Twinkie Clark
Few families have a more impressive legacy in gospel music than the Clark Sisters and, like her mother and famous siblings, Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark has carved a stellar reputation built on talent and commitment to ministry.
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.
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