Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole (born Dorinda Grace Clark; October 19, 1957) is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, musician, talk show host, and evangelist. Clark–Cole is best known as a member of family vocal group The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark. As a member of The Clark Sisters, Clark–Cole has won two Grammy Awards. She is known to the music world as the Rose of Gospel Music.
Dorinda Clark-Cole | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Dorinda Grace Clark |
| Also known as | The Rose of Gospel |
| Born | October 19, 1957 Detroit, Michigan, U.S |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels |
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| Member of | |
| Website | theclarksisters dorindaclarkcole karewrecords |
Biography
editEarly life
editClark–Cole was born on October 19, 1957, and raised in Detroit, Michigan,[1] to the late Elbert and Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark. Clark–Cole began singing at an early age with her sisters Karen, Twinkie, Jacky, and Denise. The sisters sang in their father's church and usually performed songs written and composed by their mother. Clark-Cole, an alto referred to as the "jazzy sister" of the group, helped develop what is known as "The Clark Sound", which often features high and fast melismas, riffs, runs, scats, and soulful growls. Clark–Cole attributes her fiery, convicting singing style to her mother, who saw the gift of singing and preaching in her at an early age. Back in the 1960s and 1970s, when other children their age were playing outside, Clark–Cole and her sisters had to work on their familial harmonies.
Clark–Cole says, "We made a lot of sacrifices. My mom was a stickler for making sure we rehearsed before we went out to perform. She saw the gifts and talents within us and started shaping and molding us. She taught us discipline along with how to use our gifts."[2] Clark sang lead on "Overdose of the Holy Ghost", as well as on "My Redeemer Liveth", the B-side to The Clark Sisters' biggest single "You Brought the Sunshine".[3]
Recording career
editClark-Cole's self-titled solo debut, Dorinda Clark-Cole, released in June 2002 on Gospo Centric Records/Zomba Label Group, won two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award. The album featured the hit single "I'm Coming Out". Her second album, The Rose of Gospel, was released under the same label in August 2005. The album debuted in Billboard's top 5 on the Gospel charts and garnered a Grammy Nomination for the Best Traditional Soul Gospel album and won 2007 and 2009 Stellar Award for the Best Female Artist of the Year. The live portions of both albums were produced by Asaph Ward.
After being pushed back from a prematurely stated date in late 2007,[4] Clark–Cole's third solo album, also released on Gospo Centric Records/ Zomba Label Group, Take It Back, was released on April 15, 2008.[5] Producers Alex "Asaph" Ward, PAJAM, and Rodney Jerkins contributed to the project. In 2009, Dorinda released a six-song (EP) album entitled In The Face of Change on September 21. It included hit songs such as "Change" written by her son Jay Cole and "BAMM" which was a "Verizon Select". Released on her own ministry label, "Harvestime Ministries", the album was never heard of until she announced it the day of its release. A video on YouTube has a preview of all of the new songs on the record.[6] Another solo project, I Survived, was released in August 2011 under a new label, Light Records. The project also contains duet titled "Thank You" with her sister, Twinkie Clark. Clark–Cole was featured on the title track of Kirk Franklin's Hero album.[7] In early 2009, Clark–Cole performed "Nothing but the Truth" for the Sojourner Truth unveiling on Capitol Hill for First Lady Michelle Obama and other officials. As a member of the Clark Sisters, Clark–Cole won three Grammys in 2008. Live – One Last Time won the Best Traditional Gospel Album. Its album track, "Blessed & Highly Favored", won the Best Gospel Performance as well as the individual Best Gospel Song. With the group she appeared nationally on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ABC's The View, Bobby Jones Gospel, Lift Every Voice, Gospel Superfest, TBN's Praise the Lord, The Stellar Awards and The Lady of Soul Awards.
