(September 28, 2023) 2023 marked a memorable year for gospel legend and educator, Dr. Elbertina Twinkie Clark. First, she was honored for over five decades of accomplishments to the body of Christ at New York City’s Town Hall, performing with a small orchestra. Then Dr. Clark released the all-instrumental EP, Maestra, showcasing the “Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ” who changed how the organ integrated more jazz, reggae and other flavors within the praise and worship platform.
(September 28, 2023) 2023 marked a memorable year for gospel legend and educator, Dr. Elbertina Twinkie Clark. First, she was honored for over five decades of accomplishments to the body of Christ at New York City’s Town Hall, performing with a small orchestra. Then Dr. Clark released the all-instrumental EP, Maestra, showcasing the “Queen of the B3 Hammond Organ” who changed how the organ integrated more jazz, reggae and other flavors within the praise and worship platform.
Gospel impresario Donald Lawrence has crossed paths with The Clark Sisters through his career, and now extends his thank you’s to Twinkie on Power: A Tribute to Twinkie Clark (Provident/Sony). When an artist dives into re-imagining someone’s classic catalog, the results could be delightful or disastrous. But Lawrence’s intuitive choices of songs and artists on Power (i. e. Lawrence & Co, Yolanda Adams, and Shirley Murdock) heads in the right direction in understanding Twinkie’s purpose in giving God the glory.
PJ Morton (who joined The Clark Sisters on The Gospel According to PJ in 2021) is no exception with his vision of “Praise the Lord” - our latest First Listen installment - originally released in 1979 on Sounds of Gospel Records. This midtempo sweet groove with splashes of R&B and funk naturally favors the New Orleans native.
The tight quartet backing vocals flows with Morton’s rich lead tenor. And the organ hovering over the rhythm section points to Twinkie’s B3 excellence:
“While sitting on the organ/On a bright Sunday morning/The praise kept on ringing way down in my soul/The Holy Ghost was falling.”
Anyone who wants a pleasing jolt to the spirit on any given morning, take a serious listen to “Praise the Lord.”
By Peggy Oliver