Karen Clark Sheard

Grammy Award winner Karen Clark Sheard is all about family. In fact, family has always been key to her success as one of music’s most dynamic vocalists. Whether it’s an inspirational R&B track or a down-home gospel groove, Sheard’s multi-octave vocal range and dizzying vocal gymnastics with and without the legendary Clark Sisters have inspired a host of today’s brightest pop divas such as Beyonce, Mariah Carey, and Faith Evans among others. It all started as a child when Sheard was trained to sing by her mother and has come full circle with her 20 year old son producing tracks on her first CD in four years, All in One (Karew Records), a slick set of urban-flavored gospel.

All in One is also Sheard’s first CD on her own label, Karew Records. “This has been a dream of mine for seven years,” she says of the new enterprise that is distributed by EMI Gospel. “We’ve been on record company after record company. You get under these companies and they don’t know you like you know yourself. They are making the decisions and I said, ..God, one day I’m going to have my own record company and make my own decisions.’ I have my family on my record company but I’m going to be reaching out to young people to help pursue their dreams too because there are so many talented artists out there who have not been heard yet.” The label is run by Sheard and her husband, J. Drew Sheard (Pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional C.O.G.I.C. in Detroit). “What my mother said on her dying bed is ..I want you all to keep going no matter how old you get,’” Sheard recalls. “My husband is the engine behind this car in pursing my dream. I’m also collaborating with my son, J. Drew. It’s like the next generation of this family is taking its place. It’s like God hasn’t forgotten about us and is continuing this legacy that started with my mom.”

Sheard’s mom was pioneering Gospel choir director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, who formed her five daughters into the Clark Sisters when Sheard was barely a teenager. Starting in 1973, they recorded nationally and hit pay dirt when their signature song "You Brought The Sunshine" hit 16 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1983. Over the years, the sisters have recorded 15 albums and crafted enduring gospel anthems such as “Endow Me,” “Pray for the USA,” “Name It Claim It” and “Is My Living in Vain?” In 1997, Sheard launched a solo career with Finally Karen on Island/Def Jam. An out-of-the gate smash, it sold nearly half a million copies, garnered four Stellar Awards and a Grammy nomination. Sheard continued her solo streak with other hit CDs before reuniting with her sisters for their 1 comeback CD Live…One Last Time (EMI Gospel) in 2007.

The lead single for the Clark Sisters’ return was “Blessed and Highly Favored.” The song, written and led by Sheard, shot to 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart for seven weeks and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song of 2007. “That was the beginning of me really finding myself as a writer,” she says proudly. “I felt so incapable previously because I was surrounded by such phenomenal writers like my sister Twinkie. I’ve always looked up to Twinkie because of the gift that God has given her… I said one day I’m gonna get like that… Then, God gave me that song and the success over that one song [showed me] I’m in my element now… That’s when I realized that God has ordained me officially as a writer now.”

Sheard brought those newly revealed composing skills to five of the fourteen tracks on All in One. She and her producer son J. Drew wrote the initial radio single “Prayed Up.” The pulsating track boasts a Go-Go backbeat and an urgent cry for prayer to combat the problems of every day life. The CD is truly a family affair. In addition to J. Drew producing, Sheard’s daughter Kierra (known for her 2004 multi-format crossover smash “You Don’t Know”) provided background vocals on the set and sings with her mom on “Lord Take Me.” Sheard’s niece Angel Chisholm also sings on the song and co-wrote three tracks for the project. Sheard’s cousin J. Moss and his PAJAM production team produced and co-wrote eight songs for the project while his brother Bill Moss Jr. played piano on the worship ballad “Because of You.” Dorinda Clark Cole of the Clark Sisters joins her baby sister on the neo-soul groove “He Knows.”

“Everybody used to say I just love the Finally Karen CD,” Sheard confesses. “So, I kept saying I want to do something like Finally Karen but for the times we’re living in now. So, that’s where I went with this new CD. I wanted to reach my young people but then I have some music the old church mothers can rock to.”

All in One picks up where Finally Karen left off and breaks new ground for contemporary gospel music. “I’m the sister that takes risks in my performances and in saying some things,” Sheard chuckles. For instance, she wonders if God knows of “my weakness when I feel like I want to choke somebody” on the funky slow jam “He Knows.” She says, “That song was written by J Moss and he knows me and if anybody knows me, he does. He’s like a brother to me. He said, ..this sounds just like you.’ I have said that to him a many times that ..I just want to choke you.’ Yeah, that’s just real. I’m just speaking what everybody’s thinking. That’s why the album is so youthful. I’m using the new generation in my family to reach this new generation of young people.”

All in One reaches the young and young-at-heart alike with a series of neatly crafted songs with pop-friendly refrains, transparent messages of faith and equally bold urban beats. The title song shines with a brightly infectious European club rhythm. Sheard and her niece, Angel Chisholm wrote “Crazy Praise” which makes a nod to disco with its refreshing retro soul groove. Chisholm also co-wrote the uplifting “Hold On” that carries a catchy tribal drum tempo.

In between these sweat sessions, Sheard cools down with stately worship ballads such as “Never Let Me Go”, “Holy is Your Word”, “Because of You” and “Have Your Way.” Sheard and J. Moss co-wrote the bustling “What He Did” that fuses a Sunday morning church vibe with a rock edge for a driving declaration of God’s goodness. The warm and inviting mid-tempo track “I Made A Choice” sparkles with the engaging lilt of smooth jazz. “Good” is a soulful proclamation of God’s benevolence (in the vein of the best Mary J. Blige ballads) while “Blessings is a mid-tempo jam with an old school flair. The final song on the project is “Lord, Take Me.” Written By J. Drew and Chisholm, the contagious pop song is reminiscent of Akon’s West African rooted sound. It is performed as a trio recording Chisholm, Kierra and Sheard and is a perfect coda for what portends to be one of the hallmark musical releases of 2010.

Off stage, Sheard proves that All in One is not just a CD title but also a way of life. “With me being a mom, being a writer, and operating as a pastor’s wife; it can be challenging but I enjoy it,” she confides. “Just like I enjoy being an artist. I know all of the difficulties and roadblocks that come with it. On days that I have bad times in this industry, instead of giving up, I think about people like Faith Evans who told me she grew up on the Clark Sisters’ music. Or when I hear Mariah Carey tell me that some of my songs really brought her through some issues, that lets me know not only do they admire my talent but that it’s a ministry as well. I think about things of that nature and it keeps me going. I have great respect for them and it gives me a boost to say I can’t stop.”
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