As the Gospel music
explosion of the 1990s has resounded well into a new millennium, Karen
Clark Sheard stands as a bridge between hallowed tradition and bold
innovation. And her fourth solo album, and Word Records debut,
It’s Not Over, is proof positive that both the profound message
and musical excitement that have always been the cornerstones of Gospel
music still hold as strong and sturdy as ever. In the care of Karen, a
whole generation of musical visionaries has followed in her wake.
The heart of It’s
Not Over was recorded live at Karen’s home church, Greater
Emmanuel Institutional Church of God In Christ, in her native Detroit,
produced by the hot, hit-making team of Israel Houghton and Aaron
Lindsey. Three studio cuts, overseen by the cutting-edge crew, PAJAM,
round out the project. Showing herself in complete stylistic command of
everything from bedrock, traditional Gospel to up-to-the-minute
contemporary, Karen wraps her singular, signature voice around a
soul-stirring set of praise & worship music that is nothing short of
electrifying.
It’s Not Over
captures all the passion of the Gospel tradition, filtering it through
ultra-modern musical sensibilities, bringing together the best of both
old and new into something fresh, exciting and totally original. In what
is already one of the most notable careers in Gospel music, It’s
Not Over is Karen Clark Sheard like you’ve never heard her
before.
“Authority,”
co-written by Karen, is driving Gospel/R&B, propelled by tour-de-force
vocals from Karen and her backing ensemble. Echoing the song’s call to
believers to use their God-given authority to make a stand against evil,
the ensemble does a slow build on the one line, "Taking it back,” while
Karen undauntedly asserts the many good things of life she is
determinedly reclaiming.
The first radio single,
“Favor,” starts with a whisper of gentle balladry before making
its way to a crescendo of rousing praise to the Lord. “Hallelujah”
is a truly transcendent take on a praise & worship classic, segueing
from celestial reverence into high-octane, Sunday morning rocking.
The PAJAM-produced
“Be Blessed” pulsates with a choral/urban vibe that shows Karen to
be firmly in command of the contemporary Gospel genre in which she
herself has had a large hand in creating and innovating throughout her
career. “You Showed Me” is a tender, heart-rending ballad of
thanks to God for his untold blessings that soars to celestial heights,
while “A Living Testimony” is Gospel with a daring, driving urban
edge.
As the youngest member
of the legendary Clark Sisters, and daughter of Gospel pioneer Dr.
Mattie Moss Clark, Karen hails from one of the most popular and defining
Gospel music families of the last three decades. She and her sisters
began recording in 1973 and hit pay dirt when their conga-themed funk
number "You Brought The Sunshine" peaked at #16 on the Billboard R&B
singles chart in the summer of 1983.
Over the years, the
sisters created enduring gospel favorites such as “My Redeemer Liveth”
and “Is My Living in Vain?” In 1997, Clark-Sheard launched a solo career
with the award-winning project, Finally Karen on Island/Def Jam
that featured a duet with Clark fan, Faith Evans. An out-of-the gate
smash, it sold nearly half a million copies, garnered four Stellar
Awards and a Grammy nomination. She’s recorded two further hit cds
The Heavens Are Telling (2003) and 2nd
Chance (2002) for Elektra Records.
Karen's powerful
soprano and multi-textured vocal runs and riffs have become signatures
of her singular vocal style, and her talents have given inspiration to
legions of followers, including mainstream R&B and pop stars like Mariah
Carey, Kelly Price, Missy Elliott and Faith Evans, who, crediting Karen
and the Clark Sisters as one of the great musical inspirations of her
life, dueted with Karen on a cut from Finally Karen.
Karen expresses
gratitude for the praises of other such gifted artists, and also sees an
opportunity to have an impact that is more than musical. “I talked with
Missy Elliott,” she recalls, “and we began just chatting about music;
but it wasn’t long before she told me how a number of the Clark Sisters’
songs had really helped her get through difficult situations in her
life. That really enlightened me to the influence Gospel music can have
on lots of people who we may not have any idea we are impacting for the
Lord. Faith Evans and I had a similar conversation that began with music
and singing as our common denominator; but she grew up in the church
too, and she’s no stranger to the Word. And beyond the very gracious
compliments she paid me, and of even far greater significance to me, was
her telling me my songs had touched her life in important ways. Ministry
is what I’m all about, and when I hear testimonies like that, it’s very,
very encouraging to me.”
Karen balances a life
of music and ministry with her home life in Detroit as the wife of
Greater Emmanuel’s pastor, Reverend J. Drew Sheard, and the mother of
two musically gifted children, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard – now a major-label
recording artist in her own right – and John Jr. (J. Drew,) an aspiring
producer who in fact already has two big-league credits on his résumé,
having produced a pair of songs on his sister’s hit debut project.
Even with more
achievements, acknowledgement and success to her credit than many people
achieve in an entire lifetime, Karen speaks of the future like a woman
whose mission and ministry has only just begun.
“I looked at the world
and I feel like there is a whole side of it that hasn’t even been
reached,” she concludes. “There are so many millions of people who’ve
never heard the Gospel message. And as long as there’s even one soul
that hasn’t heard that message, my work here has not yet been
accomplished. And it is work, but it’s a calling, and it’s a
blessing, and it’s a job that is never finished.”
