Clara Ward (April 21, 1924 – January 16, 1973) was an American gospel artist who achieved great artistic and commercial success in the 1940s and 1950s, as leader of The Famous Ward Singers.A gifted singer and arranger, Ward adopted the lead-switching style, previously used primarily by male gospel quartets, creating opportunities for spontaneous improvisation and vamping by each member of the group, while giving virtuoso singers such as Marion Williams the opportunity to perform the lead vocal in songs such as "Surely, God Is Able" (among the first million-selling gospel hits), "How I Got Over" (composed by Williams, and one of the most famous songs in the Black gospel repertoire), and "Packin' Up".
Pictured on one of a set of four 32¢ US commemorative postage stamps in the Legends of American Music series, issued 15 July 1998, celebrating "Gospel Singers". Others honored in this set are Mahalia Jackson, Roberta Martin, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
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Gospel singer.
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Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1972
TV Series
Musical Guest
A Time to Sing
1968
Clara Ward
Make Room for Daddy
1963
TV Series
Clara, Ladies Club Member
The DuPont Show of the Month
1960
TV Series
Chorus Leader
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 2nd Annual Soul Train Music Awards
1988
TV Special writer: "How I Got Over"
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee
1969
TV Movie
Herself - Special Guest (as The Clara Ward Singers)
The Joey Bishop Show
1967
TV Series
Herself
Spree
1967
Documentary
Herself
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show
1958
TV Series
Themselves
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
2009
TV Series
Herself
Flip
1971-1972
TV Series
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971
TV Series
Guest
It's Your Thing
1970
Documentary
Herself
The Bob Goulet Show
1970
TV Movie
Herself - Leader, Clara Ward Gospel Singes (uncredited)
Playboy After Dark
1969
TV Series
Singer
Known for movies
33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee (1969) as Herself - Special Guest
$4 Million
