It is virtually impossible to listen to the singing of Stellar Award-winning
gospel artist Maurette Brown Clark and do anything else at the same time -
IMPOSSIBLE!
Subtly captivating, her voice is at once engaging. Smoky and resonant, it is
reminiscent of a young Roberta Flack-but with an undeniable anointing. That
voice combined with her warm sister-girlfriend delivery and God-inspired
lyrics make her sophomore release, "By His Grace," an incomparable listening
experience not to be missed.
A gifted pianist and composer, Brown Clark penned several of the album's new
songs with focused intent.  "I try to pick songs that I love. Something
about singing a song you love can just really draw people in."
The result? "By His Grace" is an eclectic mix of light urban, contemporary
and traditional sounds that equally inspire dance, reflection, praise, and
worship.  Some of the tracks include:
"Lean on You" on which Brown Clark artfully fuses R&B with a traditional
choral accompaniment to present a song of surrender that is both uplifting
and heart-wrenching.
Never one to shy away from the subject of personal challenges, she admits
the powerful song" One Prayer Away" was written in response to the shaking
of her own faith in the wake of September 11th.  "I had just been telling
people that God is in control. Now I was like, how can I keep saying that?"
" And God said if you need an answer, pray. 'So I did!"
"You saved My Life" is a soaring ballad that Brown Clark says has an
inevitable result when performed live. "Some old saint always comes up to me
and says, "You wrote that just for me." The polished studio version promises
to garner the same response from many listeners.
The soulful "King of Kings" guarantees to usher listeners into the very
throne room of God. While the hip, urban vibe of "Restoration" and the
albums title cut "By His Grace" is a perfect match for Brown Clark's
unpretentious vocals, proving that she doesn't need to shout to be heard.
On several of the album's tracks she shares vocal duties with guest
vocalists including her fraternal twin brother, Maurice, and one of her
mentors, Dottie Jones. Brown Clark credits Jones, an original member of the
Richard Smallwood Singers, for generously sharing her musical and spiritual
wisdom.
"By His Grace" is lushly co-produced by Steven Ford and Kevin Bond whose
work with gospel chart-toppers T. D. Jakes, Kirk Franklin, Vickie Winans and
Donnie McClurkin has set an industry standard. Ford also collaborated with
Brown Clark on her award-winning debut release, "How I Feel".
Released in 1998, "How I Feel" earned her the Stellar Award for Best New
Artist in 1999.  Happily, receiving the Stellar put an end to a running joke
between the singer and her mother. "We use to watch the Stellars and she'd
say, 'We'll be down there one day.'"
The artist was also nominated for Best Contemporary Artist Female in the
same year. "To be nominated was crazy. To win with my family and friends
there, wrecked me. Not that you do things for awards-although it is nice."
It's clear that there are many more awards in Maurette Brown Clark's future.
But it may not have been so had it not been for a fateful plane trip in
1990.
To pass the time, she flipped through a national magazine and came across an
inspiring article about a former classmate who, by all appearances, had
found her calling and was living it to the fullest. Brown Clark began to
re-evaluate her own life's course.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, she had all the
trappings of the good life-friends, job, car-still something was missing.
"That day on the plane I came face-to-face with my own mortality, and I didn't want to have lived and died without touching anyone. I asked God what are
my hands supposed to do?" When she got off the plane God began talking to
her about a music ministry.
Soon after she borrowed demo money from her mother and asked the Lord for
the three songs needed to complete it. "I said, 'You called me, so give me
what I need.'" He answered her in grand fashion, and the demo brought her
first recording contract.
Fulfilling the call on her life has not come without challenges. Brown Clark
knows very well the feeling of "being in the red all the time." And although
the lucrative world of secular music offers an easy out for the
self-described total church girl," it has never been an option."
A native of Long Island, New York, Maurette Brown Clark was raised in a
musical household and her mother insisted that all the children take piano
lessons, and her father taught them all to sing.
"My father loved James Cleveland! Whenever a James Cleveland album came out,
we learned the music immediately."
Gospel legend Donnie McClurkin was a big influence on young Maurette. He and
his sisters were frequent guests at her childhood church. " I grew up on
Long Island with Donnie. I used to look at them and say, 'Man, I want to do
that!' "
Richard Smallwood is another source of motivation. For six years, Brown
Clark has been a member of Smallwood's choral, Vision. "He treats us like
family. I feel like we've been singing together forever."
But it is Gospel legend Cece Winans that provided the greatest influence.
"Her intentions are pure and come through every note she sings, there's no
question of her intentions."
The singer finds it difficult to hide her emotion when describing her awe of
God in choosing her from among so many other talents to bring his message of
restoration.
"I wouldn't do this if God hadn't told me to. If I had a choice of sitting
on my couch and watching my kids play or getting on a plane to go and sing
somewhere, I'd rather be home. So it must be God."
The course is clear now for Maurette Clark Brown. She's on a mission to
touch people and let them know with the Lord all is possible. " I want
people to know that things will get better. No other religion offers that
hope. He is real. He can save you. Let God drive and he will take you where
you never imagined."
She currently resides in a Baltimore suburb with her husband of nine years
and their two children.