One of the gospel community’s most versatile talents, Butler had his first song recorded at age 17 by Dallas’ DFW Mass Choir, and he became friends with choir director Kirk Franklin. DFW Mass Choir evolved into the groundbreaking group God’s Property and Butler became choral director.

Mentored by Franklin, Butler continued to hone his talents and gained a reputation for his writing and production. He has written and/or produced songs for Franklin, Smokie Norful, Kim Burrell, Twinkie Clark and other top gospel artists, as well as for the soundtrack to the film Kingdom Come.

He formed his own group, Myron Butler & Levi, and signed with EMI Gospel in 2004. “When I talk to aspiring artists, I tell them 90% of the reason I got a recording contract was the company being able to look at my track record as a songwriter,” Butler says. “It was me writing and writing and writing that was the catalyst that got me the record deal. I tell other aspiring artists that if they continue to develop the craft and are serious about it, it will take them so much further than they thought it could.”

Butler plans to go into a studio in El Paso and begin work on his sophomore disc. “We’re just going to get away and create and really make sure we’re hearing what God would have us say on this next record,” the Dallas resident says. “We want to create music that people enjoy. [We want] them to dance to it, learn from it, live by it and be made a better person.”

Butler says he plans to record a duet with Franklin on the new album. He’s also producing a solo album on Levi member Candy West. “I want to do more producing and songwriting,” he says. “I want to continue to lay the foundation for what God already started in me.”

The daughter of the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark — legendary singer, composer, director, and founder of the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit — Twinkie rose to prominence performing with her sisters Dorinda, Jacky and Karen as the Clark Sisters, but has also managed to develop as successful solo career.

Currently recording for Verity Records, Twinkie released the highly acclaimed Home Once Again . . . Live in Detroit last summer and has been busy touring in support of the album. As much as she loves the thrill of live performance, Twinkie admits there’s always been a special place in her heart for the craft of songwriting, a gift that was nurtured by her mother.

“My mom was a great influence in my life, and her whole thing was music,” says Twinkie, who began writing songs at age 15 and has become known as the “Queen of the Hammond B3” organ. “I’d have to give mom that credit [for developing my writing skills], too,” she says, “along with listening to some of my favorites, like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Herbie Hancock.”

When she’s writing for a new record, Clark says she tries to “shut everybody out and kind of hear from God and try to come up with something I think will encourage somebody else.”

In the future, Twinkie will continue to have the best of both worlds: working solo and with her family. “My sisters and I are trying to do some kind of a reunion, that’s pretty much what I’ll be doing until the end of the year,” she says, “and then next year I’m going to be working on another recording.”

Whatever Twinkie and her sisters do, they are continually inspired by Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. “She said to always seek God’s anointing because without his anointing we aren’t effective as singers and musicians and we can’t do our ministry effectively and bless the lives of people,” Clark says.

Honorees at the Delta Airlines-sponsored event were BMI songwriter/artist Cissy Houston and The Clark Sisters (including BMI affiliate Dorinda Clark-Cole). The gala luncheon also featured special musical performances by Virtue, Kim Burrell, Albertina Walker, Angie Stone, Yolanda Adams and Mary Mary, who took home a Stellar Award for Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year.

The 19th Annual Stellar Awards took place the next day at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Hosts for the 2004 celebration included BMI Award-winning songwriter/artists Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and Kirk Franklin.

Kierra Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, BMI's Del Bryant, Cissy Houston, and BMI's Catherine Brewton

BMI's Del Bryant, Albertina Walker, BMI's Phil Graham and Catherine Brewton

Ebony Holland, Heather Trotter, Kim Burrell, BMI's Catherine Brewton, Karima Kibble, and Dion Carter

BMI's Phil Graham, Rodney Jerkins, Freddie Jerkins, and BMI's Catherine Brewton

Natalie Wilson, BMI's Wardell Malloy, Kirk Franklin, BMI's Catherine Brewton, and Marvin "Coke" Winans

Twinkie Clark, Jacky Clark Chisholm, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard