Mattie Moss Clark

American Gospel Singer Songwriter (1925 1994)

Mattie Moss Clark (born Mattie Juliet Moss; March 26, 1925 – September 22, 1994) was an American gospel choir director and the mother of The Clark Sisters, a gospel vocal group. She was the longest serving International Minister of Music for the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). "Her arrangements, perhaps influenced by her classical training, replaced the unison or two part textures of earlier gospel music with three part settings of the music for soprano, alto, and tenor voice ranges—a technique that remained common in gospel choir music for decades afterward."

Mattie Juliet Moss was born the seventh of nine children to ministers Fred John Moss and Mattie Juliet Walker in Selma, Alabama She began playing piano at six. By twelve, she had become the musician for her mother's services at the Holiness Temple Church of Christ in Prayer and traveled with her mother to play at mission services, a trend she passed on to daughter Twinkie. After high school, she attended Selma University and received training in classical music and choral singing. 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 a historic tenure as Minister of Music for both Southwest Michigan Jurisdiction and Bailey Cathedral Church of God in Christ, under Bishop John Seth Bailey. Soon she was in demand to train choirs at churches throughout the brotherhood of COGIC.

In 1958, she recorded "Going to Heaven to Meet the King", with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, becoming one of the first to teach and conduct a mass choir composed of members of different churches. She received three gold albums with the Southwest Michigan State Choir, and went on to write and arrange hundreds of songs 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 early 1968, Clark and Elma Hendricks convened a Sing A Rama in Detroit at Reverend C. L. Franklin‘s New Bethel Baptist Church (Detroit, Michigan). They formed a 1,000 voice choir and had legendary gospel singer, Reverend James Cleveland come in as a special guest. Cleveland so enjoyed the music and teaching classes that he told Clark he would like to create a similar convocation and maybe call it the Music Workshop of America. Clark suggested that he add “Gospel” to the title to let prospective attendees know it was gospel music only. Cleveland wasted no time in putting the word out. The first Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) convention took place in August 1968 at the King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit. The idea was to perpetuate the legacy and appreciation of gospel music through classes and provide an opportunity to expose new talent. 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 Humanities. 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.

Clark married twice. She wed her first husband, Leo Henry Cullum Sr, on December 30, 1945, and had two children, Leo Henry Cullum, Jr. and Jacqueline Lenita. After their divorce, she married Elder Elbert Clark (1927 2001) on November 30, 1952, and had four children, Denise Darchell, Elbernita Dionne, Dorinda Grace, and Karen Valencia. The Clarks divorced in 1973. Dr. Clark mentored her daughters, having them sing as part of her and their father's church's choir, Berea Church of God In Christ. In 1973, shortly after divorcing Elbert Clark, Clark sparked the forming of The Clark Sisters. After nearly ten years, Clark passed all responsibility of the group to daughter Twinkie (Elbernita), who became the leader of the group.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Clark's health began to decline due to diabetes. According to Dorinda Clark Cole, she had her right leg amputated and suffered a stroke, due to which she used a wheelchair. Despite failing health, Clark continued to record music into the last year of her life before succumbing to complications from diabetes on September 22, 1994, at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan, at age 69. In addition to The Clark Sisters, Mattie Moss Clark's gospel singing legacy continues through her grandchildren Kierra Sheard, J. Drew Sheard, Angel Chisholm, Lorenzo, Larry and Derrick (of the Clark Brothers), and her nephews Bill Moss Jr., and J. Moss (part of the production team PAJAM). Actress Aunjanue Ellis played Clark in the 2020 Lifetime biopic The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel to critical acclaim from fans, critics, and the Clark Sisters themselves.

