Walter Ward (singer)
Encyclopedia
Walter Ward was an American
R&B
singer, and lead vocalist of The Olympics
.
Ward was born in Jackson, Mississippi
, and began singing professionally as a child with his father and three uncles, in a gospel group known as 'The Ward Brothers'.
Ward's family moved to Los Angeles
in the 1950s. In 1954, when he was attending Centinela High School in Inglewood, California
, Ward and his cousin Eddie Lewis formed a group known as 'The Challengers'. After winning a number of talent show
s, Ward and Lewis were approached by another singing duo who asked to join their group. The new quartet became The Olympics.
Ward's last performance with The Olympics was on November 12, 2006, at a Doo-Wop Spectacular
on Long Island, New York.
Ward died in Northridge, California in December 2006, at the age of 66.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
singer, and lead vocalist of The Olympics
The Olympics (band)
The Olympics were an American doo-wop group, formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward . The group included Eddie Lewis , Charles Fizer , Walter Hammond and Melvin King and except for Lewis were friends in a Los Angeles, California, high school...
.
Ward was born in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, and began singing professionally as a child with his father and three uncles, in a gospel group known as 'The Ward Brothers'.
Ward's family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1950s. In 1954, when he was attending Centinela High School in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, Ward and his cousin Eddie Lewis formed a group known as 'The Challengers'. After winning a number of talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
s, Ward and Lewis were approached by another singing duo who asked to join their group. The new quartet became The Olympics.
Ward's last performance with The Olympics was on November 12, 2006, at a Doo-Wop Spectacular
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
on Long Island, New York.
Ward died in Northridge, California in December 2006, at the age of 66.