# Twinkie Clark

Elbernita "Twinkie" Dionne Clark (born November 15, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, organist, record producer, and evangelist. Often called the "Mother of Contemporary Gospel Music", she is best known as the chief songwriter and a member of the gospel group the Clark Sisters, who received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. Clark possesses a 4-octave vocal range, spanning from bass/baritone (G#2) to high soprano and head voice (F6), and was named one of NPR's 50 Great Voices.
Renowned for her mastery of the Hammond Organ, she is credited as the originator of the contemporary "COGIC Shout Sound." in gospel music. Clark is frequently referred to as the "Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ", and was inducted into the Hammond Hall of Fame in 2014. Artists such as Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Jazmine Sullivan, Kim Burrell, and Clark's sister, Karen Clark Sheard, have cited Clark as a significant influence on their vocal style and have sampled her songs on several different projects of their own.

## Biography
### Early life

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.

### 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). 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 Billboard's Gospel and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts and hit a top 30 peak on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Other hit songs include, "Is My Living in Vain", "Expect Your Miracle" and "Jesus is a Love Song", all written by Clark. 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. 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 Live: One Last Time, which topped both the Billboard Gospel Albums and Christian Music Video charts.
In 2016, the group was honored at the Essence festival. 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. The same year, a Lifetime biographical film, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel 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.

### Solo career

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). 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. In 2002, she released Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte which received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album. In 2004, it was followed by the Asaph Ward-produced Home Once Again: Live in Detroit, which became her highest-charting album on Billboard's 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.

### Musical influence

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, Aretha Franklin, and her mother, Mattie Moss Clark, as musical influences.

### Legacy

Artists such as Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and also her sister, Karen Clark-Sheard have cited Clark as a major influence on their singing and vocal style and have also sampled her music in various songs of their own.
Clark is principally credited as the originator of "The C.O.G.I.C. Shout Sound". She is a BMI Gospel Trailblazer honoree and the recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of sacred music from the Christian Bible Institute and Seminary (CBIS).

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US Gospel |
| Praise Belongs to God | Released: 1979 Label: Sound of Gospel (#SOG 091) Formats: LP | 15 |
| Ye Shall Receive Power | Released: 1981 Label: Sound of Gospel (#SOG 133) Formats: LP | — |
| Comin' Home | Released: January 15, 1992 Label: Tyscot Records (#GRA30012D) Formats: CD, cassette, digital download | 40 |
| The Masterpiece | Released: April 1, 1996 Label: Tribute Records, Zomba (#7901139226) Formats: CD, cassette, digital download | 19 |
| With Humility | Released: April 5, 2011 Label: Larry Clark Gospel Formats: CD, digital download | 14 |
| The Generations (with Larry Clark) | Released: February 14, 2020 Label: Larry Clark Gospel Formats: Digital download | — |
| Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark (with Donald Lawrence & Co.) | Released: September 15, 2023 Label: Provident Formats: Digital download | — |

### EPs

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US Gospel |
| Maestra | Released: January 20, 2023 Label: Le Chateau Earl Records Formats: Digital download, Streaming | — |

### Live albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US Gospel | US R&B/ HH |
| Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents The Florida A&M University Gospel Choir | Released: June 13, 1996 Label: Crystal Rose Records, Star Song Communications (#SSD 0127) Formats: CD, VHS, cassette, digital download | 10 | — |
| Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte | Released: August 20, 2002 Label: Verity Records (#01241-43196-2) Formats: CD, cassette, DVD, digital download | 10 | — |
| Home Once Again...Live in Detroit | Released: August 10, 2004 Label: Verity Records (#82876-62293-2) Formats: CD, digital download | 9 | 66 |
| Live & Unplugged | Released: August 27, 2013 Label: Larry Clark Gospel Formats: CD, DVD, digital download | 16 | — |

### Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | US Gospel |
| Praise Belongs to God / Ye Shall Receive | Released: March 8, 2005 Label: Sound of Gospel (#SOG 2CD-3004) Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Praise & Worship | Released: June 12, 2006 Label: Verity Records, Legacy Records (#01241-43196-2) Formats: CD, digital download | 39 |
| You Brought the Sunshine (The Sound of Gospel Recordings 1976–1981) (with The Clark Sisters) | Released: January 31, 2020 Labels: Westbound Records (#CDSEWD 159) Formats: CD, digital download | — |

### Singles
#### as a lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | US Gospel | Album |
| "He Lifted Me" | 2005 | 14 | Home Once Again...Live in Detroit |
| "When Praises Go Up" | 2010 | — | non-album single |
| "God's Got a Blessing" | 2010 | — | With Humility |
| "Awesome God" (featuring Larry Clark) | 2010 | — | With Humility |
| "God Gave Me Favor" | 2013 | 17 | Live & Unplugged |
| "Speak Lord" (featuring Karen Clark-Sheard) | 2013 | — | Live & Unplugged |
| "There is a Word" (featuring Larry Clark) | 2014 | — | Live & Unplugged |
| "In My Spirit" (with Larry Clark) | 2020 | — | The Generations |
| "In Him There Is No Sorrow" (with Donald Lawrence & Co. and Yolanda Adams) | 2023 | 17 | Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark |

