The magic of Dorinda Clark-Cole has rounded out the foursome (sometimes threesome) of the world renowned Clark Sisters for some time now. But there has always been an abounding energy and a twinkle in her eye that seemed to distinguish her from her equally stellar sisters.

With her recent debut solo release on Gospo Centric, Clark-Cole doesn’t seem to have any intention of slowing down, but marvels in the knowledge that God has it all under control. She recently spoke with Gospelflava.com.

“Oh yes! So much going on, but good things! Let’s see, the school just relocated and we went into our new church, and I have my 4th annual conference coming up in September in Detroit.”

The school she refers to is the Clark Conservatory of Music, founded by her late mother Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, where she serves as administrator.

“The Clark Conservatory has been around about twenty years or so. It was founded by my mom who cultivated and pushed so many artists to the forefront like Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Rance Allen, and of course the Clark Sisters. She pulled The Hawkins' in front of the COGIC audience and just generally brought a lot of artists in to get their recognition in the denomination.”

And having audience with the large and refined ear of the collective COGIC audience continues to be a feather in the cap of any artist who can get it. The Conservatory

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was established to preserve the level of excellence in music that Dr. Clark represented.

“The school is for all ages because my mom always felt there should not be a limit put on a child’s gift. So we have the very young on up to the adults. We teach piano, voice and organ. Of course there are a lot of people who come for vocal training!”

Possessing one of the most coveted sounds among singers, Clark-Cole still finds a way to provide encouragement and clarity for those who are trying to be “artists”. There are so many skilled singers, it must be difficult to rise above the fray.

“It looks like it’s competitive but it’s ministry. When you are in order you’re pushed to do it because of what God has given you and because of the purpose He has designed you for. I’d encourage those trying to make it to stay prayerful, because there are some things you will have to go through. Some great things come out of your trials. That’s why most artists are able to write a lot of their songs —out of experiences they’ve had.”

Clark-Cole often provides a time to share these things at her annual Singers and Music Conference, where she invites artists in to talk rather than just to sing.

She’s got so much going on one has to wonder how she gets it all done. In addition to music and ministry, she’s a mother and a wife.

“You really have to have people around you who are very supportive. If not, then it’s not going to be easy. I’ve managed first of all by having a relationship with God. Then He worked everything to move in my favor to allow the ministry to go forth. Then of course there’s my loving husband who has been supportive from day one."

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"When he asked my mom [for my hand in marriage] my mom said ‘You gotta deal with two things with Dorinda. You gotta deal with her ministry and you gotta deal with that shopping demon she’s got!’ I mean before I got married, I was at the mall every Friday when I was working at Blue Cross Blue Shield. I would take my check and not come home! So when he asked for my hand he knew what he was dealing with! And because my mom had laid it all out it was a lot easier. And when I had to minister, he never stopped me or hindered me.”

“Even when I had my children, I never had a problem. My mother-in-law would just say, ‘Gimme the kids!’ I had no problems in that area. It was like God just mapped my life right on out. And those are the kind of things that will happen if you acknowledge God. The bible says ‘Seek ye first the kingdom...and these things shall be added. And He will! He’ll set you up where He’ll allow you to be free to do ministry that He might be glorified.”

And God continues to get the glory out of her life and her ministry. Her current self-titled release on Gospo Centric showcases her signature vocals, clean writing and exuberant personality. She joined with some of today’s most prolific producers for a winning package.

“This project was such a joy to do. Working with my cousin the bad J. Moss! And then Alex Asaph Ward, he did the instrumentation on a lot of my songs. It was really amazing how God put me and Alex together. He works with me in the Music Department of COGIC. He’s over the production for the major things at the conference and things.”

“So I asked him to come in and help me on this record. I mean I can play the piano and organ but as far as pulling it all together, that’s why God has everybody in their own lane. That instrumentation stuff is not my lane! I’m like ‘Lord I can just give you the foundation, You build upon there!’ But Alex just took my songs and MADE them!”

About Her Sisters

About her sisters (Twinkie's and Karen's) respective solo albums, Dorinda says: "I had a concern about not wanting to go ahead of them. I knew they needed to go before me because to me they are more talented and more ‘out there’. We’ve always looked out for each other because my mother raised us like that. We support each other we’re there for each other —the family that prays together stays together!" "Plus people love to see animosity and stuff going on so we try to not let there be any room for that. We support each other." "Individually we always had someone to influence us. My sisters all have a little different thing. Twinkie had Stevie Wonder, Karen had Aretha Franklin and I had Shirley Caesar. Personality wise they would say I’m the silly one. Jackie would be more of our mother. She was always getting ready to tell!" "Twinkie was very quiet believe it or not. She had a very unique way where she would do a lot of things that ordinary young people wouldn’t do, like stay in her room. We’d be outside playing wondering what she was doing up there. She’d be writing songs and stuff like that!" "We called Karen "Michael Jackson" ‘cause we never knew what she was going to do the night of the concert. She used to do stuff like take the mic out our hands and stuff! We just never knew!

Among those songs is “I’m Still Here” which came from a not so easy time in her life.

“Oh it was a devastating time. A time when I was about to end it. I mean I was suicidal. I never ever would have thought I would experience that because I was ‘so saved’! I mean I’m an evangelist and I’m traveling telling people that God can do this, and God can do that. But this situation took me completely under. It was like there was no hope. I mean God had been all that to me but it was like I just couldn’t deal with it any more.”

“And when God pulled me from that I knew He could do anything but fail. I know He can do anything because I was at that point. So many people have ended it, but here I am —andI’m still here. I just bless God and praise Him everyday for allowing me and affording me the opportunity to witness and be a testimony that He’s able.” How ironic it is that we testify and even sing ‘My mind is made up’ and ‘My mind is stayed on Jesus’. When we speak these affirmations we have to know that the enemy is going to come against our mind! How is it that we criticize Christians who go through on this level? But when God prevails, our knowing is more real than before —even though we thought we already knew.”

“It’s amazing to hear yourself say it over and over again, but to one day really know He can bring you through. You’ll truly never know that until you actually get there. We say it all the time, but when you actually get there it’s like I really know He can do it.”

And let that be the greatest testament to Dorinda Clark-Cole’s fortitude —that He is her fortress and her inspiration.