The Ward Singers: Surely God Is Able

[nockanoo62]

Old school gospel fans in the Philly area know this song VERY well...

[kizzi54]

this brings back sweet memories of my mom . she used to sing along with the record. in fact i still have the 78rpm record. i play it from time to time i can hear her singing.....surely he's able to care you through. i miss you, mommy. till we meet again in His presence together forever!

[1luvKamiSama1]

Oh Jesus I haven't heard this song in so long. I remember this song on a 33rpm.

[aferguson11able]

Surely God Is Able!!! Thank you for sharing.Love this song and all of the great gospel songs from my childhood when nearly everything was closed on Sunday!

God Bless!

Robbi W

[alexalot23]

SURELY!

[myneecee]

Omy god I felt the spirit come over me when I heard this song!!!

[MrJFQU]

They used to sing this in my church when I was little....I Love it!

[oliviaclair1]

the legacy continues check out their little cousin LaShawna Moore.

[praizequeen]

Now that is some Holy Ghost 'Sanging" Marion Williams says SHOWLY not Surely but SHOWLY God is able! Sang your song children!

[Reaching4Christ]

My mother use to sing this song when I was a little girl. This song reflects testimony and worship. What a blessing to be able to hear this again again. For surely God is able. Peace.

[StyleNMan]

My Grandmother used to lead this song

[jernest62]

I can remember as a child on Sunday mornings before my mother would get us up for church she would be in the kitchen cooking Sunday dinner with her stack of 45 rpm records and I can remember laying in bed listening to Clara Ward and the Ward singers. These were such uncomplicated times, Well Mother is gone now but listening to these songs really brings back a lot of precious memories.

[gypsymama501]

Mercy! I used to sing this old song back at Mount Tabor Baptist Church in KCMO. I PRAISE GOD.

DEDICATED TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO JUST WANT 2 PRAISE GOD RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

[kpitt1204]

THIS is one of my favorite gospel songs. I remember the gospel chorus singing this in church. The lead loved singing this song. She would get to singing with her hand on her hip and a little dip in her sway. She was the sweetest lady, and you could tell she was no faking this song at all. She meant what she was saying. I would love to hear a bunch of women sing this today! My kind of music for sure!

[coolcat7035]

God bless Ward singers they sit the ground for today's gospel singers> God bless

them and may this legacy carry on>

[chickengifts]

Great!!!!

[wcta0608]

Purple....from what I understand she could "stomp" a piano. And from ear-servation (I just made that word up lol) Clara and Marion even though in the same vocal range had a contrasting texture to their voices which made for a good mix on leads. Love this song...vocals and all. Thanks for posting.

[jollysincere]

@wcta0608 Yes,,Clara was a very gifted pianist & performer! many times i saw her dismantle a piano with 'wild abandon' she was a sight to see.

[vinvid2u]

Thanks for posting...strange that Savoy has taken the Ward Singers greatest hits out of print. The same series with The Davis Sisters, The Caravans and The Roberta Martin Singers are still available on cd. Buy or download before it's too late!

[ahd1969]

Do anyone know the words to this song so i can sing it in church? If so please post it. God Bless you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vinvid2u]

@ahd1969

The lyrics complete with sheet music is available in Bernice Reagon's Book "We'll Understand It Better By and By". Also included in Reagon's book are lyrics and music to other songs by songwriters Brewster, Dorsey, etc.

[ahd1969]

I truly like this song. The words are so true. God is able to do all things there's no limits to his power..

[MrPrettydude]

Her pronunciation is immaculate!!! That high note at 1:40 was that Kitty Parham?

[smallrich]

@MrPrettydude That was Marion Williams on the high note, just as she came in to take over the lead from Clara.

[jddrew1000]

O yes he is

[cynj64]

My mother and her church choir still sing this sung. I am so thankful for being raised around the old school gospel music, as musician it has allowed me to be able to play and recognize real anointing from the performance

[scutte2000]

This is what these new groups need to listen to, this music isn`t about a hit on the charts but the hit in the heart from being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.

[sgprei]

My mother used to lead this song in church when i was like 12 years old...many years ago.

[ljmalbro]

and how old are you now?

[sgprei]

Oh my... I don't tell my age. lol. Let's just say it was the mid 80's. And my my baby sister just turned 33 on the 9th of January.

[DiAcorea]

My ALL-TIME favorite WS tune....I grew up on this!

[GenuineBabyBoy720]

So this is where Z'iel got their interpretation from! Check them out out on YouTube as well!

[Tujones72]

Now this is a Classic Gospel Song!!!!! One of my favorites.

[77miracles]

This song was originally released on the Gotham label as a 78rpm and I had a copy. When Lubinsky saw it he had a fit and filed a lawsuit and Ballen had to turn over the master to Savoy and Savoy reissued it under the Savoy label and it went GOLD!!! The first GOLD gospel recording in America. and Gertrude Ward had the trophy to prove it.

[PrettyVillan]

This song wasn't recorded until 1949. Mahalia Jackson's Move on Up A Little Higher was gospel's first gold record, recorded btw 1945-1947.

[99830459]

SURELY!!!.....these or should I say "those were the days".....sincere gospel singing!!!!

[realartdrum]

my favorite for sure! thank you all for your wonderful spiritual spirits! Amen!

[realartdrum]

Glory to God

[hebaroxy]

One of the all time greatest Gospel recordings!

[mrsrayndolph]

SURELY, this song is one 2 put down n the chronicles of gospel history...

[william3701]

amen!!!

[onlygoodthings]

1:08-1:28 makes the song for me.

[Johnzoe777]

What is the year of this album,the Ward Singers are awesome.

[mcmiraclevalley]

These sisters was on fire in my youth and I sure did enjoy them:

Rev. Michael Capps, Ph.D

[Singnsista]

November 1st Philadelphia, PA

Hallelujah Mahalia! The hit gospel musical chronicles the life and times of the Worlds Greatest Gospel Singer, Mahalia Jackson. Tamika Patton has the honor of portraying Mahalia Jackson for 14 years and it has been such a blessing to my life. Darnita Hassell will be playing the role of Clara Ward of the "Ward Singers" Come out and experience this hand clappin foot stompin trip down memory lane with such hits as "Precious Lord", "Move On Up A Little Higher"

[conardrl]

Oh my! this brings back sooooo many memories. My mother love to play old songs like this. I would have never thought I would be looking for those songs today.

[Tujones72]

One of my favorite artists! I just love this piece for God is surely able to carry us through anything!

[MikeKrysta1]

Surely God is Able!

[PurpleSnowman29]

You better know it. ::)

[bev750]

@MikeKrysta1 

[cincytuckyblk]

Marion Williams is eating this up. LAWD!!!!!

[ShondaGospelDiva]

Yes indeed she is!

[hudson19947]

With this picture of Clara at the piano, could she actually play the piano bcuz it always shows her singing at the mic when it concert?

[PurpleSnowman29]

Yes she could really play very well. She was the musician on most of the early songs and she wrote quite a few songs as well. All these songs belong to the Ward Publishing House in Philadelphia. But it's been long out of business.

[KojiRecords]

@hudson19947 Could Miss Clara Ward play the piano? Clara taught the daughter of Rev. C.L. Franklin to play the piano....what was that young girl's name? Oh, yes---her name was "Aretha."

[dgraylouis]

@KojiRecords : You may be correct on this, however, I do not remember it that way. See at that time Rev C.L. Franklin was pastoring in Memphis while the Ward Singers was touring. So I do not remember Clara Ward in Memphis teaching music. I just tellin you my memories. However, Aretha can answer that best. Personally, I am glad that her soul was in Gospel, as well as Aretha

[lukelukeluke33]

does anyone know where to get the chords or sheet music for this?

[PurpleSnowman29]

Well JayEm86 I'm glad that you are enjoying this good old gospel music. Stay tuned. lol.

[JayEm86]

I've never heard the original Clara Ward rendition before. Glad to hear it! Now people will know that this rendition was not originally Kurt Carr's, Z'iel's, or Aretha's.

[PurpleSnowman29]

Yeah, you're right, that's her in the background. She's on all the early recordings. lol.

[Darneloh]

Alright now PS29 you know you postin some goodies now! Impressive collection my friend very,very impressive. I hear Willa in the background too,I might be wrong though.

[PurpleSnowman29]

that's funny. I thought the same things. The vocals were just so extreme. lol.

[iwillii]

I just crack up every time I hear this song. My grandmother's name was Shirley and I used to think people were saying Shirley instead of surely. I can remember thinking as a child why are they singing to my grandmother. LOL

[trailblaze2003]

Lol !!!! It does sound like that's what they are saying. Once at my Church the choir was singing a song by the name of welcome home and this one lady was singing it saying Rev. Mccomb which was our pastors name... Lol

[kbolden07]

Yes he is