Dorinda Clark-Cole

Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole (née 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.

Biography Early life Clark–Cole was born on October 19, 1957, and raised in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Elbert and Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark.

Clark–Cole began singing at an early age with her sisters Jacky, Denise,Twinkie and Karen. The sisters sang in their father's church and usually performed songs written and composed by their mother. Clark-Cole, a soprano 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." 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".

Recording career Clark-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 Billboards 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, Clark–Cole's third solo album, also released on Gospo Centric Records/ Zomba Label Group, Take It Back, was released on April 15, 2008. 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. 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. 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 Clark-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.

Other career ventures and accomplishments Clark–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.

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". She is currently represented by Keith Douglas, CEO of RKD Music Management in Los Angeles, California.

Discography Solo albums TitleAlbum detailsChart positions US USGospel USChrist. USIndie Dorinda Clark-ColeReleased: June 11, 2002 Label: GospoCentric —515Live From Houston: The Rose of GospelReleased: August 16, 2005 Label: GospoCentric 15934 —Take It BackReleased: 2008 Label: GospoCentric 104 3 — —I SurvivedReleased: August 30, 2011 Label: Light, eOne 120 3 — 23Living ItReleased: February 17, 2015 Label: Light , eOne — 2 — 14DeterminedReleased: November 29, 2024 Label: Malaco Formats: digital download, streaming Label: JDI Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays + List of albums, with selected details Title Album details In the Face of Change Released: September 21, 2009 Labels: Harvestime Ministries Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles As a lead artist + List of singles, as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Year Title Peak chart positions Album USHot Gospel USGospel Airplay "No Not One" 2002—— Dorinda Clark-Cole "I'm Coming Out"—— "Still Here"—— "Great Is The Lord" 2005 18 18 Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel "So Many Times" 2006 21 21 "Take It Back" 2008 2 2 Take It Back "Change" 2009—— "This Is It"—— "Back to You" 2011 9 9 I Survived "He Brought Me" 16 16 "God Will Take Care of You"—— "For My Good"—— "Thank You"—— "You Are" 2014 25 20 Living It "Bless This House" 12 9 "Living It"— "Great and Mighty"2024 13 1 Determined

As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Year Title Peak chart positions Album USHot Gospel 200525 Hero "YRM (Your Righteous Mind)" 201015 YRM (Your Righteous Mind) "He Knows"14 All in One "He Got Up" 201815 Cross Music

Guest appearances "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 + List of albums, with selected details

Released: June 10, 2003 Label: GospoCentric Label: GospoCentric Formats: DVD

Year Award Nominated work Result 2022 One of the Most-Performed Songs of the Year "His Love" 2024 Trailblazer of Gospel Music Herself

Dove Awards

The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Clark-Cole has won 2 awards from 13 nominations.

Year Award Nominated work Result 1983 Inspirational Black Gospel Album of the Year Sincerely 1987 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Heart & Soul 1995 Traditional Black Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Amazing Grace" 2008 Artist of the Year The Clark Sisters Group of the Year Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Blessed and Highly Favored" Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year Live – One Last Time 2009 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Take It Back" 2018 "He Got Up" (with VaShawn Mitchell) 2020 "Victory" Inspirational Film of the Year The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel Traditional Gospel Album of the Year The Return 2026 Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey)

Grammy Awards

The 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. Year Award Nominated workResult 1983' Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group Sincerely 1987 Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus Heart & Soul 1988 Conqueror 1990 Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album Bringing it Back Home 2005 Live From Houston (The Rose of Gospel) 2007 Best Gospel Performance "Blessed & Highly Favored" Best Traditional Gospel Album Live: One Last Time 2008 Take It Back 2009 Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "Higher Ground" 2015 Best Gospel Album Living It 2024 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award The Clark Sisters

NAACP Image Awards

The 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 6 nominations.

Year Award Nominated workResult 1983 Outstanding Gospel Artist The Clark Sisters 1989 2020 Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song – Traditional or Contemporary "Victory" 2021 Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album The Return 2026 Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey) Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

Soul Train Awards The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Dorinda Clark-Cole has received 1 award.

Year Award Nominated workResult Soul Train Music Awards 1988 Best Gospel Album – Group or Choir Heart & Soul 1989 Best Gospel Album Conqueror 2020 Best Gospel/Inspirational Award The Clark Sisters Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards 2003 Best Gospel Album Dorinda Clark-Cole

Stellar Awards The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Dorinda Clark-Cole has received 15 awards and 2 honorary awards.

Year Award Nominated workResult 2003 Female Vocalist of the Year Dorinda Clark-Cole Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year 2007 Female Vocalist of the Year Live From Houston - The Rose of Gospel Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year Traditional CD of the Year The Chevrolet Most Notable Achievement Award The Clark Sisters 2008 CD of the Year Live... One Last Time Artist of the Year Group or Duo of the Year Traditional Group/Duo of the Year 2009 Artist of the Year Take It Back Female Vocalist of the Year Tradition Female Vocalist of the Year CD of the Year Special Event CD of the Year Encore: The Best of the Clark Sisters 2010 Silky Soul Music... An All-Star Tribute to Maze (with Kierra Sheard and J. Moss) 2013 Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year I Survived Contemporary Female of the Year Contemporary CD of the Year 2016 Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year Living It Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year Song of the Year Bless This House 2020 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award The Clark Sisters 2021 Contemporary Duo/Group Chorus of the Year The Return Duo/Group Chorus of the Year Traditional Duo/Group Chorus of the Year Gospel According to PJ Special Event CD of the Year The First Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack 2025 Traditional Artist of the Year Determined Traditional Album of the Year Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year Traditional Female Artist of the Year 2026 Contemporary Duo/Chorus Group of the Year "Jesus I Do" (with Mariah Carey)

Miscellaneous honors Year Organization Award Nominated workResult 1999 Michigan's International Gospel Music Hall of Fame The Clark Sisters 2019 Essence Fest's Strength Of A Woman Brunch Strength of A Woman Award 2022 Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame 2025 Missouri Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2026 Hollywood Walk of Fame