Born: October 19, 1957
Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, musician, talk show host, and evangelist. Clark–Cole is best known as a family vocal group, The Clark Sisters member, and the 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.
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 early 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, a soprano 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. Clark–Chelle attributes her fiery, convicting singing style to her mother, who saw the gift of singing and preaching in her at an early age. In the 1960s and 1970s, when other children their age were playing outside, Clark–Chelle 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."
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 Billboard's top 5 on the Gospel charts, garnered a Grammy Nomination for the Best Traditional Soul Gospel album, and won the 2007 and 2009 Stellar Awards 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, 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 ministry label, "Harvestime Ministries," the album was never heard of until she announced it the day of its release. A video on YouTube previews 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 a "Thank You" duet with her sister, Twinkie Clark. Clark–Cole was featured on the title track of Kirk Franklin's Hero album. In early 2009, Clark–Chelle 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 and the individual Best Gospel Song. She appeared nationally on The Tonight Show with the group 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.