Mattie Moss Clark
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| Mattie Moss Clark | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1925 |
| Origin | Selma, Alabama |
| Died | September 22, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | gospel music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, musician, conductor, arranger, producer |
| Years active | 1950s-1994 |
| Label(s) | Savoy, Sound of Gospel, Westbound, Malaco, Sparrow |
| Associated acts | The Clark Sisters Karen Clark Sheard Dorinda Clark Cole Twinkie Clark Jacky Clark-Chisholm Kierra "Kiki" Sheard J Moss |
| Website | TheClarkSisters.com |
Mattie Juliet Moss Cullum Clark was an American gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a world-renowned gospel vocal group. Clark is credited for creating the three-part harmony (separating vocal parts into soprano, alto and tenor), a technique which is prevalent among gospel choirs today.
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[edit] Biography
Born the seventh of nine children to Fred Moss and Mattie J. Walker in Selma, Alabama, she began playing the piano when she was six years old. By 12, she became the musician for her mother's services at the Church of Christ and Prayer. After high school, she attended Selma University and received training in classical music and choral singing. In addition, she continued to travel with her mother and play at her mission services.
She moved to Detroit in 1947 to be with her sister Sybil Burke and became a member of Greater Love Tabernacle Church of God in Christ. There, under the leadership of Bishop W. Rimson, she was baptized in the Holy Ghost and subsequently became the Minister of Music. She served an historic tenure as Minister of Music for both Southwest Michigan Jurisdiction and Bailey Temple Church of God in Christ, under Bishop John Seth Bailey. Soon when she was in demand to train choirs at churches throughout the brotherhood of COGIC. She married her first husband, Mr. Cullum, and that union produced two children: Leo and Jacqueline. Her next marriage was to Elder Elbert Clark, and unto their union four daughters were born: Denise, Elbernita (known as "Twinkie"), Dorinda and Karen.
In 1958, she recorded "Going to Heaven to Meet the King", with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, becoming the first person to commit the sounds of a choir to record. She was also the first person to separate vocal parts into soprano, alto and tenor. She received three gold albums with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, and went on to write and arrange hundreds of song and recorded over 50 albums.
She directed Cadillac Motor Company's Christmas choir for 11 years and also conducted community-wide mass choirs for the prestigious NAACP Freedom Fund Dinners. In 1979, she founded the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit, which established itself as one of the most prestigious schools of its kind in the country. In 1981, Trinity College] in Pennsylvania conferred upon her one of their highest honors, the degree of Doctor of Humanity . After the death of Bishop Bailey in 1985, she continued as State Minister of Music for Southwest Michigan Jurisdiction #1, attending Greater Mitchell Church of God in Christ, under Bishop J.H. Sheard. She was also one of the editors and contributors to the hymnal published by the Church of God in Christ entitled, Yes, Lord.
When the late Bishop J.O. Patterson appointed her the International President of the Music Department in 1968, she worked to instill within musicians and choirs a responsibility to Christ as well as capability for Christ. Throughout her efforts, young people especially received her and many were saved, and uplifted by her music and message.
She completely revolutionized the music departments. She gave definition to the role of State Minister of Music, traveled year-round to every state in the country conducting workshops, rehearsals and musicals to prepare choirs for service on the National Church level and organized the structure of the National Music Convention of the Church of God in Christ. Dr. Clark introduced the workshop and seminar concept to the convention, and, along with her staff, structured classes for the convention and created "A Star Is Born", the program where new talent was introduced before thousands.
As her health declined, Dr. Clark never lost the fire and passion for her mission, and she learned to give all she had whatever God gave her and believed He would do the rest. An accomplished musician, arranger, composer, leader, director, teacher and exemplary woman of God, Dr. Clark died on September 22, 1994. Her legacy is one that will stand as a testament to the anointing of God and His gifts. What she accomplished is matched by only a handful of anointed vessels, cementing her standing as the true "First Lady" of gospel music.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Choir Albums
Unless noted, these albums were recorded as "Mattie Moss Clark presents Southwest Michigan State Choir, Church of God in Christ". For lack of dated information, these releases are being put in order of their Savoy Records catalog numbers.
