Matthew Ward (singer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Ward is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music
genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music
. He is best known as a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts
in which he sang and performed with his sisters, Annie Herring
and Nellie (Ward) Greisen
. However, during his musical career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts from 1973 to 1988, he also recorded solo albums and continues to record and perform his solo work to the present time (2007).
; two years later his father, Walter, died of leukemia leaving him and his youngest sister, Nelly, orphaned. The Ward siblings all decided that Matthew's older sister, Annie, and her new husband, record producer
Buck Herring, should take in the two younger Ward siblings.
Matthew's older sister, Annie, was a self styled (and self taught) singer and song writer who wrote and played her songs around the family piano. Matthew and sister, Nelly, would often join in as Annie played, and eventually they developed extremely tight and intricate harmonies.
As the trio gradually started singing for local coffee houses and small gatherings, they eventually gained the notice of Pat Boone
who arranged a contract to record and release two singles with MGM
, "Jesus Is" (1972), recorded on Matthew's 13th birthday, and "I'm So Happy" (1973). The fledgling trio also came to the attention of 1960s folk singer Barry McGuire
, who had recently become a Christian and was preparing to record his first Christian music
album, produced by Buck Herring. The siblings provided background vocals
for Seeds and McGuire's 1974 follow-up Lighten Up.
, Leann Rimes
, Randy Stonehill
, Sandi Patti, Dennis Jernigan
, Jordin Sparks
and many others.
The book, My 2nd Chapter: The Matthew Ward Story was released in February 2005. The autobiography includes how Ward battled his own bout with cancer—and won.
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
. He is best known as a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts
2nd Chapter of Acts
The 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...
in which he sang and performed with his sisters, Annie Herring
Annie Herring
Annie Herring is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music. She was more notably a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts in which she wrote most of the songs and sang lead and harmony vocals with her brother Matthew Ward and sister Nelly Greisen...
and Nellie (Ward) Greisen
Nelly Greisen
Nelly Greisen was born on December 11, 1955. She joined her older sister, Annie Herring, and younger brother, Matthew Ward, to form the Jesus Music group 2nd Chapter of Acts. The group began singing together in 1970, and disbanded in 1988...
. However, during his musical career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts from 1973 to 1988, he also recorded solo albums and continues to record and perform his solo work to the present time (2007).
Early history
Matthew's music and ministry was in no small part, forged from personal family tragedy. In 1968 his mother, Elizabeth Ward, died of a brain tumorBrain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
; two years later his father, Walter, died of leukemia leaving him and his youngest sister, Nelly, orphaned. The Ward siblings all decided that Matthew's older sister, Annie, and her new husband, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Buck Herring, should take in the two younger Ward siblings.
Matthew's older sister, Annie, was a self styled (and self taught) singer and song writer who wrote and played her songs around the family piano. Matthew and sister, Nelly, would often join in as Annie played, and eventually they developed extremely tight and intricate harmonies.
As the trio gradually started singing for local coffee houses and small gatherings, they eventually gained the notice of Pat Boone
Pat Boone
Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone is an American singer, actor and writer who has been a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He covered black artists' songs and sold more copies than his black counterparts...
who arranged a contract to record and release two singles with MGM
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
, "Jesus Is" (1972), recorded on Matthew's 13th birthday, and "I'm So Happy" (1973). The fledgling trio also came to the attention of 1960s folk singer Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire is an American singer-songwriter best known for the hit song "Eve of Destruction", and later as a pioneering singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian Music.-Early life:...
, who had recently become a Christian and was preparing to record his first Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
album, produced by Buck Herring. The siblings provided background vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Seeds and McGuire's 1974 follow-up Lighten Up.
Recent history
Following his career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts, Matthew Ward has recorded many more solo works and also works in the music industry as a background & jingle vocalist. He has worked with other such artists as Donna SummerDonna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Leann Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
, Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, Sandi Patti, Dennis Jernigan
Dennis Jernigan
Dennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based Christian ministry from there. Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife and their nine children...
, Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
and many others.
The book, My 2nd Chapter: The Matthew Ward Story was released in February 2005. The autobiography includes how Ward battled his own bout with cancer—and won.
Solo recordings
- 1979: Toward Eternity (Sparrow)
- 1987: Armed & Dangerous (Live Oak)
- 1988: Fade To White (Live Oak)
- 1990: Fortress (Live Oak)
- 1992: Matthew Ward Collection (a.k.a. The Best of Matthew Ward) (Benson)
- 1992: Point of View (Benson)
- 1997: My Redeemer (Newport)
- 2000: Even Now (Discovery House)
- 2006: Christmas with Matthew Ward (independent)
- 2011: Easter Song - A New Arrangement (single – independent)
Appearances on other albums
- 1974: Come Together: A Musical Experience In Love various artists
- 1976: Firewind: A Contemporary Dramatic Musical various artists
- 1976: Love Broke Thru Phil KeaggyPhil KeaggyPhil Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
(New Song) - 1978: First Class The Boones (Lamb & Lion) "I Love You More Than My Rock And Roll"
- 1980: So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt Keith GreenKeith GreenKeith Gordon Green was an American gospel singer, songwriter, musician, and Contemporary Christian Music artist originally from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. Beyond his music, Green is best known for his strong devotion to Christian evangelism and challenging others to the same...
