Twinkie Clark

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Twinkie Clark
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark
Alias = Twinkie Clark-Terrell
Born = November 15, 1954
Died =
Origin = Detroit, Michigan
Instrument = vocals, organ, piano
Genre = gospel music
Occupation = singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, organist, pianist
Years_active = 1960s-present
Label = Sound of Gospel, Tyscot, Crystal Rose, Tribute, Verity, EMI Gospel
Associated_acts = The Clark Sisters
Karen Clark Sheard
Dorinda Clark Cole
Jacky Clark Chisholm
URL = http://www.theclarksisters.com/ http://www.watchouttwink.com/
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = Hammond B3 Organ

Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark is a two-time Grammy Award winning American gospel singer, composer, musician, and evangelist. She is a member of The Clark Sisters, an influential gospel vocal ensemble active since the late 60's.

Biography

The Clark Sisters

Clark has been The Clark Sisters' creative force since their mother Mattie Moss Clark turned over control of the group to her in the early 1970s. An accomplished pianist and organist, Clark received formal training in piano from Howard University and is dubbed as the "Queen of the Hammond B3" organ. [cite web|url=http://www.gospelcity.com/dynamic/music-articles/new_music/20|title=Twinkie Clark - Home Once Again... Live In Detroit|publisher=GospelCity.com] She has written over 150 songs for her sisters and mother alone.

Twinkie left the Clark Sisters in 1989 to focus on ministry and family. [cite web|url=http://www.gospelcity.com/dynamic/artist-articles/interviews/95|title=An Interview with Twinkie Clark|author=Heron, Christopher|publisher=GospelCity.com|date=July 13, 2001] Twinkie recently reunited with The Clark Sisters in July 2006 to record a new live album, "The Clark Sisters- Live:One Last Time", and scheduled to be released by EMI Gospel in March 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/clarksistersrecording2006.html|title=Clark Sisters Live Recording Recap|author=Percy, Damon|publisher=GospelFlava.com|month=July | year=2006]

olo career

Since leaving The Clark Sisters she has recorded several solo albums intermittently including "Comin' Home", "Masterpiece". In 2002, she recorded her first live solo album "Live in Charlotte" [cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com/reviews/twinkieclark.html|title=Twinkie Clark Live in Charlotte Album Review|author=Clark, Melanie|publisher=GospelFlava.com|month=August | year=2002] . 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 was one of the first to add jazz, reggae, hip-hop, and blues to gospel music.Fact|date=September 2007 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. Both of these recordings were recently released on compact disc.

Twinkie Clark is an avid Stevie Wonder fan, and hopes to one day do a duet with him.cite web|url=http://www.gospelflava.com:80/columns/takemeback-sep0105.html|title=Twinkie Clark -- A Look Back|publisher=GospelFlava.com|author=Gay, Gregory|date=September 1, 2005] Her most popular song "You Brought The Sunshine" was partially inspired by the motif of Stevie's "Master Blaster (Jammin')".

Discography

*"Praise Belongs To God" (Sound of Gospel, 1979)
*"Ye Shall Receive Power" (Sound of Gospel, 1981)
*"Comin' Home" (Tyscot, 1992)
*"Masterpiece" (Tribute/Verity, 1996)
*"Twinkie Clark-Terrell presents FAMU Gospel Choir" (Crystal Rose, 1996)
*"Twinkie Clark and Friends: Live In Charlotte N.C." (Verity, 2002)
*"Home Once Again: Live In Detroit" (Verity, 2004)
*"Praise & Worship" (Verity/Legacy, 2006) (Compilation)

Notable singles

* "You Brought The Sunshine" (The Clark Sisters)
* "A Praying Spirit" (Karen Clark Sheard)
* "He Was Hung Up For My Hangups" (Mattie Moss Clark)
* "Something New" (The Clark Sisters)

References

External links

* [http://www.theclarksisters.com/ Official Clark Sisters Website]
* [http://www.watchouttwink.com/ Watch Out Twink Fan Club]
* [http://www.youtube.com/TheClarkSistersTV Twinkie Clark & The Clark Sisters Youtube Video Channel]
*allmusicguide|id=11:alkmikbhbb59|name=Twinkie Clark
* [http://www.verityrecords.com/ Verity Records website]