Karen Clark Sheard was born the youngest of six children born to Pastor Elbert Clark and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, a pioneering gospel choral director. Clark-Sheard is best known for being a member of iconic gospel group The Clark Sisters.

Karen's involvement in the Island Inspirational All Stars' "Don't Give Up" in 1996 (along with Donald Lawrence, Hezekiah Walker, and Kirk Franklin) led to her signing with Island Records.[1] Her solo career began with the release of her debut album Finally Karen in 1997. The album, consisting of half studio recordings and half live recordings, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1998. The set did however win the Lady Of Soul award for Best Gospel Album the same year.

After Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard became the 2nd gospel artist to sign to Elektra Records. She released her Elektra debut album 2nd Chance in 2002 led off by the single "Be Sure". Though Clark-Sheard was in excellent form vocally, the slick, progressive sound of the disc was not received well. The 2003 followup The Heavens Are Telling fared well, but came at an awkward time when Elektra Records was being dissolved into Atlantic Records. In 2005, after a bidding war with several labels, Karen Clark Sheard finally signed with Word Records and issued It's Not Over, the following year.

Personal life

On June 16, 1984, Karen Clark-Sheard wed John Drew Sheard, a minister. Her husband is senior pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ in Detroit. Together they have 2 children: Kierra, who is also a gospel recording artist, and John Drew Sheard II, a young musician and up-and-coming producer.

In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled hernia surgery. Her doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival due to her complications. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted three months, but Clark-Sheard made a miraculous recovery and recorded her sophomore album, 2nd Chance (named so because of the "second chance" given to her by God), in 2002. Clark-Sheard's near-death experience is referenced in her daughter Kierra's song "You Don't Know"

Gospel Videos

Grateful - Hezekiah Walker

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Richard Smallwood is an American gospel music artist from Atlanta, Georgia who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977.

Biography

World-class composer, pianist and arranger, Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of Gospel music. He can impeccably blend classical movements with Traditional Gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood's alone. A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors; Dove Awards, Stellar Awards and a Grammy also attest to his talents.

Richard graduated Cum Laude from renowned Howard University with degrees in both Vocal Performance and Piano, in addition to graduate work in the field of Ethnomusicology. His musical gifts were stirred up early in life. At age five, he was playing the piano by ear; at seven, began formal training; and at eleven, formed his first Gospel group. Richard Smallwood is attributed with many gospel "firsts." He was a member of the first Gospel group on Howard University's campus, The Celestials. They were also the first Gospel group to appear at Switzerland's Montreux Jazz Festival. In addition, Richard was one of the founding members of Howard's first Gospel choir, and The Richard Smallwood Singers were the first black Gospel group to go to the Soviet Union.

Richard Smallwood has been honored by the Smithsonian Institution as a "gospel innovator and songwriter," and his hometown, Washington, DC, heralded two separate occasions as "Richard Smallwood Day," also distinguishing him with the Mayoral Art Award for "precision and excellence in artistic discipline." Smallwood's gift has made room for him to minister to presidents and dignitaries all over the world as well as home at most of DC's halls of fame, such as, Constitution Hall, the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center and the White House. Touching all areas of the arts, Richard and his singers toured with the theatrical musical, "Sing Mahalia Sing," based on the life of Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson and starring Jennifer Holiday, which segued into a guest appearance on television's "Ryan's Hope" for ABC. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Howard University in 1997.

Richard began his recording career in 1982 with an album simply titled, "The Richard Smallwood Singers." The debut project spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. The next project, "Psalms" received a Grammy nomination. Two years later, another nomination for "Textures," the album that contained the classic, "Center Of My Joy" penned by Richard Smallwood along with Bill and Gloria Gaither. Smallwood continued to amass successive Grammy nominations with all of the following projects: "Vision," "Portrait," "Testimony" and "Live at Howard University." Richard continued to climb to the pinnacle of success, receiving a Grammy Award and Dove Award for his production on the Quincy Jones Gospel project, "Handel's Soulful Messiah."