Personal and religious life
editClark-Cole has been evangelizing and making speaking engagements annually for over 30 years, along with her singing career and being a wife and mother. Clark–Cole married Gregory Cole on December 2, 1978 and together they now have 2 children, Nikkia Cole-Beach and Gregory "Jay" Cole Jr. Dr. Cole also has two grandchildren. Clark–Cole ministers nationally as well as internationally in countries such as England, Japan, Germany, France, Korea and South Africa. She made history in South Africa, having been the first woman to minister in the pulpit to over 4,000 people. Clark-Cole is a staple in the Church of God in Christ of which she is a licensed National Evangelist, Assistant State Mother for the Michigan North Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction,Former Vice-President of The Music Department and in 2016, was appointed by Former Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake as the Elect Lady of the COGIC's International Evangelism Department. She taught at the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit and is an administrator of ministry at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC.
Clark-Cole's preaching ministry has also gained interest within academic spaces. According to scholar of religion Ashon Crawley, By attending to the Black Pentecostal aesthetics of whooping found in Clark-Cole's "Why Do I Come Back for More" sermon, Clark-Cole's homily is examined as producing the worship space as a discontinuous and open sonic space, open to the other voices that both proceeded her moment of being overcome with Spirit -such that other women gathered around, held and hugged her -and extended the preacherly moment by sociality, through opening up and diffusing the very grounds for the concept, for preaching, for listening, for breathing. Crawley would go on to offer a reading of Clark-Cole's whooping that places the fundamental quality of such aesthetic sociality, not in the fact that it can be shared but in the fact that it must be shared by all, for vitality, for life. This sharing in and as commons, Crawley argues, enacts violence against any form of marginalization or oppression.[8]
Other career ventures and accomplishments
editClark–Cole is the new host of TCT Network's Dorinda Show, co-host of TCT's Celebrate on the Road, former Stellar Awards host, guest judge on Verizon's "How Sweet The Sound" national televised competition, and the former spokes-model for Donna Vinci Clothing, and her "Rose Collection" is now distributed by Terra Mina Fashions. She has since partnered with MR. SONG, a fashion designer of Detroit, in creating The Bloom Collection, a couture collection of hat adorning accessories. She is national radio host of Serving Up Soul with Dorinda Clark Cole which syndicates to 50 affiliated radio stations. She is also the Founder and CEO of Lifeline Productions Inc., which holds an annual Singers & Musicians Conference. Through this conference it is her goal to educate a new generation of ministers of the importance of "keeping ministry in the music" by offering various activities including daily workshops and evening worship services featuring from artists whose ministries have gone beyond ministering in song. In September 2004 she received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Mt. Carmel Theological Seminary of Fresno, California.[9]
Clark–Cole says that if she did not have a career in music that she would be "dancing on Broadway", and her dream would be "to sing with Bette Midler, Cher and Celine Dion".[10] She is currently represented by Keith Douglas, CEO of RKD Music Management in Los Angeles, California.
Discography
editSolo albums
edit| Title | Album details | Chart positions[11] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [12] |
US Gospel [13] |
US Christ. [14] |
US Indie [15] | ||
| Dorinda Clark-Cole |
|
— | 5 | 14 | |
| Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel | 159 | 3 | 4 | — | |
| Take It Back | 104 | 3 | — | — | |
| I Survived | 120 | 3 | — | 23 | |
| Living It | — | 2 | — | 14 | |
Collaborative Albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Right Now God (with Alaska Mass Choir) |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| In the Face of Change |
|
Singles
editAs a lead artist
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [28] | |||
| "No Not One" (featuring J Moss) |
2002 | — | Dorinda Clark-Cole |
| "I'm Coming Out" | — | ||
| "Still Here" | — | ||
| "Great Is The Lord" | 2005 | 18 | Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel |
| "So Many Times" | 2006 | 21 | |
| "Take It Back" | 2008 | 2 | Take It Back |
| "Change" | 2009 | — | |
| "This Is It" | — | ||
| "Back to You" | 2011 | 9 | I Survived |
| "He Brought Me" | 16 | ||
| "God Will Take Care of You" | — | ||
| "For My Good" | — | ||
| "Thank You" (featuring Twinkie Clark) |
— | ||
| "You Are" | 2014 | 25 | Living It |
| "Bless This House" | 12 | ||
| "Living It" | — | ||
| "Great and Mighty" | 2023 |
As featured artist
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Gospel [28] | |||
