Robert Ward

**Robert Jeryl Ward** (October 15, 1938 – December 25, 2008) was an American blues and soul guitarist. He was known for founding the Ohio Untouchables, the band that later would become the Ohio Players. He played the guitar with a unique tone soaked in vibrato coming from a Magnatone amplifier.

Born in Luthersville, Georgia, he moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1960 and formed the Ohio Untouchables. The group released several singles on LuPine including "Your Love Is Amazing" which would become one of Ward's signature songs. They also recorded the guitar workout, "Forgive Me Darling", which was loosely modelled on Bo Diddley's, "I'm Sorry". Ward left the group in 1965.

He moved to the Detroit area, actually residing in Toledo, Ohio, and released singles under his name in the late 1960s. He disappeared from the music scene in the 1970s, after working as a session player for Motown. In 1977, both his wife and mother died, and Ward relocated to Dry Branch, Georgia.

In the early 1990s he returned to the spotlight. He was rediscovered by Black Top Records and released his first solo album Fear No Evil in 1991. It included a re-recording of "Forgive Me Darling". He released two more albums in the next four years for the label. In the mid-1990s he did limited touring, including a date in Minneapolis with Curtis Obeda and The Butanes, and several dates in Michigan including Kalamazoo, Three Rivers and Grand Rapids. After the label went defunct in the late 1990s, WRKR Kalamazoo blues DJ Marty Spaulding, who Robert had appointed his manager, arranged a recording contract with Delmark Records to release New Role Soul in 2000. In his last years he had health problems, including two strokes, which prevented him from performing or recording.

On December 25, 2008, Ward died at his home in Dry Branch, Georgia.

## Links to Kershaw

In the Music Choice section of the Guardian published on 29th November 1991, several DJ's, musicians and media celebrities were asked what their favourite albums of the year. Amongst them, Andy Kershaw choose Robert Ward's Fear No Evil as the album of the year. So impressed with the musician, that he invited him to do a session for his show in 1993, which was shared between him and John Peel on his programme.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1993-06-01. First Broadcast: 31 July 1993. Repeated: 23 April 1994

* The Conference Table / Your Love Is Amazing / Something For Nothing / Your Love Is Real

## Live

Live performance at the Festival Of The American South recorded in July 1994. First Broadcast: 18 December 1994

1. unknown tracks

## Other Shows Played

   1991
* 31 March 1991: Forgive Me Darling
* 21 April 1991: Forgive Me Darling (LP - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 01 September 1991: Danger Zone / Take A Little Bit
* 06 October 1991: Your Love Is Amazing (album - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 27 October 1991: Fear No Evil (7") Groove City
* 27 October 1991: Fear No Evil (CD - Fear No Evil) Black Top
* 03 November 1991: K-Po-Kee (CD - Fear No Evil) Black Top
* 03 November 1991: Forgive Me Darling (CD - Fear No Evil) Black Top
* 10 November 1991: Strictly Reserved For You (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 24 November 1991: The Comfort Table (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 22 December 1991: Forgive Me Darling (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 29 December 1991: Fear No Evil (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone
* 29 December 1991: Your Love Is Amazing (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone

1992
* 27 July 1992 (BBC World Service): I'm Gonna Cry A River (v/a album - Black Top Blues Pajama Party) Black Top

1993
* 24 April 1993: I Found A Love (CD - Rhythm Of The People) Black Top
* 01 May 1993: Some Things (CD - Rhythm Of The People) Black Top
* 15 May 1993: I Found A Love (CD - Rhythm Of The People) Black Top

1995
* 21 May 1995: Hot Stuff (CD - Hot Stuff) Relic
* 19 November 1995: Lonely Man
* 17 December 1995: Soul Stroll (CD - Black Bottom) Black Top
* 17 December 1995: Beyond This Planet (CD - Black Bottom) Black Top

1996
* 07 January 1996: Yonder Goes My Baby (CD - Black Bottom) Black Top
* 10 March 1996: Yonder Goes My Baby (CD - Black Bottom) Black Top

2002
* 10 May 2002: Forgive Me Darling (CD - Fear No Evil) Black Top

2006
* 29 January 2006: Forgive Me Darling (CD - Fear No Evil) Silvertone

2021
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 8: Fear No Evil (album - Fear No Evil) Black Top
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 10: Forgive Me Darling (album - Fear No Evil) Black Top

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs