The Clara Ward Singers- "The Old Landmark"

[eugenius911]

the call/respone portion from 1:50 until the end is really amazing!

[SuperSLIMGOODY1]

as a child this song played every day morning through night....luv it....many decades later..im still luving it..never to be duplicated...

[mspinkk31]

OMG!!!! i love this ....

[jimmmmy41]

Sublime!

[i1king]

Great picture shot indeed!!!

[helpmelord20]

Class, Classic. I agree. I'd like to say

Thanx, also,

Blessings.

[ioneking]

Hi' Da Sourcespr06'''' Can you please tell me where you found this picture shot in the video you posted of the clara ward singers, i love that shot with all the women sitting there in glory and i was taken by that wonderful shot and wanted to upload it, if possible? thanks!

[DaSourcespr06]

Hi ioneking! I actually got this picture from a friend, who told me it was of them at one of their anniversary programs around 1955-56 time period, hope this helps!

[ioneking]

i know there's no way i will find that picture so i will ask you if it's possible you can email me the picture? thanks!

[BerniceJenkins2007]

Sister Frances died on Thanksgiving

[drlogan74]

I know lady Esther is still living and giving God glory she is my aunt!! she is in concert this sun nov.15th in bmore!!

[drlogan74]

Rev."Lady: Esther Ford still living and still singing

[DaSourcespr06]

Very much..and still glorifying God to the fullest! Very sweet lady!!

[schs19947]

@drlogan74 Wow! was she one of the Ward Singers? That's a blessin!!

[cleoharvey]

Although historians like to say that Mahalia Jackson was the vocal insipration for Aretha Franklin, it was actually Clara Ward and you can clearly hear it in the timbre and tone of Clara's voice.

[REE072]

beautiful women pictured here, i must say! you see the class that the women had in this shot! i love them all.

[schs19947]

Beautiful combination. Who did the accompaniment, piano, organ, etc.? They did a great job with Ward Singers.

[PurpleSnowman29]

In their long purple cadillac. lol.

[JayEm86]

Willa's book says the Caddy was green. BUT, they did have a purple 1957 Chrysler limo that could seat 12. I saw a pic of it, typical 50's American car styling fins and everything, I guess those big fins matched their big wigs just right, lol.

[PurpleSnowman29]

Well if you're trying to be sarcastic, that green looked purple at night. If you not trying to be sarcastic, it don't make a whole lot of difference. lol.

[beaubluenyc]

Those limos sound just amazing. Clara Ward was a ture talent and very gifted singer so it befits a DIVA of her day.

[blessedover]

this is church the way it used to be come on lets go back sunday

[appetancy]

I too prefer this bluesy time. It's closer to what Reverend Brewster composed. If you ever hear Queen C. Anderson's original version, it's just as bluesy. Back in the day it was a joy to see the Wards line up like converts marching. Da Source, at the Apollo it was when Marion hit those notes and made her faces that the fans started shouting. By thenMadame Ward would have long been up jumping and pointing.

[DaSourcespr06]

I always have that image of the Wards, of Marion moving thru the crowd a,d as she walked, leaving people slain in her sway, thats a true anointing!

[toukijinmaster]

Thankyou for this.. it's needed...but what is also needed are the original lyrics! I tried to look up the Lyrics and all I got ( hand to GOD) WAS BLUES BROS. THIS AND BLUES BROS. THAT...the content included nothing other than what was sung in the movie . (?) Can you help

[ggblueam]

Go to the "Old Landmark" by Charles G Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Choir. RyRy2003 wrote the lyrics in the comment section.

[DaSourcespr06]

Lets see, Left to Right..

Gertrude Ward, Clara Ward, Marion Williams, Frances Steadmen,Willa Ward, Thelma Jackson, Kitty Parham, Henrietta Waddy, and Marguerite Shaw!

[schs19947]

How many r still livin. Now I do know that Gertrude, Clara, Marion, Henrietta r decsed. The others I'm not sure.

[direfranchement]

Of the classic lineup, Willa Ward and Frances Steadman remain.

[Darneloh]

I feel like JayEm86 it's a whole choir lol! I like the later version better the live Town Hall recording.

[DaSourcespr06]

Most people do like the older version better, this one is really stiffer, but i like it better then the other one, except when Marion Williams comes in on the Town Hall version..i lovvvvve that part, lol

[MrKITCHENTALK]

@DaSourcespr06 It would have been nice to have her hit the high notes on this one near the end and bring that steel gutar end to hit some licks lol

[JayEm86]

Looking at that pic, all of those women sitting there look more like The Clara Ward Mass Choir than The Clara Ward Singers, lol.

[DaSourcespr06]

lol. they ALWAYS rolled deep!

[Rowoches]

That picture was taken during one of their anniversaries.

[PurpleSnowman29]

Now you'll really going back. lol. I love this arrangement, it's cute. Especially common meter, they're much sweeter, when you start singing, they'll keep ringing. lol. Too cute and original. Great Post 5 Stars!!

[DaSourcespr06]

LOL, me too, its slower then all the other versions I have heard! Rowoches says they soun like robots, lol!

[PurpleSnowman29]

Yeah. I agree female robots. Still so cute. Just listen those voices. Great harmony. The Ward singers rock me to sleep. lol.