+ List of albums with dates released, and references Album Year Notes The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: None But The Pure In Heart 1964 Director The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: Wonderful, Wonderful Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: Lord, Renew My Spirit Within 1968 65th Annual Holy Convocation (Pentecost At Any Cost) 1973 Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Clark Sisters 1974 Presenter A Song Is Born Vol. III 1975 Director A Song Is Born: Volume 4 Part 1 1976 A Song Is Born: Volume 4 Part 2 Presenter Because He Lives 1979 Director The Best Of The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Composer, Arranger, Director U. N. A. C. 5 Volume One Producer, Director U. N. A. C. 5 Volume Three U. N. A. C. 5 Volume Four Live! U. N. A. C. 5 Miami Beach 1980 Volume 2 1980 Director Mattie Moss Clark presents Esther Smith & The Voices Of Deliverance – Recorded Live! At International Gospel Center, Ecorse, Michigan Presenter Mattie Moss Clark Directs Southwest Michigan State Choir – Christ Won't Fail 1982 Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Greater Williams Temple Choir (C. O. G. I. C.) – Live Christ Won't Fail Director Mattie Moss Clark Presents Kenneth Ward & The Central Illinois Mass Choir 1983 Presenter Mattie Moss Clark, U. N. A. C V Presents A Song Is Born, Recorded Live in Washington, D. C. 1984 Mattie Moss Clark Presents UNAC 5* – Live At The Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami, Florida July 6, 1985 1985 Booking, Presenter, Executive Producer Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Church Of God In Christ International Mass Choir "A Song Is Born" UNAC 5 Houston 1986 Recorded Live 1986 Producer, Presenter Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents Corey Skinner’s Collegiate Voices Of Faith 1993 Presenter Mattie Moss Clark Presents The C. O. G. I. C. National Music Choir – Live In Atlanta 1994 Mattie Moss Clark Presents A Reunion Of The Southwest Michigan State Choir (Recorded Live At Bailey Cathedral C. O. G. I. C., Detroit, MI) 1995 Mattie Moss Clark Presents Tony McGill & The Southern California Holy Gospel Music Feast (Live In Los Angeles)

+ List of songs appeared on with dates released Title Year Album "Lord Do Something For Me" 1959 Lord Do Something For Me "None But The Pure In Heart" 1964 The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: None But The Pure In Heart "I've Tried Jesus Yes He's Real" "Sanctify Me Holy" "Put On The Whole Armour Of God" "Wonderful! Wonderful!" The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: Wonderful, Wonderful "Put Your Trust In Jesus" "I Found Joy In The Holy Ghost" 1967 A Closer Walk With Thee "He Will Supply Your Need" "What I Need To Keep Me" 1968 Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ Directed By Mattie Moss Clark: Lord, Renew My Spirit Within "Lord, Renew My Spirit Within" "He Abides" 1971 James Cleveland Presents The Gospel Workshop Of America Mass Choir – Recorded Live In Dallas, Texas "Renew My Spirit" 1974 Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Clark Sisters "Jesus Loves You" 1976 Unworthy "Prepare Yourself" 1978 Count It All Joy "My Cup Runneth Over" 1979 He Gave Me Nothing To Lose "He Abides" The Best Of The Southwest Michigan State Choir Of The Church Of God In Christ "None But The Pure In My Heart" "Sanctify Me Holy" "Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful" "Lord Renew My Spirit Within" "Salvation Is Free" "He Delivered Me" "Now The Day Is Over" 1980 Mattie Moss Clark presents Esther Smith & The Voices Of Deliverance – Recorded Live! At International Gospel Center, Ecorse, Michigan "Thy Word Have I Hidden In My Heart" "We Have Come To Worship" Take One Day At A Time "Unto Thee Old Lord" "Blessed Be Thy Name" "I Can Do All things" COGIC International Mass Choir Presents: I Can Do All Things "Even Me Lord" "Psalms 31" 1981 You Brought the Sunshine "Someday" 1982 Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Greater Williams Temple Choir (C. O. G. I. C.) – Live "Never Mind" Sincerely "Christ Won't Fail" Mattie Moss Clark Directs Southwest Michigan State Choir – Christ Won't Fail "The Lord Is My Light" "Lift Up The Standard For The King" "I've Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken" 1986 Mattie Moss Clark Presents The Church Of God In Christ International Mass Choir "A Song Is Born" UNAC 5 Houston 1986 Recorded Live "My Faith Looks Up To Thee" (arranged by Moss Clark) "I Tried Jesus" 1993 Dr. Mattie Moss Clark Presents Corey Skinner’s Collegiate Voices Of Faith "Be Still And Know That I Am God" 1994 Dr. Mattie Moss Clark* Presents The C. O. G. I. C. National Music Choir – Live In Atlanta "Be Still (Reprise)"