Karen Clark Sheard Releases Her New Album "Destined to Win" on Her Own Label

Gospel music artist and Multiple Grammy Awards winner Karen Clark Sheard is releasing her new and sixth solo album "Destined to Win" on July 17. "Destined to Win" was recorded in a church in Chicago with Donald Lawrence serving as the album's producer, songwriter and musical director.

This album is released on her own record label, Karew Records, distributed by Motown Gospel and Entertainment One Music. She's known and revered for her singularly stylized multitextured runs, and is said to have influenced artists such as Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott and Beyoncé, among others.

Speaking to Parade.com, Sheard says, "That it's on MY own label! I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur. My husband is CEO of my company, we're in business together as a family, and it's a dream come true. He has supported me and my dream all the way and I am so grateful. I've been singing for 45 years, and this is another opportunity to be relevant and know that people still love me. I'm still being inspired and empowered."

Sheard began her career as a member of the Grammy-Award winning, gospel legendary female group, The Clark Sisters. She is the mother of contemporary gospel singer and actress Kierra "Kiki" Sheard.

During the hiatus of the Clark Sisters, Sheard rose to fame after she recorded her critically acclaimed and much anticipated solo album Finally Karen, which spawned her hit, "Balm in Gilead" (a re-recording of a song she originally recorded as part of The Clark Sisters back in the 1980s for their Heart & Soul album) the R&B-flavored "Just For Me" and "Nothing Without You" - a contemporary duet with R&B diva Faith Evans. Finally Karen became one of the most successful gospel albums of 1998 earning Sheard a Grammy nomination and earning her a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for "Best Female Vocalist".

After her debut album success and much touring, Sheard was hospitalized in 2001 after one of her blood vessels burst during a minor surgery, resulting in doctors giving her a 2% chance of survival. Her testimony inspired the title name for her long-awaited sophomore project, Second Chance released in 2002, featuring a "Secret Place" - which is now considered a classic amongst fans. Sheard recorded two more live albums, including The Heavens Are Telling and It's Not Over (which featured some studio recordings), before releasing All in One, Sheard's first all-studio-recorded album in 13 years. The album debuted at #3 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Chart and #98 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart, while its first single "Prayed Up" has so far peaked at #10 on the U.S. Billboard Gospel Songs chart.

 

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