- Going To Heaven to Meet the King (1958)
- Lord Do Something For Me (KAPP, 1959 KL-1258) - (by The State Choir of Southwestern Michigan Church Of God In Christ, Eugene J. Potts, Director)
- Salvation is Free (Savoy, 1965, MG-14077)
- Wonderful Wonderful (Savoy, 1963, MG-14077)
- None But The Pure In Heart (Savoy, July, 1964, MG-)
- A Closer Walk With Thee (Savoy, 1966, MG-)
- Show Me The Way (Savoy, 1967, MG-)
- Lord, Renew My Spirit Within (Savoy, 1968, MG-)
- Mattie Moss Clark and the Clesiastic Sounds (Savoy, 196? MG-14232) - (by Mattie Moss Clark and the Clesiastic Sounds)
- Seek Him And He Will Let You Come In (Savoy, 1971? MG-14249) - (by Mattie Moss Clark and the Clesiastic Sounds)
- Humble Thyself (DME, 1964)
- A City Called Heaven (Savoy, ca. 1965,14151)
- Southwest Michigan State Choir (Savoy, 196? MG-14181)
- Southwest Michigan State Choir (Savoy, 196? MG-14193)
- I’ll Take Jesus For Mine (Savoy, 1969, MG-14215)
- Salvation Is Free (Savoy, 1965?)
- The Hand Of God Reached Out And Touched Me (Westbound, 1973, WB 4006)
- I Don’t Know What I Would Do Without The Lord (Westbound, 1974, WB 4008) - (Mattie Moss Clark with the Michigan State Community Choir)
- The Best Of The Southwest Michigan State Choir (Savoy, 1979)
- COGIC presents Jesus Is The Light Of My Life (Tomato Music Co., 1980) – Conducted and Directed by Mattie Moss Clark
- COGIC presents I Can Do All Things (2 LP Set, Recorded Live in Memphis, TN) (Tomato Music Co., 1980) – International Mass Choir with Mattie Moss Clark and Carol Thomas'
- COGIC presents Because He Lives (2 LP Set, Recorded Live in Memphis, TN) (Tomato Music Co., 1980) – International Mass Choir with Mattie Moss Clark
- Mattie Moss Clark presents The Greater Williams Temple Choir (COGIC) Live (GosPearl, 1982)
- Mattie Moss Clark presents Esther Smith Live (GosPearl, 198?)
- Mattie Moss Clark presents Live at the Miami Beach Convention Center (2 LP Set, Recorded Live) (Label: Mattie Moss Clark, 1985)
- Dr. Mattie Moss Clark presents The Southern California Holy Gospel Music Workshop (2 LP Set, Recorded Live) (Spirit & Truth, 1986, #SAT6001)
- Dr. Mattie Moss Clark presents A Reunion of the Southwest Michigan State Choir... Live! (Sparrow, 1995)
- Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents Corey Skinner's Collegiate Voices of Faith (Malaco, 1997)
[edit] UNAC5 Albums
- UNAC 5 Vol. 1 (recorded live July 7, 1979) (Sound of Gospel, 1979, SOG 100)
- A Song Is Born, Volume V (recorded July 4, 1978) (Sound of Gospel, 1979)
- UNAC 5 Miami Beach 1980, Volume 1 (Sound of Gospel, 1980, SOG 111)
- UNAC 5 Miami Beach 1980, Volume 2 (Sound of Gospel, 1980, SOG 112)
- UNAC 5 Miami Beach 1980, Volume 3 (Sound of Gospel, 1980, SOG 113)
- A Song Is Born: U.N.A.C. V 1984 (DME, 1984)
[edit] Mattie Moss Clark Albums
- The Wages Of Sin Is Death (Sound of Gospel, 1975 SOG 072)
- He Was Hung Up For My Hang-Ups (Sound Of Gospel, 1976)
- I Am Crucified With Christ (Sound of Gospel, 1978)
- Wonderful Grace of Jesus (Westbound, 197?, Westbound 4002)
- Make Me That Building Not Made By Hand (Sound of Gospel, 1979, SOG 089)
- I’m Not Alone (Sound Of Gospel, 1979, SOG 097)
- That’s Christ (Westbound, 1980, SOG 099)
[edit] CD Reissues
- I'm Not Alone/The Hands Of God Reached Out And Touched Me
(Sound of Gospel, 2005) – 2 records on 1 CD - That's Christ/He Was Hung Up For My Hang Ups
(Sound of Gospel, 2005) – 2 records on 1 CD - God's Got All You Need/I'm Crucified With Christ
(Sound of Gospel, 2005) – 2 records on 1 CD - Mattie Moss Clark - UNAC5 Live In Miami Beach 1980 - Volumes 1-3
(Sound of Gospel, 2005) – 3 records on 2 CDs - I Don't Know What I Would Do Without The Lord/Southwest Michigan State Choir Sings Again (Dr. Mattie Moss Clark - Michigan State Community Choir - Southwest Michigan State Choir) - Excerpts From Unac 5 New Orleans 1977 - Recorded September 1977 Bailey Cathedral COGIC Detroit, MI (Sound of Gospel, 2005)
[edit] External links
- Myspace Mattie Moss Clark Fans 1
- Myspace Mattie Moss Clark Fans 2
- The Clark Sisters Official Website
- Mattie Moss Clark at Allmusic
- Partial Savoy Catalog Listing
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