Official Biography (courtesy of Ray Ward)
For over 30 years, Ray Ward has been a sought-after vocalist and percussionist. His smooth vocals have been compared to those of musical legends such as Lou Rawls and Luther Vandross. His illustrious career includes performing within groups who have opened for Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, Teddy Pendergrass, Al Wilson, Sly & The Family Stone, and The O’Jays. Ray is an accomplished performer in jazz, pop, big-band, standards, Motown, reggae, and blues, Ray’s unique talent transcends the various musical genres.
Ray began his musical career in 1973 singing with a group by the name of “Masterpiece”. This quintet quickly gained notoriety within the Detroit area, performing all of the hits of the day. The popularity of Masterpiece led to their recording “We’re Gonna Make It” in 1974. In the 1980’s, Ray continued to perform at various venues, providing key vocals for groups such as Summer Spirit and Jazzmin, all the while performing as a solo artist for various events. In 1990, Ray began to perform the standards with “The Starlight Trio”, and in 1996, he headlined a blues band called, “Ray Ward and Bluezone”, which recorded a self-titled CD in 1999. In 2000, Ray Ward began performing with the popular jazz/blues/pop act, First Rate and, in 2005, he expanded into reggae and performed lead vocals for “The Island Guys”.
In addition to performing with “The Island Guys”, Ray’s professional bio includes experience working with some of today’s favorite Detroit artists. This list includes frequent collaborations with guitarists John E. Lawrence and Mike Moore, Penny Wells, vocalist Nikki Pierce, and keyboardist Terrence Lester. With 30 plus years professional experience, Ray entertained audiences across the metro-area several times a week. Ray maintained his musical career in tandem with a 41-year automotive industrial career with Ford and General Motors Companies. As a musical professional, he is known for his dedication to his craft and for consistently bringing his “A-game”. As an entertaine
