Representative Albums: "Even Now," "Toward Eternity/Fade to White," "Toward Eternity"
Representative Songs: "You Are My Refuge," "Your Love Come Over Me," "Consume Me"
Biography
As a member of the '70s Jesus rock mainstays 2nd Chapter of Acts, vocalist Matthew Ward helped create the sound that eventually became CCM; upon the group's dissolution in 1988, Ward embarked on a solo career. Ward grew up in North Dakota on his family's farm, one of nine siblings; after moving to Sacramento, his mother died of a brain tumor in 1968, and his father passed away just two years later. The 12-year-old Matthew, along with his older sister Nelly, moved in with older sister Annie Herring and her husband, Buck, a sound engineer. The three siblings formed 2nd Chapter of Acts out of their therapeutic nightly singalongs, and Buck's contact with born-again "Eve of Destruction" singer Barry McGuire catapulted the group into stardom on the Christian circuit. Basing himself in Lindale, TX, Ward began his solo career in earnest after 2nd Chapter of Acts disbanded in 1988, releasing the LP Toward Eternity the following year (it had actually been recorded some time earlier). Follow-ups included Armed and Dangerous, Fade to White, and 1992's Point of View. However, during the '90s, Ward was stricken with cancer; he spent quite some time away from music to battle the disease. He returned in 1997 with My Redeemer, an album of songs about his fight with cancer and the comfort of faith; it became the most widely acclaimed work of his solo career. The follow-up, Even Now, was released in 2000. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
Matthew Ward (born February 15, 1958) is one of the pioneers of the Jesus music genre, later to be called Contemporary Christian music. He is best known as a part of the trio, 2nd Chapter of Acts in which he sang and performed with his sisters, Annie Herring and Nellie (Ward) Greisen. However, during his musical career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts from 1973 to 1988, he also recorded solo albums and continues to record and perform his solo work to the present time (2007).
Matthew's music and ministry was in no small part, forged from personal family tragedy. In 1968 his mother, Elizabeth Ward, died of a brain tumor; two years later his father, Walter, died of leukemia leaving him and his youngest sister, Nelly, orphaned. The Ward siblings all decided that Matthew's older sister, Annie, and her new husband, record producer Buck Herring, should take in the two younger Ward siblings.[1]
Matthew's older sister, Annie, was a self styled (and self taught) singer and song writer who wrote and played her songs around the family piano. Matthew and sister, Nelly, would often join in as Annie played, and eventually they developed extremely tight and intricate harmonies.[2][3]
As the trio gradually started singing for local coffee houses and small gatherings, they eventually gained the notice of Pat Boone who arranged a contract to record and release two singles with MGM, "Jesus Is" (1972), recorded on Matthew's 13th birthday, and "I'm So Happy" (1973). The fledgling trio also came to the attention of 1960s folk singer Barry McGuire, who had recently become a Christian and was preparing to record his first Christian music album, produced by Buck Herring. The siblings provided background vocals for Seeds and McGuire's 1974 follow-up Lighten Up.
Recent History
Following his career with the 2nd Chapter of Acts, Matthew Ward has recorded many more solo works and also works in the music industry as a background & jingle vocalist. He has worked with other such artists as Donna Summer, Leann Rimes, Randy Stonehill, Sandi Patti, Dennis Jernigan and many others.
Ward is also credited for producing and appearing as a backup vocal on the 2003 album For Now recorded by 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.