| "Hero" (Kirk Franklin featuring Dorinda Clark Cole)[29] |
2005 | 25 | Hero |
| "YRM (Your Righteous Mind)" (Donald Lawrence & Co. featuring Dorinda Clark Cole)[30] |
2010 | 15 | YRM (Your Righteous Mind) |
| "He Knows" (Karen Clark Sheard featuring Dorinda Clark Cole) |
14 | All in One | |
| "He Got Up" (VaShawn Mitchell featuring Dorinda Clark Cole), Sean Tillery & Changed)[31] |
2018 | 15 | Cross Music |
Guest appearances
edit- "Hero (featuring Dorinda Clark Cole)" – Kirk Franklin (from Hero)
- "Tis So Sweet" – Dorinda Clark Cole (from Build A Bridge)
- "Higher Ground" – Missy Elliott, Karen Clark Sheard, Kim Burrell, Mary Mary, Dorinda Clark Cole, and Yolanda Adams (from Miss E... So Addictive) (Elektra, 2001)
- "It Will All Be Worth It" – Mary Mary feat. Gospel Legends (from The Sound)
- "I'm Wrapped in You (featuring Dorinda Clark Cole)" – Bishop Eddie L. Long (from The Kingdom, Vol. 1 (feat. GW's))
- "Still Mighty, Still Strong (feat. Dorinda Clark Cole)" – Youthful Praise, Resting on His Promise (2009)
- "This is That" & "Luke 5" (Feat. Dorinda Clark Cole) – (Robi Rivers Presents The Voices of Calvary, LIVE 2015, Rivers of Melody Music Label)
- "Who's On The Lord's Side" (Feat. Dorinda Clark Cole) – Byron Cage, Malaaco 50th Anniversary 2018, Malaaco Records)
Videography
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Dorinda Clark-Cole Live | |
| Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel |
Filmography
edit- The Marriage Lover (2011)
- The Dorinda Show (2008–2011)
- How Sweet The Sound (2009)
- The Gospel According to Dorinda (2014–2016)
Awards
editBET Awards
editThe BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Dorinda Clark-Cole has received 2 nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Best Gospel Artist | Nominated |
| 2020 | "Victory" | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | Nominated |
BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards
editThe BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards are awarded annually. Clark-Cole has been honored once.[35]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Herself | Trailblazer of Gospel Music | Honored |
Dove Awards
editThe Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Dorinda Clark-Cole has won 2 awards from 10 nominations.[36]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Won |
| 2008 | The Clark Sisters | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "Blessed and Highly Favored" | Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| Live – One Last Time | Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2009 | "Take It Back" | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | "He Got Up" (with VaShawn Mitchell) | Nominated | |
| 2020 | "Victory" | Nominated | |
| Inspirational Film of the Year | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Nominated | |
| Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | The Return | Won |
Grammy Awards
editThe Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Dorinda Clark-Cole has won 3 awards from 10 nominations, including a Lifetime Achievement award.[37][38][39]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sincerely | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group | Nominated |
| 1987 | Heart & Soul | Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus | Nominated |
| 1988 | Conqueror | Nominated | |
| 1990 | Bringing it Back Home | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2005 | Live From Houston (The Rose of Gospel) | Nominated | |
| 2007 | "Blessed & Highly Favored" | Best Gospel Performance | Won |
| Live: One Last Time | Best Traditional Gospel Album | Won | |
| 2008 | Take It Back | Nominated | |
| 2009 | "Higher Ground" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated |
| 2015 | Living It | Best Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2024 | The Clark Sisters | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Honored |
NAACP Image Awards
editThe NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Dorinda Clark-Cole has won 2 awards from 4 nominations.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Clark Sisters | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Won |
| 1989 | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | "Victory" | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary | Nominated |
| 2021 | The Return | Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album | Won |
Soul Train Awards
editThe Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Dorinda Clark-Cole has received 1 award.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Heart & Soul | Best Gospel Album – Group or Choir | Nominated |
| 1989 | Conqueror | Best Gospel Album | Nominated |
| 2003 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | Lady of Soul Best Gospel Album | Won |
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | Best Gospel/Inspirational Award [40] | Nominated |
Stellar Awards
editThe Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Dorinda Clark-Cole has received 12 awards and 1 honorary award.
