Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American choir director, gospel singer, dancer, songwriter, and author. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 16 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel. Their biggest hits include "Is My Living in Vain", "Praise the Lord (Hallelujah)", "I Can Do All Things Through Christ That Strengthens Me", "A Praying Spirit", "Nothing to Lose, All to Gain", "Endow Me", "Jesus Is a Love Song", "Ha-Ya ", "Pure Gold", "Expect Your Miracle", and their biggest, mainstream crossover hit, "You Brought the Sunshine". As a group, the Clark Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and are the highest-selling female gospel group in history. In 2020, it was announced that the Clark Sisters would be honored with the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award at the 35th Annual Stellar Awards.
Karen Valencia Clark Sheard is an American Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer, musician, songwriter, and businesswoman. Clark-Sheard is the wife of the current Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard and she serves as the current First Lady of the COGIC denomination. Clark–Sheard is best known as the youngest member of influential gospel group the Clark Sisters. Clark–Sheard is also the mother of contemporary gospel singer and actress Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. She has released five solo albums, seventeen with the Clark Sisters and collaborated with her son J. Drew Sheard II and her daughter Kierra Sheard.
Fred Jerkins III, also known as Uncle Freddie, is an American songwriter and record producer who is best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, among them "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child, "It's Not Right but It's Okay" by Whitney Houston, "He Wasn’t Man Enough" by Toni Braxton, and multiple tracks from Michael Jackson's album Invincible. He has also produced a number of songs under the Darkchild imprint for artists such as Brandy, Shola Ama, Men Of Vizion, Keith Washington, & JoJo.
Finally Karen is the debut solo album of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, released on November 4, 1997. The live portion of the album was recorded at Bailey Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan. The album was Grammy-nominated for Best Soul Gospel Album in 1998. The song "The Will of God" launched the gospel career of her daughter Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, who won her first Stellar award from the strength of her vocal performance. Finally Karen also won the Lady Of Soul award for Best Gospel Album the same year.
Just Until..., released August 2, 2005, is a collection of remixes of songs from the I Owe You album by American contemporary gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. The title was abbreviated from its working title "Just Until The Next Record". Domestically, the album peaked at No. 10 on the US Billboard Gospel, and No. 82 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Charts.
I Owe You is the debut studio album by American gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. It was released by EMI Gospel on September 7, 2004 in the United States. Sheard worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Warryn Campbell, Rodney Jerkins, PAJAM, and Tonéx. I Owe You debuted atop the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums and the Heatseekers Albums. It also reached number four on the Top Christian Albums and number 29 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
The Heavens Are Telling is an album by the multiple Grammy and Stellar award-winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on November 4, 2003. In the USA, the album peaked at #3 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts, #11 on the Billboard Top Christian Charts, #44 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Charts, and #188 on the Billboard Top 200.
It's Not Over is an album by multiple Grammy and Stellar award winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on January 24, 2006. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top Gospel Charts and #124 on the Billboard Top 200. This is Karen Clark Sheard's debut as a solo artist for Word Records, but not her first foray with the label, as she was signed to Word as a member of the Clark Sisters two decades prior to the album's release. Former gospel artist Desmond Pringle was instrumental in signing Sheard to the label. This is the first Sheard album that does not include any guest appearances at all, not even from daughter Kierra "Kiki" Sheard who had appeared on all of Clark-Sheard's previous solo albums to date. However her son, J. Drew Sheard, played drums for all of the live recorded tracks (1-9), as well as producing the closing track.
You Don't Know is the debut single by gospel artist Kierra "Kiki" Sheard. The song was chosen as the lead single for Sheard's debut album, I Owe You. The song was specifically written and produced for Sheard by Rodney Jerkins for Darkchild Productions.
The Sound is the fifth studio album by American duo Mary Mary. It was released on October 21, 2008, by Columbia Records. A concept album suggesting an FM radio broadcast experience, the project was produced by Warryn Campbell.
Kierra Valencia "Kiki" Sheard-Kelly is an American gospel singer, songwriter, fashion designer, actress, entrepreneur, author and creative director. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard and granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark. Sheard portrayed her mother in the hit Lifetime movie, The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel. After appearing on her mother's and aunt's albums, Sheard broke to the music scene with the release of her debut album I Owe You in 2004. Her hit single "You Don't Know" was inspired by her mother almost losing her life to a fatal blood clot.
Bold Right Life is the third studio album by the American singer Kierra Sheard. It was released by EMI Gospel on 27 October 2008.
"God in Me" is a song by contemporary gospel group Mary Mary. It was released as the second single from their fourth studio album The Sound (2008). The single features gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard and was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The single is the group's first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since their debut single, "Shackles", charted in 2000. The song won Song of the Year at the 25th Annual Stellar Awards.
WOW Gospel 2011 is a gospel music compilation album from the award-winning WOW series. Released on February 1, 2011, the double CD album features thirty contemporary gospel hits. The album cover pays tribute to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The album debuted straight at number one on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 in 2011.
Live – One Last Time is a live album released by Christian gospel quartet The Clark Sisters. The concert was recorded on July 8, 2006. The album was produced by EMI Gospel and released on April 10, 2007. The album won three Grammys.
Free is the fourth album and first live recording from American contemporary gospel singer Kierra Sheard. It was released 18 October 2011 by Karew Records.
Graceland is the fifth studio album by American singer Kierra Sheard. It was released by Karew Records and Motown Gospel on July 22, 2014. Her debut with her brother's J. Drew Sheard music label, the album debuted at number one on US Top Gospel Albums and reached number 33 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Sheard's highest-charting album yet. Graceland was nominated for a Stellar Award and a GMA Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Album of the Year.
Rise ishe fifth studio album by Aman erican sigospel nger Danny Gokey. It was released on January 13, 2017 through BMG Rights Management. His second full-length album of original material in the Contemporary Christian genre, Rise serves as the follow-up to Gokey's top 40 album, Hope in Front of Me (2014). The album's title track was released in August 2016 as the record's lead single.
Kierra is the sixth studio album by American singer Kierra Sheard. It was released by Karew Records and RCA Inspiration on April 17, 2020. Sheard is Also nominated for a Grammy award at the 2021 ceremony.
