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Bill Ward's success is perhaps best defined by the popularity his 2004 release, Highway in the Desert.
The recording, a culmination of a two-year effort, is a collection of eclectic original pieces ranging from bluesy folk-pop
to alt-country. While his band has recorded live performances in the past, this is his first collection of music recorded
in a studio. The recording and duplicating of the CD were both done in Chautauqua County. Wayne Bentley of Stonehouse Studios
produced the recording and Jim Parker of Digitel did the duplicating. Ward is grateful for the high quality of work they both
produce.
In his fourth decade of performing, Bill Ward started playing solo acoustically in local venues,
eventually finding his way down the East coast and into the Austin, TX music scene in the late 70's. A major force in local
acoustic music, Ward formed alliances with some of the best musicians in western NY. In the 70's and 80's, he played with
acoustic music pioneers Steve Treharne, Mike Bratt and the late Don Thunberg, as well as vocalist Gena Hartson. He helped
forge an acoustic music scene in the area, introducing venues to an atmosphere that featured the artists, often seated, performing
in a concert format.
After forming a band in the 1980's Ward's varied musical influences were given a format for
growth, and the group blended the "every performance is a concert" attitude with Blues, Folk, Country, Gospel and
Swing dance music. While undergoing several incarnations, the Bill Ward Band has performed and continues to perform at numerous
concerts and gatherings, including the Jazz Vespers at Christ First United Methodist Church, the Great Blue Heron Fest and
the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater.
This project features a host of
special guests. Recording artist and former Bonnie Raitt guitarist Will Mc Farlane leads a list of renowned artists who dropped
by the sessions. There were many highlights to this recording experience but for Bill Ward one of the greatest was Mc Farlane's
presence. "He came by one day and laid down some great guitar tracks on one of the songs." Also featured on many
of the cuts is Big Leg Emma member Amanda Barton.
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While welcoming newcomers Steve Davis and Amanda Barton, Bill performs duets
with old friends Bumpy Peterson and the late Gena Hartson on the recording, and features his father, John Ward, on the final
track. Another highlight for Bill was Gena's presence in the studio. In the late stages of leukemia, she was able to get to
the studio and add her voice. The recording also helped foster her performance at the Great Blue Heron Music Fest the following
summer (which turned out to be her last public performance). John Ward, Sr, added a special song to the CD as well. The
Lonesome Hobo, a true bit of original Americana, according to Ward, was the song his dad started singing when he was
about 21 years old. "Listeners always requested it...and always cried."
The project is
an "Editor's Pick" and is among the top sellers on the CD Baby website, which is the largest online independent
music distributor in the world. The editors pick their top ten choices in several categories. Highway in the Desert received
#1 ratings in the Spiritual Folk and Spiritual Blues categories, #2 rating in Jazzy Blues and #6 rating in Modern Folk. "CD
Baby is a great development in independent music," Ward says, praising them for the service and promotion that they provide.
Musicians see about 80% of the proceeds from the sale of the music. CD Baby promotes over 40,000 indedepent artists and, according
to Ward, "they listen to every single one of them first."
Highway in the Desert Musicians: Jim Foti - Drums Tom
Swanson - Guitar Paul Liuzzo - Bass Mark Alpaugh - Piano and Organ John Cross - Saxophones
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