Meachum L. Clarke

Florida's Meachum L. Clarke is a gifted singer/songwriter and worship leader known for his contemporary gospel ensemble True Purpose. Born in Lakeland, Florida, Clarke became interested in music around age five, and by age seven was already developing his musical skills while attending the Rochelle School of the Arts. By the time he was in high school, he was able to play ten instruments, including piano and tuba, and even earned the position of drum major in his school's marching band. Also during his teens, he served as his church organist and choir director. Accepted to Tallahassee's Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Clarke spent the next four years studying music education, during which time he also led the school's famed FAMU Gospel Choir. After college, he worked first as assistant minister, and later full-time minister of music, at the Greater Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. He then relocated to Jacksonville, where he eventually accepted the position of minister of worship and fine arts ministry at St. Paul Baptist Church, building the then dwindling congregation into a robust worship ministry with over 300 members. Since that time, Clarke has transitioned into the role of music director of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, where he founded the highly popular gospel ensemble True Purpose. He has also shared the stage with such luminaries as James Hall, Kirk Franklin, Karen Clark-Sheard, Vickie Winans, Beverly Crawford, Marvin Sapp, VaShawn Mitchell, Donnie McClurkin, and many others. Clarke and True Purpose debuted with 2014's Greater. In 2017, they returned with their sophomore album, The Victory Experience. ~ Matt Collar