Michael Ward

Michael Ward (1954 – 1998) grew up in New Orleans and played music here his entire life.

He had several bands in his career, the most famous one of which was the Reward. He also played with Harry Connick Jr., John Mooney, and Wardell Quezerque Big Band. Michael Ward was one of those unsung, under-the-radar characters in New Orleans whose influence is felt, but not seen. Without Michael Ward, Theryl De Clouet (aka the Houseman) would not have met several Tulane musicians and formed one of the most successful musical aggregations to come out of New Orleans in the past decade – Galactic. Without Michael Ward, keyboardist Glenn Hartmann would not have been playing with guitarist Jonathan Frelich in the Reward and gotten the idea to form a band to play Eastern European folk music and become the New Orleans Klezmer All Stars. Countless people were touched and helped by Michael Ward. Bassist Cornell Williams of the Absolute Monster Gentlemen and guitarist June Yamagichi of Papa Gros Funk and the Wild Magnolias got their starts in Ward’s bands.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Michael Ward was a true New Orleans character. The stories that are traded in bars and coffee shops about him are poignant and hilarious. He was a unique man, and these excerpts just begin to touch on what made him that way.

1) Singer Theryl DeClouet, keyboardist Glenn Hartmann, guitarist Alex McMurray, guitarist Jonathan Freilich, and percussionist Chris Jones remember how Ward thought about his music and how it was related to the music of New Orleans

2) Bartender Elaine Varnes speaks about Ward’s personality before Chris Jones recalls one of the wilder times he saw Ward onstage. Then producer Mark Bingham talks about how he saw Ward.