Background
Willa Ward was born on December 13, 1920, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States. She was a daughter of George Ward, a steel plant foreman, and Gertrude (Murphy) Ward, a singer.
Ward with group Gay Charmers
Willa, sister Clara and their mother, Gertrude at piano, as the Ward Singers.
Ward with group Ward Singers
(The author recounts the experiences of her family who beg...)
The author recounts the experiences of her family who began singing gospel music for goodwill in rural South Carolina and eventually became the world-famous Ward Singers.
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1997
Willa Ward was born on December 13, 1920, in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States. She was a daughter of George Ward, a steel plant foreman, and Gertrude (Murphy) Ward, a singer.
Ward attended a girls’ high school, she studied classical music at a conservatory and studied jazz with James Weldon Lane.
Ward performed as a singer with the group Ward Singers, founded by her mother, beginning in 1931. The group included her sister Clara Ward as well. Among their hits were “I’m Climbing Higher and Higher”, “O My Lord What a Time” and “How I Got Over”. In the beginning, the Ward Singers sang in churches along the East Coast. In 1943, they performed at the National Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee and Willa sang the song "If We Never Needed the Lord Before".
Ward left the Ward Singers in 1958 and formed a pop group, the Gay Charmers Trio. She later sang duo with Toni Rose. She sang backup for Scream Jay Hawkins, Chubby Checker and Patti La Belle.
(The author recounts the experiences of her family who beg...)
1997Ward had a pure, note-bending, mellifluous voice.
Quotes from others about the person
“I think they were the best gospel group in the golden era. And if it’s understood that gospel music provides the origins of modern rhythm and blues and rock ’n’ roll, the Ward Singers would have to be counted as the most influential gospel group.” - Anthony Heilbut
Ward married John Moultrie on April 20, 1940. Unfortunately, he died in 1966. Ward married Harry J. Royster on December 10, 1972. She is survived by children from the first marriage - Charlotte Moultrie Sims and Rita Moultrie Bell.