BY: Philly Rains | Oct 16, 2024
The MUSIC Is The MAGNET But The GOAL Is The SOUL
The Tennessee Mass Choir is a Professional Nonprofit organization that provides a diverse culture of service opportunities, through music, cultural arts and community partnerships.
It is a State choir, with a Global mission and personal touch. The Tennessee Mass Choir, Inc. (TMC) is a nonprofit organization that provides a diverse culture of service opportunities through music, cultural arts, and community partnerships. High-energy vocals performed by a powerfully gifted, versatile and spirited group of individuals. The Tennessee Mass Choir has been recognized as one of the finest, most respected and talented Mass Choirs in the entire country. Under the leadership of award winning, GRAMMY nominated music producer Jason Clark, this choir has shared the stage and/or recorded with notable artists such as Martina McBride, Al Green, Fred Hammond, Foreigner, John P. Kee, Jekalyn Carr, Kirby Lauren, St. Paul and The Broken Bones along with countless others.
The group was founded by Fannie Mae Cole. She was eight years old when she accompanied an older sister to a piano lesson.
The teacher asked if she would like to take piano lessons too. Young Fannie’s answer was to slide onto the piano bench and, without a single lesson,
play the piece her sister had just played from memory without missing a single note.
It was an amazing music talent that led her to eventually form her own music group, The Fannie Clark Singers, and later the Tennessee Mass Choir. In addition to her music talent, Mrs. Clark had shown an early love of teaching, setting up what her family calls a “shade tree” school with blackboard and chalk in the family’s backyard,
where she taught math and reading to neighborhood children.
Mrs. Clark passed Saturday, September 21, 2013 after a brief bout with cancer. She had taught in the city schools for 41 years before retiring in 2000 as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher at Newberry Elementary School.
Mrs. Clark would often say “the years in our lives are not as important as the life in our years,” and her interests went beyond music and formal education. She also was politically active in the community. For 25 years she sponsored an annual political forum at her Whitehaven home, inviting people to mingle with political candidates in order to get to know the people running for office. Her forums were considered to be similar to the old St. Peter’s Home picnics.
“You see them SANGAS behind me!? That’s The TN Mass Choir! They learned and recorded 3 songs in less than 3 hours! When Jason told me they could do it, I didn’t believe it but Hunni, I SAW IT FOR MYSELF!”
Kirby Lauryen, Singer – Songwriter
“One word to describe The TN Mass Choir, OUTSTANDING!!” Foreigner, Legendary Rock Band
“If the HEAVENLY CHOIR sounds any better than TN MASS CHOIR, I’m not going to be able to handle it when I get there! You guys are truly gifted!” Martina McBride, Country Music Artist
This event is FREE! Presented by Warfield Concerts, at the Hendrix Fine Arts Center, Phillips Community College, University Of Arkansas, October 24, 2025, 7:00 PM.
Reserve your tickets now! www.warfieldconcerts.com This is one spectacular event you won’t want to miss!
