Twinkie Clark facts for kids

Elbernita "Twinkie" Dionne Clark (born November 15, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter, and organist. She is often called the "Mother of Contemporary Gospel Music." Twinkie Clark is best known as the main songwriter and a member of the famous gospel group, The Clark Sisters. This group received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Twinkie Clark has an amazing singing voice that can reach very high and very low notes. She was even named one of NPR's 50 Great Voices. She is also famous for playing the Hammond organ and is known as the "Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ." She was added to the Hammond Hall of Fame in 2014. Many famous artists like Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey have said that Twinkie Clark influenced their singing style. They have also used parts of her songs in their own music.

Biography

Early life and musical beginnings

Twinkie Clark was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother was Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a well-known gospel musician and choir director. Twinkie started learning music from her mother at a very young age.

When she was just thirteen, she began traveling around the country with her mother. They would teach and train choirs to sing in three-part harmony. In 1967, she first recorded music as a singer on an album called A Closer Walk with Thee. Later, she studied music formally at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The Clark Sisters' journey

Since 1973, Twinkie Clark has been the leader, main songwriter, and producer for the gospel group, The Clark Sisters. The group includes her sisters Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. Their sister Denise Clark Bradford left the group in 1986.

The Clark Sisters became very successful with their song "You Brought the Sunshine (Into My Life)" in 1983. This song was popular on Billboard charts for gospel, R&B, and dance music. Other popular songs written by Twinkie include "Is My Living in Vain," "Expect Your Miracle," and "Jesus is a Love Song."

The group received their first Grammy nomination in 1983 for their album Sincerely. They earned more nominations for their albums Heart & Soul and Conqueror. In 2007, The Clark Sisters won three Grammys for their song "Blessed & Highly Favored" and their album Live: One Last Time. This album was number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart.

In 2020, The Clark Sisters received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the Stellar Awards. Also in 2020, a movie about their lives, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, was released by Lifetime. Famous artists like Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliott helped produce this movie. It became one of Lifetime's most-watched original movies.

Twinkie Clark's solo work

Twinkie Clark has also released several albums on her own. Her first album, Praise Belongs to God, came out in 1979. Her album Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents the Florida A&M University Gospel Choir was a top 10 hit on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart in 1996.

In 2002, her album Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte was nominated for a Grammy Award. Her 2004 album, Home Once Again: Live in Detroit, was her highest-charting album on the Gospel Albums chart. She has continued to release music, including a collaborative album with Larry Clark called The Generations in 2020.

Musical inspirations and impact

Twinkie Clark gets ideas from many types of music, including jazz, reggae, classical, funk, and blues. She looks up to artists like Stevie Wonder, Walter Hawkins, and her mother, Mattie Moss Clark, as musical influences.

Twinkie Clark is known for creating "The C.O.G.I.C. Shout Sound" in gospel music. She has won many awards, including multiple Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. She also has an honorary doctorate degree in sacred music.

Discography (Selected)

Twinkie Clark has released many albums throughout her career. Here are some of her most notable ones:

• Praise Belongs to God (1979)
• Ye Shall Receive Power (1981)
• Comin' Home (1992)
• The Masterpiece (1996)
• Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents The Florida A&M University Gospel Choir (1996)
• Twinkie Clark & Friends...Live in Charlotte (2002)
• Home Once Again...Live in Detroit (2004)
• With Humility (2011)
• Live & Unplugged (2013)
• The Generations (with Larry Clark) (2020)
• Maestra (EP) (2023)
• Donald Lawrence Presents Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark (with Donald Lawrence & Co.) (2023)

Awards and recognition

Twinkie Clark has received many awards for her contributions to gospel music.

Dove Awards

She has won 2 Dove Awards from 10 nominations.

• In 1987, she won for Heart & Soul (Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year).
• In 2020, she won for The Return (Traditional Gospel Album of the Year).

Grammy Awards

Twinkie Clark has won 3 Grammy Awards from 8 nominations.

• In 2007, she won Best Gospel Performance for "Blessed & Highly Favored."
• In 2007, she also won Best Traditional Gospel Album for Live: One Last Time.
• In 2024, The Clark Sisters, including Twinkie, received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

NAACP Image Awards

She has won 2 NAACP Image Awards from 4 nominations.

• In 1983, The Clark Sisters won Outstanding Gospel Artist.
• In 2021, The Return won Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album.

Stellar Awards

Twinkie Clark has received 8 Stellar Awards and 2 honorary awards.

• In 2007, The Clark Sisters received The Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award.
• In 2008, her album Live... One Last Time won CD of the Year, Artist of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year, and Traditional Group/Duo of the Year.
• In 2009, Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters won Special Event CD of the Year.
• In 2010, Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze won Special Event CD of the Year.
• In 2020, The Clark Sisters received the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award.
• In 2021, The Return won Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year.
• In 2021, Gospel According to PJ won Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year.