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Clara Ward and the Famous Ward Singers.
Philadelphia: Ward’s House of Music, 3800 N. 18th St., [ca. 1957]. 4to (11.75” x 9”), illustrated wrappers. [16] pp. illus. Ownership inscription in ink on front wrapper, “Sue Phillips.” CONDITION: Good, wrappers detached and cracked at spine, some discoloration and scratching to front wrapper, minor losses to back wrapper, pp. 7–10 loose; contents bright and clean. A scarce promotional booklet centering on Clara Ward’s visit to the Holy Land, published at the zenith of her career. Featured here is Ward’s article “How A Visit to the Holy Land Changed My Life,” describing her inspirational visit to the Holy Land. Accompanying the article are images of Ward in Palestine; sitting by the Sea of Galilee; riding a camel in Cairo, Egypt; at a church and on top of Mt. Zion in Israel; and in the garden of Gethsemane. Ward describes her tour in the opening page of the volume: “The cities of Europe were splendid, yes, but they could not compete in my spirit with seeing the bullrushes where the Pharoh’s [sic] daughter found the infant Moses; or Mount Tabor; the stunning majesty of Solomon’s Temple; the great, meaningful Walls of Jerusalem; the site of Joseph’s dream…” Ward notes that “All of these things are in the songs I sing and they are linked by cause with Jesus. When I left the Holy Land, I did not say goodbye. Because I have it all with me in songs.” Other photo-illustrations, accompanying an overview of her career, picture Ward on tour in Europe; celebrating her twenty-fourth birthday at the Philadelphia Arena in 1957, with 11,000 people in attendance; riding in her various cars; reading the Bible at home; and working at her publishing house, Ward’s House of Music. A number of professional shots represent other groups who recorded for Ward’s House of Music: The Nightingales, The Soul Stirrers (featuring the autograph of R. B. Robinson), The Gospel Harmonettes, The Five Blind Boys, the Harmonizing Four (bearing the autographs of Joe Williams and Jimmy Jones), The Caravans, and the Swanee Quintet. A newspaper article, “Only Human” by Sidney Fields, is also included, noting that, between their touring, records, and Ward’s House of Music, the Ward Singers gross half a million dollars per year. Song lyrics are provided for four songs by the Ward Singers: “Any Where in Glory,” “Redeemed,” “Hold Back the Tears,” and “Surely God is Able.” Rounding out the volume is a brief biography of Ward’s mother, Gertrude Ward, who at the time of publication managed the Ward Singers. Born in Philadelphia in 1924, Clara Ward is celebrated as one of the greatest soloists and arrangers of gospel music. Her mother, Gertrude Ward, formed the group with her daughters Clara and Willa in 1931. After performing at the 1943 National Baptist Convention, they became a main attraction on the church circuit, and by the late ‘40s had added two new members, Henrietta Waddy and soloist Marion Williams. The Wards traded choir robes for snazzy costumes and became the first gospel group to use the “switch-lead style.” In the 1950s the Wards toured with singer Rev. C. L. Franklin, the father of Aretha Franklin (who was an avowed follower of Clara), grossing more money and enjoying more hits than any other gospel group. In 1958, however, Williams quit due to poor pay and the group began to disintegrate. By 1961, the Ward Singers—with new members—had moved to the club circuit, playing Las Vegas and Disneyland. They continued touring throughout the ‘60s. Clara suffered several strokes beginning in the late ‘60s, which led to her retirement. She died in 1973. OCLC records only two copies, at Emory University and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. REFERENCES: “Clara Ward and the Ward Singers” at Philadelphia Music Alliance online.
Item #9255
Price: $475.00
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