Richard's music has never been confined to anyone artistic genre. His song, "I Love The Lord" crossed onto the big screen when Whitney Houston sang it in the film, "The Preacher's Wife." The same song was also used in the tune, "Dear God" by R&B artists; Boyz II Men on their CD entitled "Evolution." His music has also been recorded by artists such as Destiny's Child, Yolanda Adams and Karen Clark-Sheard. He has even accompanied legendary opera diva Leontyne Price as a part of the White House Christmas celebration during the Reagan administration.

Richard, with his current group Vision, an ensemble of multitalented ministers of music from the DC area, has recorded four projects for Verity records: "Adoration," which contains the mega-hit, "Total Praise," a Christmas project "Rejoice," "Healing: Live in Detroit," and the latest entitled "Persuaded: Live in DC," which was also nominated for a Grammy and won multiple Stellar Awards.

Richard was licensed to preach the Word of God in 2003. In May of 2004, he completed work on his Masters Of Divinity at Howard University's prestigious School of Divinity and graduated with honors. He was ordained in June of 2004. In June of 2005, he and Vision shared the stage with legend Aretha Franklin for three nights at Madison Square Garden for the McDonalds gospel fest to rave reviews and critical acclaim. He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music from the Richmond Virginia Seminary in May of 2006.

His upcoming project, "Journey: Live in New York," is one of the most highly-anticipated projects in the music industry. It will feature legends such as Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Kim Burrell, Kelly Price, The Hawkins Family featuring Edwin, Walter, Tramaine and Lynette, Classical singer Janice Chandler-Eteme, the Original Smallwood Singers and Vision all performing Smallwood music, new and old. On November 14, 2006, Richard had the distinguished honor of being inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Richard serves as a minister and Artist-in-Residence at his home church, Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, DC, where his pastor is Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, Jr.

Vanessa Bell Armstrong (born October 2, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan) is an award-winning gospel singer who released her debut album in 1983.

Armstrong's second album Chosen hit number one on the US Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. Her album Following Jesus won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album - Solo in 1988. She is also a seven time Grammy Award-nominee.

Biography

Don’t call it a comeback, Vanessa Bell Armstrong has been here for years and today, she returns to the music scene with an undeniable new album that is simply destined to reclaim her position as one of Gospel’s foremost female vocalists.

All things seem to be falling in line for Armstrong on this new CD, suitably titled, Walking Miracle. Recently signed to EMI Gospel, a new label for her, Armstrong brings her vast arsenal of talent, anointing and experience to the table.

Featuring a blend of contemporary sensibilities and ‘Ole school’ rips and runs Armstrong’s forte cannot be defined as just one thing. “When I started out, I was a contemporary vocalist however the late Thomas Whitfield mixed it up with a traditional feel and since then I never went far from that,” Armstrong explained. “I love the contemporary and I love the traditional... to me the time-honored sounds of Gospel music is our medicine... it gives us hope ... it encourages, but the contemporary-up tempo stuff is what lifts us up. It all works together.” Walking Miracle is a perfect blend of the soul and power of the traditional with the up-tempo and vibrancy of the contemporary. She bridges the gap and has a message for all listeners.

The lead single, “So Good To Me,” is exactly the archetypical Vanessa Bell Armstrong sound that we’ve come to know and love. The song, produced by label mate, Smokie Norful, was borne out of his admiration and grasp of Armstrong’s history, depth and value as one of Gospel’s purest and strongest female vocalists. “He’s the smoke, and I’m the fire,” laughed Armstrong. “Smokie knew me so well... he told me that I was the first gospel artist he was introduced to and he had been listening to me since he was young... singing my songs in church... and so for him to know my music and my sound so well it was a perfect match.” It is a classically built song of encouragement that has the makings of the huge Gospel hit.