(Sparrow) - 1983: Ph'lip Side Phil Keaggy (Sparrow)
- 1983: She Works Hard for the MoneyShe Works Hard for the Money-Personnel:*Donna Summer - vocals, composer*Musical Youth - vocals*Matthew Ward - vocals*Michael Omartian - producer, composer, piano, synthesizer, Simmons drum programming, guitars, accordion*Greg Phillinganes - composer*Bruce Sudano - composer...
Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
(Casablanca) "Love Has A Mind Of Its Own" - 1984: Dancing With Danger Leslie Phillips (Myrrh) "By My Spirit"
- 1986: Morning Like This Sandi Patti (Word) "Hosanna" (with sisters Annie HerringAnnie HerringAnnie Herring is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music. She was more notably a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts in which she wrote most of the songs and sang lead and harmony vocals with her brother Matthew Ward and sister Nelly Greisen...
& Nelly GreisenNelly GreisenNelly Greisen was born on December 11, 1955. She joined her older sister, Annie Herring, and younger brother, Matthew Ward, to form the Jesus Music group 2nd Chapter of Acts. The group began singing together in 1970, and disbanded in 1988...
, collectively as 2nd Chapter of Acts2nd Chapter of ActsThe 2nd Chapter of Acts was a Jesus Music and early Contemporary Christian Music group composed of sisters Annie Herring and Nelly Greisen and brother Matthew Ward. They began performing in 1973 and enjoyed their period of greatest success during the 1970s...
) - 1987: Same Girl Twila Paris (Star Song)
- 1987: Voices various artists (Word) "Light Of The World"
- 1987: Gorillas in the Mix Bernie KrauseBernie KrauseBernard L. Krause is an American musician, soundscape recordist and bio-acoustician, who coined the term biophony and helped define the structure of soundscape ecology. Krause holds a Ph.D. in bioacoustics from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati.-Biography:Bernie Krause was born in 1938...
(Rykodisc) (keyboards, producer) - 1989: Hosanna: 15 Songs Of Freedom The Maranatha Singers (Maranatha Music)
- 1989: It's the Thought Twila ParisTwila ParisTwila Paris Wright is a Contemporary Christian Music songwriter, author, vocalist and pianist.-Musical career:Since 1980, Twila Paris has released 22 albums, amassed 33 number one Christian Radio singles, and was named the Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year three years in a row...
(Star Song) - 1990: Handel's Young Messiah various artists (Word) "Comfort Ye"
- 1991: Flying Lessons Annie HerringAnnie HerringAnnie Herring is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music. She was more notably a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts in which she wrote most of the songs and sang lead and harmony vocals with her brother Matthew Ward and sister Nelly Greisen...
(Sparrow) - 1992: Master Pieces various artists (Benson) "The Warrior Is A Child"
- 1992: There's a Stirring Annie Herring (Sparrow)
- 1993: Completely Taken In Dallas HolmDallas HolmDallas Holm is a singer-songwriter of Christian music, whose musical ministry has spanned almost four decades. His influence has been greatest in contemporary Christian music...
(Benson) - 1994: God is Able Ron KenolyRon KenolyRon Kenoly is an American Christian worship leader, singer, and songwriter whose expressed mission is "to create an environment for the manifest presence of God". His musical style is one of jubilant praise and individual excellence on musical instruments...
(Hosanna!) - 1995: Sing Out Ron Kenoly (Integrity)
- 1996: Celebrate Living Dennis JerniganDennis JerniganDennis Jernigan is a singer-songwriter of contemporary Christian music. He is native to Oklahoma, and headquarters a music-based Christian ministry from there. Jernigan now lives in Muskogee, Oklahoma with his wife and their nine children...
(Heartcry) "The Lord Is My Shepherd" - 1996: BlueBlueBlue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
LeAnn RimesLeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
(Curb) - 1996: Glimpses Annie Herring (Chordant)
- 1998: First LoveFirst Love: a Historic Gathering of Jesus Music PioneersFirst Love is a documentary that looks back into the Jesus Music of the 1970s. In 1997, a group of Jesus Music pioneers gathered in southern California for a memorable 3 days of music and fellowship . The event was both recorded and filmed, and was released in a 2-CD/2-DVD set simply titled “First...
various artists (Exploration Films) "There is a Redeemer", "To The King", "Stand By Me" - 1998: Sittin' on Top of the World LeAnn Rimes (Curb)
- 1998: Wonder Annie Herring (Spring Hill)
- 1999: Choose This Day Promise Keepers (Maranatha) "To The King"
- 1999: LeAnn Rimes LeAnn Rimes (Curb)
- 1999: Praise 16: The Power Of Your Love Maranatha Singers (Maranatha Music) "The Power Of Your Love"
- 2000: Blue Moon Steve HolySteve HolySteve Holy is an American country music artist. Signed to Curb Records since 1999, he has released three studio albums: 2000's Blue Moon 2006's Brand New Girlfriend and 2011's Love Don't Run...
(Curb) - 2002: Celtic Cry: The Heart Of A Martyr various artists (Acts 26) "Hearts United"
- 2003: For Now Jordin SparksJordin SparksJordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
- 2004: Hands Lifted High Dennis Jernigan (Doxology) "When The Night Is Falling" with Dennis & Annie Herring
- 2009: A Timeless Christmas Israel & New Breed (Integrity) "Hark", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
- 2011: Luke: A World Turned Upside Down Michael CardMichael CardMichael Card is an American Christian singer-songwriter, musician, author, and radio host from Franklin, Tennessee. He is best known for his contributions in Contemporary Christian Music, which couple folk-style melodies and instrumentation with lyrics that stem from intensive study of the Bible...
- 2011: Testimony 2 Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:...
(background vocals)