#### as a featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | US Gospel | Album |
| "I Gotta Feelin'" (Eric Deon featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2013 | — | non-album single |
| "I Thank God for Jesus" (Anthony "Junebug" Turner & the Norfolk State University Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2014 | — | non-album single |
| "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (The First Cathedral Mass Choir featuring Moses Tyson Jr., Twinkie Clark) | 2014 | — | The First Cathedral Gospel Music Extravaganza, Vol. 1 |

### Album appearances

List of album appearances, showing year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "He Will Supply Your Need" (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" (Mattie Moss Clark & the Michigan State Community Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1972 | That's Christ |
| "Trust in Him (He'll Bring You Out)" (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"" (Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark, Dorinda Clark) | 1973 | A Song Is Born Vol. 1 |
| "Oh Give Thanks" (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) | 1974 | I Don't Know What I Would Do Without the Lord |
| "The Wages Of Sin Is Death"" (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" (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) | 1976 | He Was Hung-Up for My Hang-Ups |
| "That Shall He Also Reap" (Mattie Moss Clark & the Michigan State Community Choir featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1978 | I Am Crucified with Christ |
| "O, Saint of God" (UNAC 5 featuring Elbernita Clark) | 1979 | Volume Three |
| "The Wonderful Change" (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) | 1980 | Take One Day at a Time |
| "I Can Do All things" (COGIC International Mass Choir featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | 1980 | I Can Do All Things |
| "Hallelujah" (COGIC International Mass Choir featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | 1980 | I Can Do All Things |
| "I've Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken" (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) | 1986 | A Song Is Born UNAC 5 Houston 1986 |
| "For Your Service, Lord" (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1989 | The Southern California Holy Gospel Feast |
| "Lift Those Hands and Bless Him" (Thomas Whitfield featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Larry Whitfield) | 1993 | A Tribute to "The Maestro" |
| "More Like Thee" (Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell, Mattie Moss Clark, Veronica Fly) | 1993 | 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) | 1993 | Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith |
| "Be Strong in the Lord" (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) | 1994 | Live in Atlanta |
| "Watch Ye Therefore" (Mattie Moss Clark & The Michigan State Mass Choir featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1994 | Watch Ye Therefore |
| "Hold On" (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Gerald Rivera, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1995 | Hold On |
| "Trust in Jesus" (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Shavonne Edwards, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1995 | Hold On |
| "The Praise" (Rodney Posey with the Whitfield Company featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1995 | Live in Praise And Worship with the Whitfield Company |
| "Lord, Let Me Hear from Heaven" (Michael Scott & the Outreach Choir featuring Mattie Moss Clark, Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1996 | Lord, Let Me Hear from Heaven |
| "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 1998 | The Real Meaning of Christmas, Vol. 2 |
| "Secret Place" (Robert Lowe & Generations featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2000 | Total Experience |
| "Joy Unspeakable" (Derrick Starks & Today's Generation featuring Twinkie Clark-Terrell) | 2001 | Sacrifice |
| "Children Go Where I Send Thee" (Michael McDonald featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2001 | In the Spirit: A Christmas Album |
| "Timmy's Choir" (Timmy Vegas featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2009 | Motivation Too |
| "Thank You" (Dorinda Clark-Cole featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2011 | I Survived |
| "Coming Out" (Titus Jackson featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2015 | Changed |
| "God's Got a Blessing" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "There Is a Word" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "Sing & Shout" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "God Gave Me Favor" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "Awesome God" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "The Anointing Breaks the Yoke" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie Clark) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "Praise Break" (Larry Clark featuring Twinkie & the Clark Sisters) | 2016 | Hallelujah |
| "I'm Delivered" (G E I featuring Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark) | 2016 | GEI Live |

## Awards
### BET Awards

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 | Nominated |
| 2020 | "Victory" | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Nominated |

### Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Clark has won two awards from eight nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Group of the Year | Nominated |
| 2008 | "Blessed and Highly Favored" | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2008 | Live – One Last Time | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Victory | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Inspirational Film of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | The Return | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Won |

### Grammy Awards

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.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
| 1983 | Sincerely | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated |
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus | Nominated |
| 1988 | Conqueror | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus | Nominated |
| 1990 | Bringing it Back Home | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2002 | Live In Charlotte | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2007 | "Blessed & Highly Favored" | Best Gospel Performance | Won |
| 2007 | Live: One Last Time | Best Traditional Gospel Album | Won |
| 2009 | "Higher Ground" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated |
| 2024 | The Clark Sisters | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Honored |

### NAACP Image Awards

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 | Won |
| 1989 | The Clark Sisters | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Nominated |
| 2020 | "Victory" | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary | Nominated |
| 2021 | The Return | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album | Won |

### Soul Train Awards

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 | Nominated |
| 1989 | Conqueror | Best Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Nominated |

### Stellar Awards

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 | Nominated |
| 2004 | Live In Charlotte | Traditional CD of the Year | Nominated |
| 2006 | Home Once Again: Live in Detroit | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | CD of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | Group or Duo of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | Traditional Group/Duo of the Year | Won |
| 2009 | Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters | Special Event CD of the Year | Won |
| 2010 | Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze (with Kierra Sheard and J. Moss) | Special Event CD of the Year | Won |
| 2012 | Twinkie Clark | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | Twinkie Clark Live & Unplugged | Special Event CD of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | Twinkie Clark Live & Unplugged | Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | Twinkie Clark Live & Unplugged | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award | Honored |
| 2021 | The Return | Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Won |
| 2021 | The Return | Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Nominated |
| 2021 | Gospel According to PJ | Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Won |