The musical influence and divine inspiration of The Clark Sisters is undeniable. With a legacy that has one foot firmly planted in the church and another foot setting the standard for contemporary artists, The Clark Sisters are examples of international Instruments of Praise.
The recent release of Live: One Last Time has set off a slew of speculation as to whether their first release in 13 years is indeed their final curtain call. One thing is certain. The style and spirit of The Clark Sisters has inspired a generation of new singers; as well, Karen and her sisters – Dorinda Clark Cole, Twinkie Clark and Jacky Clark Chisholm - have defined a sound that can be summed up in one fine phrase - It’s the Gospel.
BlackGospel.com spoke with Karen Clark Sheard, the baby of the family, about the celebrated CD, the impact of Donald Lawrence on their presentation, the words of encouragement they’ve received from some surprising personalities and the inevitable question – Is this the end for The Clark Sisters?
Christopher Heron: Karen, after all these years, there’s a still an outpouring of love and favor for The Clark Sisters, both from music fans and the music industry. How does it feel as an artist and as a minister of music to receive that kind of feedback after all these years?
Karen Clark Sheard:
It’s very uplifting and very encouraging. It actually gives us
encouragement during those times in life when we feel like a phase in our
ministry is over and God has another phase for you to go through. So when we
hear from our supporters, and our fans that they want to hear from us again,
and that they miss The Clark Sisters, we feel motivated to continue our
music ministry, especially since so much time has passed since we last
performed as a group or released an album, and that people still remember
us, we feel motivated to keep going. I think that’s why we were encouraged
to do this CD. Even as solo artists, we received constant encouragement as
solo artists, but even more so, as a group. That’s what inspired us to
record this CD.
CH: Live: One Last Time is an album, in my opinion, that goes back to the basics; beautiful melodies, lots of vocal vamps, it’s a magical trip down memory lane for followers of The Clark Sisters. How different is it to sing songs like these selections versus the contemporary Praise & Worship recordings you’ve released in the last few years?
KCS: Actually, it’s very different. Initially, I was following the trend in music. Then, after a while, I realized that Praise & Worship music helped and blessed me. My solo albums stem from my testimony of God bringing me back, which made it easy to record the albums and easy for me to share my testimony, after I going through what I went through. At first, it was difficult to express myself through Praise & Worship music, considering I am a Contemporary Gospel artist. Collaborating with my sisters is very different. On this album we didn’t record many Praise & Worship songs on the Clark Sisters CD. We went back to the place where people could identify the Clark Sisters. Initially, it was difficult, but it eventually worked out.
CH: In our interview with Donald Lawrence, he mentioned that, as the producer of your album, he wanted One Last Time to have a vintage sound much like the days of The Clark Sisters at the COGIC Convocation Service, yet contemporary enough to be considered 21st Century. When you listen to the album, Live: One Last Time, does it bring you back to those earlier days? And is there a place in the industry now for that sound and style, even as Gospel music continues to evolve?
KCS: It does bring me back. When we first started working together on the project, Donald arranged for us to listen to a recording of our old stuff from back-in-the-day, when we performed at Convocation. Donald said, “I want The Clark Sisters to do this song just like this, because we want to give them a taste.” And that is what we tried to do. We tried to give those who know The Clark Sisters, a little of what they’re accustomed to receiving from the Clark Sisters.
In response to your second question, people missed our ministry. You have these awesome women of God who represent the new millennium. But what God blessed The Clark Sisters with is such a vocal blend. And that was exactly what my mother was emphatic and a stickler about while we sang together. Dr. Mattie Moss Clark would say, “We are family, we are blood; that’s what makes the difference.” You seldom find that. Another group, as far as having a great blend, is the Pace Sisters. They are a great female group.
Gospel music fans miss that blend and spontaneity that we have; people understand that special anointing. We rehearsed and performed, but many times, because of the anointing, that was on us, along with what our mother instilled in us, one of the things which connected us with our audience. We followed that calling because we would not know what God was trying to do or where he was carrying us. I believe people miss that experience. We are used to the runs and the thrills and the frills and the harmony that comes with The Clark Sisters singing together. We tried to capture that experience and give it back to the audience. We really tried to give them a mixture and balance of the past and present.
CH: The Clark Sisters undoubtedly have been such an inspiration to other artists. You’ve all been well endowed with such gifts. For example, Twinkie Clark is such a remarkable musician, organist, and songwriter. Dorinda Clark Cole is a great minister of the Word. And, you have been, in many ways seen as one the great vocalists of our time. I’m sure you’ve received countless phone calls when your name was dropped by Randy Jackson on American Idol. I wonder how you feel about being viewed by many as one of the great vocalists. And I’m curious to know who has approached you and revealed to you that your gift has inspired them as an artist over the years.
KCS: Thank you for that. I feel it’s an honor. And sometimes I feel unworthy because I feel I could give more for God. I feel like my job is incomplete. It’s an honor and a privilege to know that people such as Mariah Carey and Faith Evans respect me and saying that they followed my career and the Clark Sisters. People like Randy Jackson who said to me, “Do you know you are my favorite!?!” When I saw him for the first time in LA, California, I approached him. When he saw me, it was as though he saw Janet Jackson, you know. He fell on his knees! He looked at his limo driver and said, “You have no idea why I’m going crazy! This woman is so anointed!”
And when he said, “anointed”, I was really blown away. People of their profile knowing me and The Clark Sisters, acknowledging me, and calling my name on TV, that’s an honor. They don’t have to do that. It just goes to show me that God gave me this gift and I don’t take it lightly. He has chosen me. There are up and coming singers who are literally so good. I look at my daughter – Kierra “KiKi” Sheard. That’s why I count it as an honor and a privilege that they remember. I think that it’s because the God-given gift we have as The Clark Sisters is unique. I count it all an honor.
CH: Well, finally, Karen, this album is seen as a farewell album for The Clark Sisters. But is it really the final recording for the Clark Sisters even after recognizing and realizing just how much people would like to see more music from your sisters?
KCS: That is actually the #1 question asked of us. I believe we wanted to see if this release would be another make-it or break-it record. We wanted to get a feel if we would fit in, because of the new sound of today’s Gospel music. Of course, it was my husband’s idea, Pastor J. Drew Sheard, to record the CD at the COGIC convention, where he presides as chairperson. He came up the idea for the recording and we felt the love of 6000 people who turned out for a group who hadn’t recorded in 13 years.
After we recorded One Last Time, we said to each other, “Do you think they’ll love us enough to want to hear from us again?” My husband said, “If this album does well, we’ll call the next one ‘One Last Time, Again!’” My husband is our spiritual leader and has steered us spiritually in this direction. So, by him saying that, you never know because we’re going on whatever God says. It’s looking like we’re going to have to do it again; especially now that it’s done so well. It’s a blessing to see. We’ll have to see.
For more
information on Karen Clark Sheard and the Clark Sisters, visit the official
website at
www.theclarksisters.com.
To contact Karen Clark Sheard for special engagements, performances or
general questions, email her at
kcsministries@sbcglobal.net or
call Maronda White at 313-342-7496.
