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ROSS WARD & WARD’S XPRESS, BIO, APR 2008.Most musicians will nominate the music of their parent’s, and/or older siblings records as being their earliest musical influences, and performing singer, songwriter and guitarist Ross Ward is no exception to the rule. Born in Sydney in May 1954, he grew up around a switched-on musical family, and a pile of 78’s and (later) 45’s, which included such gems as Fats Domino, Winnifred Attwell, Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Lonnie Donnegan, Johnny Cash, amongst others. Then came surf music, shortly followed by the Stones, then the big ’blues’ discovery trip they inspired, which led to Muddy Waters, The Three Kings, and back to John Mayall.....
Once older brother Warren joined Sydney’s ’Flying Circus’ (and later on, Blackfeather & Flake) the inevitable parental resistance caved in to Ross’ demands that he be allowed to follow suite, but only on the condition that he learn to play his instrument first! His on-stage career began in the late sixties, and as a young professional side-man he played both bass and guitar behind many of the era’s leading artists and bands. After Warren left the Flying Circus, the brothers formed the band ’Stonehenge’ with Nigel Macara (drums) and guitarist Tim Gaze, also something of a child prodigy himself at age sixteen, and another huge influence on Ross.
A long residence at Sydney’s Whiskey Au Go-go in William St, Kings Cross during the Vietnam war, and then still more formative and important ’progressive’ rock years led out the seventies for Ross, who also recorded albums with John J Francis, and Aiden Nolan, while the band ’Cinamon’ toured constantly for three years from ’71-’74.This band contained guitarist singer-songwriter Phil Doherty, who was a long-time musical partner to Ross through three different bands and eras, up to and including the early eighties, and both were founding members of Sydney act ’Speed Limit’, who released several records via Polygram/Airborne.
A tour with Canned Heat, and some kind words from (the late) Henry Vestine convinced Ross to re-examine his musical roots, and in the mid-eighties, he formed the R & B Band, which went on to provide a musical door for some of Sydney’s finest blues/rock musicians, and regular guests included Phil Emanuel and Dave Tice, a recording with Ron King, long-serving members Bruce Stephens (drums), bassist Zolton Budai, and earlier line-ups which included drummer Rudy Miranda and guitarist Steve Edmonds. The R & B Band was a Sydney fixture from approx ’84-’95, but Ross also escaped for short forays with ’Bandana’ & "Lucky Starr’’.
In 1995, Ross moved to the Byron Shire on the far north coast of NSW, and set about establishing himself in the area as an acoustic-based soloist, before hitting the road solidly from 2000 onwards, presenting both his band (Ward’s Xpress) and his solo music along much of the east coast, via his regular touring schedule and recent festival appearances from Qld to WA. In Nov. 2003, and after three prior Ward’s Xpress CD’s, Ross released his debut effort ’Transit Lounge’, which was awarded the ’BluesOz CD of the Year’, has garnered great support and reviews for the album, and is still enjoying airplay via the ’Commrad’ network in Oz.
Yet more touring, but particularly recording projects are scheduled in for 2008, and Ross will also celebrating 40years of creating and playing music this year, so please check back for regular updates........