Wade Ward
Biography
Wade Ward (1892-1971) was an American old-time music fiddler and banjoist from Independence, Virginia. He was especially renowned for his clawhammer banjo playing. He was a frequent winner at the Galax Old Time Fiddler's Convention. His instrument, a Gibson RB-11, is now housed in the Smithsonian Institution. Along with Kyle Creed, he is thought by many to embody the 'Galax' style of clawhammer banjo playing.
In the early 1930's, Wade and his older brother Crockett, who was twenty years his senior, and Crockett's son Fields, united to form the Bog Trotters Band. Folklorist Alan Lomax discovered the group in 1937 and recorded them for the Library of Congress. The Bog Trotters appeared at festivals during the folk revivals of the 40's and 50's.
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Despite his musical gifts, Ward made his living as a farmer.
[edit] Discography
Uncle Wade - A Memorial To Wade Ward, Smithsonian Folkways F-2380
Music of Roscoe Holcomb and Wade Ward, 1962
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Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.