Record album jacket front cover art "The new gospel sound series". Label: Verve V-5019. -- Clara Ward (April 21, 1924 - January 16, 1973)[1] was a gospel artist who achieved great success, both artistic and commercial, in the 1940s and 1950s as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward took the lead-switching style used by male gospel quartets to new heights, leaving room for spontaneous improvisation and vamping by each member of the group. -- Ward ranks among the greatest of gospel singers; only Mahalia Jackson is more exalted. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Ward]
