Karen Clark Sheard
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| Karen Clark-Sheard | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Karen Valencia Clark | |
| Born | November 1960[citation needed] | |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan | |
| Genre(s) | Gospel | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, keyboardist | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals | |
| Years active | 1970-present | |
| Label(s) | Island Black Music, Elektra, Word | |
| Associated acts |
The Clark Sisters Kierra "Kiki" Sheard Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark Dorinda Clark Cole Jacky Clark Chisholm Mattie Moss Clark J Moss |
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| Website | http://www.karenclarksheard.com | |
Karen Clark Sheard (born Karen Valencia Clark) is an American gospel singer, member of seminal group The Clark Sisters, and mother of contemporary gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard.
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[edit] Brief Biography
Karen Clark Sheard was born the youngest of six children born to Pastor Elbert Clark and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a pioneering gospel choral director. Clark-Sheard is best known for being a member of iconic gospel group The Clark Sisters.
Karen's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 (along with Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin) led to her signing with Island Records.[1] Her solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997. The album, consisting of half studio recordings and half live recordings, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1998. The set did however win the Lady Of Soul award for Best Gospel Album the same year.[2]
After Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard became the 2nd gospel artist to sign to Elektra Records. She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002 led off by the single "Be Sure". Though Clark-Sheard was in excellent form vocally, the slick, progressive sound of the disc was not received well. The 2003 followup The Heavens Are Telling fared well, but came at an awkward time when Elektra Records was being dissolved into Atlantic Records. In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Karen Clark Sheard finally signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over, the following year.
[edit] Personal life
On June 16, 1984, Karen Clark-Sheard wed John Drew Sheard, a minister. Her husband is senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Together they have 2 children: Kierra, who is also a gospel recording artist, and John Drew Sheard II, a young musician and up-and-coming producer.
In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled hernia surgery. Her doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival due to her complications. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted three months, but Clark-Sheard made a miraculous recovery and recorded her sophomore album, 2nd Chance (named so because of the "second chance" given to her by God), in 2002. Clark-Sheard's near-death experience is referenced in her daughter Kierra's song "You Don't Know".
[edit] Voice
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Voice
- Wagnerian Soprano
Highest note
- G6 in "Christ is Coming Back"
Highest Full Voice Note
- C6 in "You Showed Me"
Lowest note
- C3 in "You Showed Me"
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
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Finally Karen (Island)
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2nd Chance (Elektra)
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The Heavens Are Telling (Elektra)
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It's Not Over (Word)
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[edit] Other
| Year | Title | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "If My People Which Are Called By My Name" "Everything Will Be Alright" "Christ Is Coming Back Again" "Come I'll Give You Rest" |
Mattie Moss Clark feat. Karen Clark | He Was Hung Up For My Hangups | Sound Of Gospel |
| 1993 | "The Grass Withereth" | Karen Clark-Sheard | Thomas Whitfield: A Tribute to "The Maestro" | Benson/A&M |
| 1996 | "Don't Give Up" | Island Inspirational All-Stars featuring Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, and Donald Lawrence | Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood (Soundtrack) | Island |
| 1996 | "Act Like You Know" | LaShun Pace featuring Karen Clark-Sheard | A Wealthy Place | Savoy |
| 1996 | "I Won't Complain" | FAMU Gospel Choir featuring Karen Clark-Sheard | Twinkie Clark-Terrell presents FAMU Gospel Choir | Crystal Rose |
| 2000 | "God's Favor" | Tri-City Singers featuring Karen Clark-Sheard, Kim Burrell, and Kelly Price | Tri-City4.com | EMI Gospel |
| 2001 | "Fa Sho'" | Yolanda Adams featuring Karen Clark-Sheard | Believe | Elektra |
| 2001 | "King" | Darwin Hobbs & Karen Clark-Sheard | Boycott (Soundtrack) | EMI Gospel |
| 2002 | "Christ Is Coming Back Again" | Twinkie Clark featuring Karen Clark-Sheard | Live In Charlotte N.C. | Verity |
| 2002 | "Fatal Attraction" | Karen Clark-Sheard | T.D. Jakes Presents: God's Leading Ladies (Various Artists) | Dexterity Sounds/EMI Gospel |
| 2003 | "Show Me The Way" | Dorinda Clark-Cole featuring The Clark Sisters | Dorinda Clark Cole | GospoCentric |
| 2004 | "Don't Nobody Know" | Ramiyah featuring Karen Clark Sheard, Kierra KiKi Sheard, & Dorinda Clark Cole | Ramiyah | Sony Music Entertainment |
| 2006 | "Wrong Things" | Kierra Sheard (Karen Clark Sheard as backing vocal) | This Is Me | EMI Gospel |
[edit] Trivia
- Mariah Carey, Faith Evans and Beyoncé count Karen Clark-Sheard as one of their greatest vocal influences.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Karen Clark Sheard. GospelCity.com (March 22, 2000).
- ^ Award Nominations at The Envelope. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Jones, Steven. An interview with Karen Clark Sheard. GospelFlava.com.
[edit] External links
- Official Karen Clark Sheard website
- Official website of The Clark Sisters
- Karen Clark Sheard Official MySpace
| The Clark Sisters | |
| Jacky Clark Chisholm | Twinkie Clark | Dorinda Clark Cole | Karen Clark Sheard Former: Denise Clark Bradford Related: Mattie Moss Clark | J Moss | Kierra "Kiki" Sheard |
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