Robert Ward RIP

From Bob Corritore Blues News

• RIP Robert Ward 10/15/1938-12/25/2008: Robert Ward was one of soul music's greatest guitarists. Known as "The King of the Magnatone" for his wild use of that amplifier's exaggerated tremolo sound, Ward made his mark in the 1960s cutting spectacular sides with The Falcons, which also featured a young Wilson Pickett on lead vocals. It was his trademark guitar that was an integral part of The Falcons' classic song "I Found A Love". Ward was a founding member of The Ohio Untouchables, who later became The Ohio Players. Ward's guitar style was credited as a huge influence on guitarist Lonnie Mack. He would do session work for Motown Records in the 1970s, where he recorded sides with The Temptations and The Undisputed Truth. He resurfaced as a star in his own right in 1991, with the brilliant album Fear No Evil on the Black Top record label. He recorded subsequent albums for the Black Top and Delmark labels, before suffering a heart attack in 2000, which led a spiraling trend of health problems. He passed away on Christmas day at age 70. Robert Ward was an unmistakably talented musician whose recordings will live on forever as great works.