year | |||
| Traditional Group/Duo of the Year | |||
| 2009 | Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters | Special Event CD of the Year | |
| 2010 | Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze (with Kierra Sheard and J. Moss) | ||
| 2012 | Twinkie Clark | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | |
| 2014 | Twinkie Clark Live & Unplugged | Special Event CD of the Year | |
| Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | |||
| Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | |||
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award | |
| 2021 | The Return | Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | |
| Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | |||
| Gospel According to PJ | Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year |