"I'm Gonna Move Upstairs"- Clara Ward Singers

[Marshallmiracles]

I love the organ on this song, the bass pedals, etc,. well, I love everything about it. When Kitty leads I Feel The Holy Spirit, that is an old 78 rpm on the BRB label, which was a vanity label the Wards used in the late 1940's. When they started making LP's for Savoy, Clara redid the song a little and let Kitty lead it with her COGIC fire, and it was a big hit!

[bakerbandy80]

please post some of them songs off that I feel the spirit album would love to here them

[dmmrad54]

Hi Rowoches. I just received a CD of The Ward Singers

and a couple on the CD has me playing them over and over again.

1. God's Amazing Love w/ Francis Steadman and Clara on lead.

2. I Feel The Holy Spirit w/ Kitty Parham on lead.

Have you ever heard either one ?

[Rowoches]

@dmmrad54: Yes, indeedy. I have heard those songs before. I have the original vinyl album they both come from, which is titled I FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT, on Savoy Records. I also have a CD that contains the 2 songs. I purchased it from Pewburner several years ago. I believe it's either WARD SINGERS Vol. 3 or Vol. 4.

[Dreambro1]

@Rowoches a couple of years ago, this older black gentleman passed and the bank had foreclosed his house, and i was sent by an acquaintance to pick thru his belongings to see if there was anything i wanted before they tossed it all in a Mega Dumpster! I was the only one between some fine gems like these being saved or being thrown in the dumpster! there had to be around 100 albums! The white 18 year olds didnt give a crap about them!

[Dreambro1]

@dmmrad54 I see all kinds of vinyl and music collecting vids on youtube, but no one really talks about collecting Gospel,,,, Just Jazz, rock, and Heavy metal. Someone need to show their Gospel vinyl collection on Vid. ;-)

[jddrew1000]

Who are in this picture?

I see Clara and her mother.

[Rowoches]

@jddrew1000: Dorothy Holmes, Mildred Means, and Edna Crockett are on the left side of the screen. Clara is in the center. Then on the right is Jessie Tucker and Gertrude Ward.

[softlywaken]

@Rowoches I am the Granddaughter of Edna Crockett. Gloria's child. Thank you for identifying her.

[Rowoches]

@softlywaken: Oh wow!! No problem at all. Such an honor to correspond with you. I pray that all is well with you and your family!

[Marshallmiracles]

Recorded in 1960, vocals included Gertrude Ward, Clara Ward, Christine Jackson, Thelma Bumpess, Vermettya Royster and Esther Ford. I like it when Clara would sing low in the chorus response. I used to wonder who that was on the Famous Ward Singers early Savoy recordings. Now I know!!!

[Rowoches]

That's what it says in the discography on the Harvey/Savoy site, but Esther Ford is not in the background. She was with the Stars of Faith in 1960. The soprano in the background is Mildred Means.

[Rowoches]

After Kitty, Esther, Marion, and Frances left in 1958, and Henrietta Waddy left before them, none of them ever returned to singing with the Ward Singers. They remained the Stars of Faith. The photo that you're referring was probably published in 1960, but it was definitely taken in the 50's. Which dance TV show are you referring to, b/c that's probably not Esther with the group.

[WoodeytheBigEyedOne]

WHen Christine says "Oh But Now" she sounds just like Clara. You can tell just by this one song that Christine was a real house-wrecker.

[Rowoches]

I do believe that is Clara who snuck in the lead. Lol! She does that on several songs the Famous Ward Singers/Clara Ward Singers recorded.

[WoodeytheBigEyedOne]

CHristine has a lovely soft voice that can still hit you hard!

[toniwhite12]

that sound a lil like my girl catherine Parham "kitty" at first

[Rowoches]

I can kinda hear it when Christine says, "...I'm just here..."

[1joker88]

who is playing that organ?! you've got to have your headphones to really appreciate that organ!

[Rowoches]

Not sure of who's on the organ....it may be Freddie Daniels or Alton Williams, but I'm not 100% certain..............but that's one MEAN organ, ain't it tho? LOL!

[vancoscellos]

this was hthe replacements that clara and mrs.ward put together after marian and company flew the coop, were they good? you bet, but they couldn't touch that line up that had marian,frances,kitty and henrietta shaking the joint.

[Rowoches]

Yes, I knew that it was the newer group...I just don't know who the organist is.

[vancoscellos]

baby if memory serves me right, i remember them introducing some guy name Bernard, now, if thats him on the organ, i dont know, but you know who else played for alot of those groups during that time??? none other than billy preston!, it could be him or maybe jeff banks or even herman stevens.

[ddavisharris]

That may be Bernard Chandler Davis, my beloved father. He was an awesome and gifted musician that played for the Ward Singers for some time. When I listen to these clips, it brings back fond memories of his talent.

[PurpleSnowman29]

You betta Sing Christine!!!

[bruhjun]

Folk jus don't sang like this no mo

[stage7]

Sho' NUFF!!!!!!!

[blessedover]

Bessie griffin used to sing this everywhere she went..

[Darneloh]

Ahhh it's awlight it ain't all dat! Naw,I'm just playing man this is really great,you know you the postmaster of YouTube right?

[PurpleSnowman29]

I've heard it before. Remember when I was playing all the time Dewayne. lol. Thanks for posting one of my favorites, with my girl Christine. lol.

[ElderPinkerton]

OOOO You know what I like! Never heard this one! The Missionaries will tear the place up on this one. You did it again Rowoches!

[kbolden07]

Love this one