The song verbalizes the theme for Armstrong’s recent journey with this project and with her career. “I am ready to tell everyone how good God has been to me... I want people to watch me as I follow Christ,” explained Armstrong. “A lot of people counted me out and convinced me it was over as far as my career was concerned... But God said not so... he had me in hibernation and prepared me for this time and revealed Himself in the right time.”

Drawing out the notions of faith, encouragement and triumph in Jesus, Armstrong gives plentiful reminders of His greatness. Of the impressive 11 tracks on the album, the most personal and perhaps most heartfelt is “It’s Over Now.” More than a song, it is an intimate conversation with Armstrong and the Lord where she is requesting a song for her, for her son, for her daughter, even for the world to help heal the collective struggle we all face in our daily lives. Making it personal for herself she openly appeals to the Lord on behalf of her children.

“These are real things that I am going through ... The enemy is after me and going through my children and I am standing in proxy for them.” she said. “It’s also one of my favorite songs to sing off of this project... it’s just so personal and you can’t sing about something you don’t know about... God gave me this song and I am going to warfare with the enemy and letting them know by faith I know it is over... the pain, the illness, the heart break... its over.”

Walking Miracle features a first time collaboration with Armstrong and super producer, Rodney Jerkins on the R&B tinged title cut “Walking Miracle.” The smooth and sleek track backs Armstrong’s clear and catchy vocals. It is a relatable song for everyone that speaks of God’s healing power and again talks of her own story. “They were praying for my son (who was recently diagnosed with the debilitating disease MS) one Sunday night and the song just came to me,” she said. “He is a walking miracle and I know he’s healed and through faith and assurance I am just waiting for the evidence of His promise.”

“The song tells of other struggles ... I deal with martial problems in this song which is something that God delivered me from. I can identify with the many battles ... mentally, medically, financially ... everyone is going through something... But the key is if you are still moving ... going forward that is what the miracle truly is... Every time you open your eyes that is God.”

Freddie Jerkins also provides production on Walking Miracle and offers the upbeat “Till The Victory Is Won” and the urban contemporary ballad “Fall In Love.” The latter, a pretty soft ballad, showcases her range and speaks to a feeling we, as believers, have all had at one time or another ... the desire to go back to that precious, special moment when we first fell in love with Jesus. Musically equivalent to R&B and soul counterparts, “Fall In Love” is a love song that exhibits a passion and an eagerness to reclaim that zeal and thirst to be closer to Christ. “I want that fresh anointing,” said Armstrong. “Freddie Jerkins did an amazing job and he gave this song that was so beautiful... I wanted to have that refreshing ... a touch from Jesus to remind me of His amazing love.”

Other high points on Walking Miracle include “Seasons” featuring a guest appearance by the phenomenal J. Moss whose vocals are a wonderful compliment to the CD and “Just Hold On” a broadway-esque ballad with the right elements of beauty and encouragement that harkens back to Armstrong’s start on Broadway.

Armstrong first appeared on Broadway in 1991 for the production of “Don’t Get God Started,” which catapulted her to prominence leading to a cameo in Oprah Winfrey’s TV special “The Women of Brewster Place,” and a gig doing the opening jingle for the hit sitcom “Amen.” Both accomplishment and career highlights prove that Armstrong has truly withstood the test of time. Her first release in 1984, “Peace Be Still,” has since become a defining song for her, and subsequently she has released a number of memorable releases including “Something Inside So Strong,” and “Don’t Give Up On Jesus.” It is her ability to mix it up that has kept Armstrong relevant in today’s field.

Song after song the album seeks to encourage, inspire and remind us all of God’s awesome power. Walking Miracle tells us to hold on, to have faith, to know there is victory, and that simply God has our back. Vanessa Bell Armstrong continues be relevant, giving listeners what they need when they need it.

“When people listen to this album, I want people to know the giver of this wonderful gift is God,” Armstrong said. “Its all God... the versatility I have is because He is a versatile God... He is not hung up on one way of singing and He has anointed me to reach the masses. I want people to know that there is something better... the thing that we are all missing in today’s world is Jesus... we have to bring that message to them.”