Cynthia Clawson
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Cynthia Clawson has been singing the gospel for more than four decades. Called "The most awesome voice in gospel music" by Billboard Magazine, she has received a Grammy and five Dove Awards for her work.
She was three years old when her father first asked her to sing in the small church he pastored, and Cynthia has not stopped since - from local neighborhood churches to Robert Schuller's Hour of Power to London's Wembley Stadium. Though never considered a southern gospel singer by critics and fans, she has been honored to be a frequent guest on Bill and Gloria Gaither's Homecoming series. Cynthia has reached millions of people throughout the world with God's message of love and grace.
A graduate of Howard Payne University with a major in vocal performance and a minor in piano, Cynthia was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Houston Baptist University in 1995. After winning the Arthur Godfrey Talent Show her senior year in college, Cynthia was spotted by a CBS television producer who signed her to headline a summer replacement for The Carol Burnett Show. That show led her to a recording contract with record producer Buryl Red. Around that time, Buryl was writing a new musical with his good friend Ragan Courtney entitled Celebrate Life and Cynthia was invited to record the solos for the original cast album. That association turned out to be an extremely important one, as Ragan and Cynthia were married within six months and began a lifetime of creative collaboration.
Throughout her career, Cynthia has continued to push beyond the boundaries of traditional gospel music. Her rendition of Softly and Tenderly set the evocative tone for the soundtrack of the Academy Award winning movie The Trip to Bountiful. In 1998, she recorded a cast album of gospel songs for a revival of the musical Smoke on the Mountain, which opened at the Lambs Theatre in New York City.
Cynthia's recording entitled, See Me, God, has received overwhelming audience response. This work is arguably her most personal album to date and is "vintage Cynthia" as it explores the struggles and sorrows of life. She asks questions while celebrating the faith and the joy that comes through an artist's struggle. Also, the recording of an all-new a cappella Christmas album, Carols and Chant, was completed in the fall of 2004 and has been gratefully received and highly praised by its listeners.
Currently, Cynthia and Ragan are co-pastors of The Sanctuary Austin, Texas where they design worship services using theatrical arts and musical expression to communicate eternal truths. Their son, Will, has recently returned from Los Angeles to work with The Calla Lily Company and their daughter, Lily, has now graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in Religious Studies and is also working for the family-owned music production company. Following in their family tradition of making music, Will and Lily have released their own new Indie rock CD called Brothers and Sisters.
