Mattie Juliet Moss Cullum Clark was the mother of the Clark Sisters
and a gospel choir director.
Mattie was born in 1925 in Selma, Alabama. By six she started playing the piano.
At twelve she became a musician at her mother''s church: Church of Christ and Prayer.
She studied classical music and choral singing at Selma University.
In 1947 she joined her sister Sybil Burke in Detroit and joined the Greater Love Tabernacle Church of God in Christ.
Mattie became the Minister of Music at both Southwest Michigan Jurisdiction
and Bailey Temple Church of God in Christ.
She was soon a popular choice for directing COGIC choirs.
In 1958 she made history when she recorded 'Going to Heaven to Meet the King' with the Southwest Michigan State Choir.
This record was the first gospel choir record. Together with this choir she achieved gold status with three albums.
Mattie also directed the Cadillac Motor Company's Christmas choir and other community mass choirs.
In total she was involved in over 50 albums recordings.
She founded the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit in 1979 and 1981 was awarded a Doctor of Humanity from Trinity College in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Clark passed away in 1994.
The Clark Sisters have appeared on some other notable gospel projects including :
Singing with Commissioned on 'Lift Up Your Head, O Ye Gates' on the popular
'Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration', 1993 album on Reprise Records;
Joint lead vocals on 'Nothing TO Lose' on Twinkie Clark-Terrell Presents The Florida A&M University Gospel Choir 1996 album;
Vocals with Kelly Price on 'You Brought The Sunshine' on Kelly Price's 'Priceless' 2003 album on Def Soul.
Karen Clark-Sheard sings"Balm in Gilead".
All the Clark sisters went on to release their own solo albums.
Karen is married to her pastor J. Drew Sheard.
Her daughter Kierra 'Kikki' Sheard has now become a successful gospel singer with a big selling album.
Her son J. Drew also assisted on her most recent album.
The Clark Sisters became national spokespersons for the American Diabetes Association after their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark,
passed away in 1994 after diabetes problems.
DISCOGRAPHY
The Clark Sisters
'Mattie Moss Clark presents The Clark Sisters' (1973) Billesse Records
'Jesus Has A Lot To Give' (1975) Billesse Records
The first album and produced by their Uncle Bill Moss.
'Unworthy' (1976) Sounds Of Gospel SOG 075
'Count It All Joy' (1978) Sounds Of Gospel
'New Dimensions Of Christmas Carols' (1978) Sounds Of Gospel
'He Gave Me Nothing To Lose' (1979) Sounds Of Gospel
'The Dynamic Clark Sisters with Mattie Moss Clark: Is My Living In Vain?' (1980) Sony/New Birth Records NEW 7056
This was their first live album and it reached No.7 in the US Gospel charts, staying in the charts for over a year.
'You Brought the Sunshine' (1981) Sounds Of Gospel SOG 132
'Sincerely' (1982) New Birth NEW 7058
'Heart and Soul' (1986) A&M Records/Rejoice/Word
This Dove Award winning album reached No.4 in the US Gospel charts and included the cross-over 1980s dance-floor hit 'You Brought The Sunshine', 'Jesus Is A Love Song' and 'Balm In Gilead'.
'The Conqueror' (1988) A&M 8400 / Rejoice Records 8400
This album reached No.7 in the US Gospel charts and featured Rap artist Melle Mel.
'Chistmas' (1990) Sounds Of Gospel
'Count It All Joy/He Gave Me Nothing' (1990) A&M Records
This album reached No.7 in the US Gospel charts and featured Rap artist Melle Mel.
'You Brought the Sunshine/Unworthy' (1990) A&M Records
'Best Of All' (1993)
'Salute the Great Singing Groups/Clark Sisters Swing Again' (1993) Jasmine Music
'Miracle' (1993) Sparrow SPD 1368 / G2 7243 8 51368 2 5
This album was recorded by Jacky, Dorinda and Karen and reached number 8 in the US Gospel charts and
was produced by Grammy Award winners Michael Powell and BeBe Winans.
'The Clark Sisters Live: One Last Time' (2007) EMI Gospel EGD 81094
Karen Clark-Sheard won two Grammy awards in 2008 for Best Gospel Song 'Blessed & Highly Favored' and Best Traditional Gospel Album.
'The Best of the Clark Sisters: Encore' (2008) Dexterity Sounds/Rhino
This album won a 2009 Stellar award for 'Special Event CD of the Year' in 2009.
'The Clark Sisters : The Definitive Gospel Collection' (2008) WEA/WORD WD2-887407
Compilation album.
'A Clark Family Christmas' (2009) Karew Records
The track 'Lord You Are My Everything' features Kierra Sheard and Marvin Winans.
'The Clark Sisters : Power Play 6 Big Hits' Compilation album.
