The Clark Sisters

The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group formed by five sisters from Detroit, Michigan: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Elbernita «Twinkie» Clark-Terrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Karen Clark Sheard, and Denise Clark Bradford, who left the group in 1986. Raised in a musical household and shaped by the church, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential and commercially successful gospel groups of all time, credited with helping carry gospel music into the mainstream pop and R&B landscape without abandoning its spiritual core.

Their sound blends traditional gospel fervor with contemporary R&B harmonies, funk-inflected arrangements, and the kind of vocal virtuosity — especially from Karen Clark Sheard, whose powerful runs influenced a generation of R&B and gospel singers alike. Their breakthrough hit, «You Brought the Sunshine», became a genre-crossing classic, and songs such as «Is My Living in Vain?» and «Ha Ya (Only You)» further cemented their reputation as innovators who could move dance floors and church congregations alike.

Elbernita Clark-Terrell also became known as a songwriter and producer, shaping the group’s sound from within, while the sisters individually pursued notable careers — Karen Clark Sheard as a solo gospel artist, and other family members continuing the group’s legacy in ministry and music. Their influence extends across gospel, R&B, and hip-hop, with their harmonies and songwriting sampled and referenced by later generations of artists.