The famous Clark Sisters from Detroit consist of Jacky, Denise, Elbernita (Twinkie), Dorinda, and Karen. The gospel group was created in 1966 by their mother, gospel legend Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. The sisters are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel music.
#TheClarkSisters

Over the last 60 years, The Clark Sisters have recorded a whopping 17 gospel albums and have one 3 Grammys. Their hot singles include “Is My Living In Vain”, “Blessed & Highly Favored”, “You Brought The Sunshine”, “Ha-ya” and many more. They are pioneers of contemporary gospel.

Dr. Mattie Moss Clark was born March 26, 1925 in Selma, Alabama. She moved to Detroit in the 1950s during the Great Migration, which is where her gospel music career took off. Over the next 40 years, she recorded dozens of gospel albums, until her death September 22, 1994.

Elder Elbert Clark was Dr. Mattie Moss Clark’s husband and father of Denise, Twinkie, Dorinda, and Karen. His daughters began singing in his church, Berea Church of God on the city’s Westside. He divorced their mother in 1973, around the time they took off as a group.

Jacky Clark-Chisholm is the oldest of the Clark Sisters, born December 29, 1948 in Selma, Alabama to her mother’s first husband, Leo. She attended Mumford High in Detroit — as did all her sisters. She performed with her sisters for over 40 years, before going solo.

Denise “Niecy” Clark-Bradford is the second oldest of the Clark Sisters, born in 1953. She performed with her sisters for over 20 years, before leaving the group in early 1986. In an interview in 2019, she said she was kicked out for having children out of wedlock by a pastor.

Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark was born November 15, 1954 in Detroit. She is credited for giving the Clark Sisters their unique sound through musical innovation, songwriting, and vocal arrangements known as the “Clark Sound.” Twinkie recorded nearly a dozen solo gospels albums.

Dorinda Clark-Cole was born October 19, 1957 in Detroit to Dr. Mattie Moss Clark and Elbert Clark. She’s often referred to as the “jazzy sister.” She has recorded five solo albums. A licensed national evangelist, Dorinda once ministered to over 4,000 people in South Africa.

Karen Clark-Sheard is the youngest of the Clark Sisters, born November 15, 1960 in Detroit. Her husband is Bishop J. Drew Sheard of Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC in Detroit. Their daughter is recording artist Kierra Sheard and their son is producer J. Drew Sheard II.

#TheClarkSisters lived at this home at 18203 Sorrento between Curtis and Pickford on Detroit’s Westside. It had a custom built brick fence on the side with crosses on it. It was walking distance from Mumford High School. Good ole Detroit history. Nice neighborhood over there.

The brick fence at Dr. Mattie Moss Clark’s former home in Detroit is still standing.