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NASHVILLE - It took the 50th Anniversary of the Grammy© Awards, the gospel events leading up to it and the fact that a pioneering group in the popularization of Gospel was embarking upon a "Reunion Tour," for Detroit's legendary Clark Sisters to make a long overdue splash at "music's biggest night."
The Clark Sisters ( Elbertina "Twinkie" Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Jacky Clark-Chisolm, and Karen Clark-Sheard) took home trophies in three major categories: Best Traditional Gospel Album (for Live - One Last Time), Best Gospel Performance (for "Blessed & Highly Favored" - which tied with Aretha Franklin & Mary J. Blige's "Never Gonna Break My Faith") and Best Gospel Song (for Karen Clark-Sheard's composition "Blessed & Highly Favored").
The Gospel Hall of Fame members were also recipients in June 2007 of the esteemed President's Merit Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Grammy Salute to Gospel. After two decade-plus of faithful service, these marked the quartet's very first well-deserved Grammys.
"We feel overjoyed, knowing there is hope no matter how long the wait is in receiving what God has for you," says Dorinda Clark Cole. "It is our time!"
As if the honors were not enough, The Clark Sisters were also featured in the prime time telecast on Sunday night in an all-star medley singing their classic "You Brought the Sunshine," the first crossover gospel/pop hit to become the #1 Billboard album in 1983.
The superstar siblings performed in the company of the legendary Aretha Franklin, as well as, with Bebe Winans, Israel and New Breed, the Madison Bumble Bees and Trin-i-tee 5:7, earning an overwhelming standing ovation for one of the most unforgettable performances of the magical evening.
"Performing with The Queen of Soul and our peers was an unforgettable night that I will always remember," says Karen Clark-Sheard. "It was a great honor to be recognized by the music industry's most prestige [sic] organization."
2007/08 has been a banner year for the ladies. The Clark Sisters are in the midst of heavy promotion for their very successful reunion CD/DVD for the EMI Gospel label, Live - One Last Time, their first project together since focusing on solo careers following the release of 1994's Miracle.
The generous, 17-song Live (produced by Donald Lawrence and recorded in July 2006 before a sell-out crowd of 6,000 in Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center) has been a fixture in the Top 10 of Billboard magazine's Top Gospel Albums chart for 43 weeks (including the #1 slot) since its release on April 10, 2007. The group took home five Stellar Awards in January for the historic reunion release. March will find them embarking on the second leg of their breathlessly awaited concert tour.
For more information about the Clark Sisters, visit www.theclarksisters.com.
Congratulations to all the winners in Gospel categories!
Best Gospel Performance
(For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.)
East To West
Casting Crowns
Track from: The Altar And The Door
[Beach Street Records/Reunion Records]
(Tie)
Blessed & Highly Favored
The Clark Sisters
Track from: Live - One Last Time
[EMI Gospel]
Never Gonna Break My Faith
Aretha Franklin & Mary J. Blige (Featuring The Harlem Boys Choir)
Track from: Bobby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
[Island Def Jam] [EMI Gospel] b41
Thirsty
Marvin Sapp
[Verity]
Cherch
Bebe Winans
[Koch Records]
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)
Grateful
Coko
[Light Records]
Free To Worship
Fred Hammond
[Verity]
V2…
J. Moss
[Gospo Centric/Zomba Gospel]
T57
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Spirit Rising Music/Music World Entertainment]
Alone But Not Alone
Marvin Winans
[Pure Springs Gospel]
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