Mahalia's version of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" gives me goosebumps when I hear it.

ThePunisher said:

im with u on shirley caesar....i grew up listening to shirley-her songs are literally imprinted on my brain my mom played all of her albums...all the time

her..and bobby womack

dustysgirl said:

In which album is this rousing version?

okaypimpn said:

Okaypimpn, when say that Kierra possesses a lot of the Clark's sound elements, do you mean the moods their albums evoke?.
[Edited 8/20/06 18:54pm]

sweet said:

Shirley does a song called "Hold My Mule" In it she tells a story about a man called Shoutin John. John would come to church, Get full of that Holy Ghost and dance all over the place. Well finally the church board members got together and confronted John at his farm while he was plowing the field. They told him to stop that dancing or they were going to put him out. Shirley said "John said WELL IF Y"ALL WON'T LET ME DANCE IN CHURCH, THEN HOOOOOLLD MA MUUUUULLE CUZ AH MO DANCE RIGHT HEEEEERE!!!!!" I LOVE THAT SONG! She also sings a song called "Jesus" She wrote it after her mother died. It brings me to tears everytime I hear it.

gyro34 said:

Moreso in her vocal abilities. Her style is really not that of the "classic" Clark Sisters sound because Twinkie wrote and produced mostly all of their stuff from back in the day.

When Kierra sings you can hear elements of her mother (Karen) and her aunts Twinkie, Dorinda, Jacky and Denise but her vibrato is really similar to her grandmother's, the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. All that is pretty inevitable, though, considering she's a "Clark" and it's in her DNA!

okaypimpn said:

So, Kierra must be pretty good . Over this weekend, I just found an old cassette tape that has The Clark Sisters' "I am An Overcomer" only, along with songs from other artists from assorted genres. I don't recall from which album it belongs to since I recorded it from an LP I borrowed from a public library when I was in high school.

gyro34 said:

Kierra is phenomenal! Especially for her to be only 19. There's an awesome anointing on her ministry of singing.

"I'm An Overcomer" was taken from the sisters's album Bringing It Back Home from 1989. This was the last album they recorded together before Twinkie left the group. However, this recording they just did in July has all of them reunited once again.

okaypimpn said:

Thanx, Okaypimpn. This makes my search much easier.

I've been to Kierra's official site, and it sounds to me like she could pioneer a new Gospel style. She's truly blessed.

I've been listening to Yolanda Adams ever since I saw Prince mentioning her in his thank-you speech on the BET Awards. She really moves me especially now that I am experiencing a lot difficulty in my life . But I am open to any recommendations.
Is there any other female Gospel artist that surpasses Yolanda?

gyro34 said:

surpass in what capacity? As far as sales and popularity, the TOP female Gospel artist is none other than Ce Ce Winans. However, we all no that sales is an indicator of little. As far as creative, influential and talented, the female that takes this distinction hands down is Elbernita "TWINKIE" Clark.
Many have mentioned "The Clark Sisters" in this thread. Twinkie Clark was the leader, songwriter, arranger and producer for all of their material and she is the one that fostered, created and nurtured the Clark Sisters sound that is imitated by both secular and Gospel alike. She is an accomplished singer and reknowned pianist and organist. There has NOT been another female to come out of the Gospel arena in the last 30 years as talented, innovative and influential as Twinkie Clark.
[Edited 8/26/06 6:31am]

gyro34 said:

surpass in what capacity? As far as sales and popularity, the TOP female Gospel artist is none other than Ce Ce Winans. However, we all no that sales is an indicator of little. As far as creative, influential and talented, the female that takes this distinction hands down is Elbernita "TWINKIE" Clark.
Many have mentioned "The Clark Sisters" in this thread. Twinkie Clark was the leader, songwriter, arranger and producer for all of their material and she is the one that fostered, created and nurtured the Clark Sisters sound that is imitated by both secular and Gospel alike. She is an accomplished singer and reknowned pianist and organist. There has NOT been another female to come out of the Gospel arena in the last 30 years as talented, innovative and influential as Twinkie Clark.
[Edited 8/26/06 6:31am]

Hey gyro34, if you wanna see The Clark Sisters live in action check out this performance of them back in '83.

Peep the harmonies!

Click HERE

I can't answer your question, but I just want to say that even though I'm an atheist I love to hear Yolanda sing gospel. In fact, I love to hear her sing anything. She has the best voice out there today that I've heard.

Gyro if you're looking for inspiring female gospel artists, You would really like Darlene Czech. You would'nt think that someone that soulful comes from Australia. She really puts her all into her performances.

Winans girl! She's the bomb and adorable! Those dimples and radiant white teeth inspires me everytime I see her..

brothaluv said:

Are you talking about CeCe?

gyro34 said:

Yes! LORD YES!!! She's gorgeous! Can sing too! I like all the others too. But CeCe takes my heart. She can speak in tongues and lay hands on me any time! By the way, I tend to favor the newer gospel artists rather than the older ones. The latter songs seem to be so much slower and almost like funeral dirges...but it's all good...

So you recommend it, then? I'll pick one up. I'll probably give one to my grandmother. I was visiting her one weekend and almost died. She had relgious programming on 24/7. TBN on cable, gospel radio on and her own personal Shirley Caesar cd playing over and over and over again. "For the 9 months I carried you, doctored and loved you -- no charge!" I got that tuned burned into my psyche! Caesar -- definitely old school gospel..

Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, I'm back and forth on Kirk Franklin. Sometimes I like him, other times I don't. By the way, Dez Dickerson has a great spiritual song called Real to Me. Great song. It's more pop sounding, though, than gospel.