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | Female Vocalist of the Year | Won |
| Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
| 2007 | Live From Houston - The Rose of Gospel | Female Vocalist of the Year | Won |
| Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Traditional CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2008 | Live... One Last Time | CD of the Year | Won |
| Artist of the Year | Won | ||
| Group or Duo of the Year | Won | ||
| Traditional Group/Duo of the Year | Won | ||
| 2009 | Take It Back | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Female Vocalist of the Year | Won | ||
| Tradition Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters | Special Event CD of the Year | Won | |
| 2010 | Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze (with Kierra Sheard and J. Moss) | Won | |
| 2013 | I Survived | Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| Contemporary Female of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Contemporary CD of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Living It | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated |
| Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Bless This House | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2020 | The Clark Sisters | James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award | Honored |
| 2021 | The Return | Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Won |
| Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Gospel According to PJ | Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year | Won | |
| The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack | Special Event CD of the Year | Won |
References
edit- ^ Farias, Andree. "Dorinda Clark-Cole : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ "Dorinda Cole, The Lady, Her Music, and Her Ministry". The Michigan Chronicle. August 15, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ Terron Austin. "Dorinda Clark Cole. She is also a relative of Johnny Clark-Coleman. He is originated in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He is 18 years old. When he grow up, he would like to be just like his cousin. (Biography)". TheClarkSisters.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007.
- ^ "Dorinda's Third: Dorinda Clark-Cole readies 'Yesterday' album". Cross Rhythms.
- ^ Yesterday on CD Universe
- ^ "New Dorinda Clark Cole EP is Perfect for the New Year". January 5, 2010.
- ^ Stan North. "Kirk Franklin: Hero (album review)". GospelFlava.com.
- ^ Crawley, Ashon T. 2017. Blackpentecostal Breath: The Aesthetics of Possibility. New York: Fordham University Press.
- ^ "#WEW: Dr. Dorinda Clark-Cole Shows Us How to Never Give up on Faith". October 27, 2020.
- ^ Clark, Melanie (June 2002). "Insider with Dorinda Clark Cole". Gospelflava.com.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History | Billboard (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History | Billboard (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History | Billboard (Top Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History | Billboard (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ a b c "Dorinda Clark-Cole – Dorinda Clark-Cole | Releases | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Dorinda Clark-cole by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The Rose of Gospel – Dorinda Clark-Cole | Releases | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "The Rose of Gospel by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Take It Back – Dorinda Clark-Cole | Releases | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Take It Back - Album by Dorinda Clark-Cole | Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "I Survived – Dorinda Clark-Cole | Releases | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "I Survived by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Living It – Dorinda Clark-Cole | Releases | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Living It by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Alaska Mass Choir feat. Dorinda Clark-Cole Right Now God". Amazon. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "In the Face of Change - EP by Dorinda Clark-Cole on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b "Dorinda Clark-Cole Chart History | Billboard (Hot Gospel Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2022 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ Farias, Andree. "Hero – Kirk Franklin". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Lacy, Dwayne. "Donald Lawrence & Co. YRM: Your Righteous Mind - Reviews". GospelFlava.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "He Got Up VaShawn Mitchell feat. Dorinda Clark Cole with Sean Tillery & Changed". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Dorinda Clark-Cole Live [Video/DVD] by Dorinda Clark-Cole". Allmusic. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "Live From Houston: The Rose Of Gospel DVD by Dorinda Clark-Cole". newreleasetoday.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Gough, Wayne (March 5, 2008). "Review: Dorinda Clark-Cole - Live From Houston: The Rose Of Gospel". CrossRhythms. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ "The Legendary Dorinda Clark-Cole of The Clark Sisters to be Honored at the 2024 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards". February 22, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Past Winners". Dove Awards. Enter 'The Clark Sisters' into the 'Search:' field to see list of awards. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ "Clark Sisters". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ "Karen Clark-Sheard". Grammy Awards. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ Greg Evans (January 5, 2024). "Gladys Knight, N.W.A, Laurie Anderson & Tammy Wynette Among 2024 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees". Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ Paul Grein (November 11, 2020). "H.E.R. & Chris Brown Lead 2020 Soul Train Awards Nominations: Here's the Complete List". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2020.