| Dorinda Clark-Cole | |
|---|---|
Dr Dorinda Clark Cole Photo by Ernie Stewart/ Retna Ltd. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Dorinda Grace Clark |
| Born | October 19, 1957 [1] |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genres | gospel, jazz |
| Occupations | singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | vocals, piano, organ |
| Years active | 1973–Present 2001–Present Solo |
| Labels | GospoCentric Records Light Records |
| Associated acts | The Clark Sisters Karen Clark Sheard Twinkie Clark Jacky Clark Chisholm |
| Website | http://www.theclarksisters.com/ http://www.dorindaclarkcole.net/ |
Dorinda Clark-Cole (born Dorinda Grace Clark) is a two-time Grammy Award winning American evangelist and gospel singer. She is best known as a member of The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark.
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Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Clark-Cole began singing at an early age with her sisters Karen, Twinkie, Jacky, and Denise. The sisters sang in their pastor father's church and usually performed songs written and composed by their mother. Clark-Cole, who is 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. Dorinda sang lead on "Overdose Of The Holy Ghost", "My Reedemer Liveth" the B-side to The Clark Sisters' biggest single "You Brought the Sunshine" [2]
Clark-Cole's self-titled solo debut Dorinda Clark-Cole, released in 2002, won two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award (Best Female Gospel Artist). The album featured the hit single "I'm Coming Out". Her second album, The Rose of Gospel, was released in 2005. The live portions of both albums were produced by Asaph Ward, famous for his work with Kim Burrell, who counts Dorinda as well as the Clark Sisters as a direct vocal influence. Dorinda won one Stellar award.
Dorinda was featured on the title track of Kirk Franklin's Hero album.[3]
After being pushed back from a prematurely stated date in fall 2007,[4] Dorinda Clark-Cole's third solo CD Take It Back was released on April 15, 2008. The album included the songs "Faithful", "Praise Your Way Out", "Yesterday", "It's Ok", "No Weapon", "If I Were", "Got To Hold On," and the current radio single "Take It Back".[5] Producers Alex "Asaph" Ward, PAJAM, and Rodney Jerkins contributed to the project. Dorinda recently did a brand new (EP) album entitled In The Face Of Change which was released September 21. This project includes hit songs such as "Change" written by her son J.Cole, "This Is It" and "One World One Love". The album consists of only six songs.It was released on her own ministry label "Harvestime Ministries".The album was never heard of and was announced the day of its release. A video on YouTube has a preview of all of the new songs on the record.[6] Dorinda Clark Cole has a funky and surprising blend with her sister Karen Clark Sheard. She now has another solo project out entittled "I Survived" with the hit's "Back to You", "He Brought Me", "Thank You" feat. her sister Twinkie Clark, "For My Good", and "God Will Take Care Of You" which was released in August 2011.
Clark-Cole is married to Greg Cole and they have 2 children, Nikkia Cole Beach and Gregory Jr. In 2011 Nikkia and husband Deon Beach Sr gave birth to a son Deon Beach jr. In addition to being a recording artist and evangelist, Clark-Cole is a prominent figure in the Church of God in Christ of which she is a licensed National Evangelist, assistant supervisor of women, for the Michigan North Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and Assistant Elect Lady of the COGIC's International Evangelism Department. She is an administrator and instructor at the Clark Conservatory of Music in Detroit (founded by Mattie Moss Clark in 1979), and is an administrator of ministry at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC, pastored by her brother-in-law, J. Drew Sheard. As of 2007, Dorinda serves as the spokesmodel for Donna Vinci clothing where she launched her own line "The Rose Collection. She also has her own television show called "Dorinda" on the TCT network and her Own radio show "Serving Up Soul" that is played on Suday morning's.
In 1999, as founder and CEO of Lifeline Productions, Inc., she created 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.
Dorinda 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".[7]
In 2011, Clark-Cole will be playing Kia Radisson in The Marriage Lover.
| Year | Album | Chart positions[8] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. Gospel | U.S. Heatseekers | ||
| 2002 | Dorinda Clark-Cole
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— | 5 | 14 |
| 2005 | Live From Houston: The Rose of Gospel
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159 | 3 | 4 |
| 2008 | Take It Back
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104 | 3 | - |
| 2011 | I Survived
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120 | 3 | - |
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