Aahana Swrup
‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel’ is a Lifetime biopic film where the narrative revolves around the lives and careers of the Clark Sisters, an all-female gospel group that makes waves in the musical genre. The film follows these sisters—Jacky, Twinkie, Denise, Dorinda, and Karen—from their early days when their mother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, trains them as Church choir singers. Eventually, as the girls grow, they find opportunities to become recording artists as a gospel group and spread the word of God through their artistry.
Yet, many hurdles lay in their path, from outside influences to conflicts that arise from within. During the exploration of The Clark Sisters’ lives, Larry Clark, Denise’s oldest son, makes a brief appearance in the film as he accompanies his mother and aunts to one rehearsal session. Even though his presence in the on-screen story remains small, his connection to the real-life legendary gospel musicians is bound to attract some intrigue.
Larry Clark is Continuing the Clark Family’s Musical Legacy
Larry Clark, the eldest of seven sons, was born to Denise Clark-Bradford sometime before her departure from The Clark Sisters group in 1986. Despite his mother’s conflict with her family, his grandmother and aunts remained a part of his orbit for years to come. Reportedly, he lived with his grandmother, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, in the early 90s, during which he inherited her devotion to the scripture and dedication to music. Her example, paired with other influences in his life, including his mother and aunts, inevitably inspired him to pursue a similar future in gospel music. However, the path ahead wasn’t an easy one.
During his early days, Larry found himself homeless for six months. Nonetheless, he emerged from this adversity with a closer connection to God and a clear vision for the future. As a result, he ended up forming the gospel group, The Clark Brothers, with his siblings. In 2000, the group released their first album ‘We Need Your Love,’ wherein Larry served as a singer, songwriter, and producer. Soon after, in 2010, he released his debut solo record ‘Emerge,’ which offered a blend of multiple genres from hip hop, pop ballad, soul, and more. He also collaborated with his aunt, Twinkie Clark, on one of the songs on that album.
Larry continues to release new music today and puts out performances for his fans. Since his and Twinkie Clark’s joint 2020 album ‘The Generations,’ he has also released a single titled “My Testimony” in 2024. Furthermore, the aunt-nephew duo held a concert series in early 2024. He also continues to perform with The Clark Brothers and recently put out a performance at the church of Aretha Franklin’s father, New Bethel Baptist Church. Alternatively, Larry also dabbles in musical storytelling and has written multiple stage plays. Since his 2016 debut play ‘Hallelujah: The Journey of Larry Clark,’ he has also put out the play, ‘Will You Marry Me?’ in 2022. Thus, it seems his artistic endeavors only continue to grow with time, bringing him to new and exciting avenues.
Larry Clark is a Family Man who Values Quality Time With His Loved Ones
Given Larry Clark’s close personal and professional relationship with his aunt, Twinkie Clark, the significance of family in his life remains evident. While he consistently puts in effort to honor his heritage and the Clark Family legacy, he also continues passing on his family values to the next generation. Larry is married with two kids: one daughter and two sons. He and his kids, Malcolm, Chauncey, and Chloe, have also worked on a songbook called ‘Summer Camp.’ Thus, his children seem to have inherited their family’s knack for musical arts and participate in artistic extracurricular activities.
On the other hand, Larry’s sons have fostered an interest in basketball—another quirk they share with their father. As such, the musician has taken to coaching his children’s basketball team in his off time at Bates Academy in Detroit, Michigan. Therefore, his bond with his family remains strong. Unfortunately, the Clark family recently underwent a personal loss with the death of Larry’s brother, John Aljino Morrison. Still, the family continues to stay close in their shared grief and remains grateful for their time together.
Read More: First Ladies of Gospel True Story: Where are The Clark Sisters Now?
