Musician. A talented singer of Rhythm and Blues, Doo-Wop, and Gospel music, he is best remembered as a member of the popular musical group, Billy Ward & The Dominoes (or The Dominoes). A native of Los Angeles, California, he was born William Ward to a musician mother, and a minister father. A child prodigy, Ward was schooled in classical music theory and composition, as well as performance. By the age of 14, he was playing the organ in his father's church, and had even won a composition award from noted composer Walter Damrosch. He later studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1940s, he began working on Broadway as a voice coach, and also joined the military during World War II, and served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After his military service he began recruiting members to form his first band, mainly students from his voice lesson classes. In 1950, the band named Billy Ward & The Dominoes officially grouped. The other members of the group included lead singer Clyde McPhatter, tenor Charlie White, baritone Joe Lamont, and bass player Bill Brown. Thanks to McPhatter's high tenor voice, the group soon got gigs on television shows including, "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts", and several talent contest appearances, engagements, and an audition with Ralph Bass of the Federal Records Label. After signing with the label in 1950 the group began working on some recordings, and by 1951 they had released there first single entitled, 'Do Something For Me.' The song was a hit and it landed at #6 on the R&B Charts. In May 1951, the group followed that song up with another
Musician. A talented singer of Rhythm and Blues, Doo-Wop, and Gospel music, he is best remembered as a member of the popular musical group, Billy Ward & The Dominoes (or The Dominoes). A native of Los Angeles, California, he was born William Ward to a musician mother, and a minister father. A child prodigy, Ward was schooled in classical music theory and composition, as well as performance. By the age of 14, he was playing the organ in his father's church, and had even won a composition award from noted composer Walter Damrosch. He later studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and the Art Institute in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1940s, he began working on Broadway as a voice coach, and also joined the military during World War II, and served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After his military service he began recruiting members to form his first band, mainly students from his voice lesson classes. In 1950, the band named Billy Ward & The Dominoes officially grouped. The other members of the group included lead singer Clyde McPhatter, tenor Charlie White, baritone Joe Lamont, and bass player Bill Brown. Thanks to McPhatter's high tenor voice, the group soon got gigs on television shows including, "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts", and several talent contest appearances, engagements, and an audition with Ralph Bass of the Federal Records Label. After signing with the label in 1950 the group began working on some recordings, and by 1951 they had released there first single entitled, 'Do Something For Me.' The song was a hit and it landed at #6 on the R&B Charts. In May 1951, the group followed that song up with another
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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