Born: July 28, 1949 as Christopher William Ward in Toronto, Ontario.
Christopher Ward began his musical career while attending college in Ontario, Canada. He sang and played guitar and wrote songs with Stephen Stohn.
Ward was signed to Warner Brothers who brought in session musicians from the Brecker Brothers, the Average White Band and Moe Koffman himself to fabricate a studio record that didn't even feature Ward's own guitar playing - merely his voice.
They released his debut 'Spark Of Desire' in 1978 which spawned the commercial radio hit "Maybe Your Heart". Unfortunately, a hit record in Canada does not necessarily mean a hit in the US and Warner stateside passed on the album and singles, leaving Ward with Canada as his sole market.
His deal with Warner soured and Ward found himself, aside from writing more songs and touring sporadically, taking acting lessons and doing improv at Second City. He also wrote the Cover Girls song "The Boy Next Door".
In 1981 he signed with Edmonton-based House Of Lords Records who released his sophomore effort called, fittingly, 'Time Stands Still' which was produced by Jack Richardson (Guess Who).
When MuchMusic launched its 24 hour video network (originally 8 hours repeated 3 times) Ward was recruited as one of the first on-air VeeJays who, between airing videos and interviewing rock stars would concoct ridiculous on-air skits utilizing many 'characters' in skit fashion and often accompanied by a rogues gallery of performers. One of these performers was his live-in girlfriend and aspiring vocalist Alannah Byles.
She changed her name to Myles and did a backing vocals spot with Sheree Jeacocke and Shawne Jackson-Troiano on his Attic Records EP called 'Christopher Ward' in 1987.
Their teaming would be fruitful as Ward developed her as an artist, writing most of the songs (or co-writing with David Tyson) that became the basis for her debut album. He initiated a meeting with
Atlantic Records which led to a deal for Alannah. The self-titled debut album spawned the hits "Love Is" and the multi-million selling "Black Velvet" in 1989 and 1990. The song would also have an after life on country charts as a No.1 for Robin Lee.
Ward quit his gig at MuchMusic and moved to LA after the success of Myles' debut and also wrote several songs for the follow-up, 'Rockinghorse', which wasn't quite as successful for Myles.
In his early days, Ward was a member of Second City, along with a seventeen year old Mike Myers. Myers was a frequent guest on City Limits when Ward was the show's host. In the '90s Ward appeared in the 'Austin Powers' movies as a band member of the semi-fictional group Ming Tea, along with Mike Myers, Matthew Sweet, and Susannah Hoffs (The Bangles).
Ward has written or co-written songs for Diana Ross, Wynonna Judd, Amanda Marshall, Tina Arena, Roch Voisine, Meredith Brooks, and Hilary Duff, among others.
Ward moved to Paris, France in 2001 with his family to write a children's novel, but has since returned to live in Toronto.
with notes from James Crammond and Robin Ward.
Singles
1976 Lost In A Love Song/Play One For Your Mother (Warners) CW-4033
1977 Once In A Long Time/Dance Away (Warners) CW-4034
1978 Maybe Your Heart/Dreamboat (Warners) CW-4035
197? Heart Breakin' Beauty/Steal My Heart
1978 Imagine A Song/Roll On Like A Wheel (Warners) CW-72000
1979 No Time To Cry/Sweet Rose (Warners) CW-5501
1981 So Long To Baby Jane/Mainstreet Kid (House Of Lords/Warners) HOL-2007
1981 Words On The Wire/sonny Say You Will (House Of Lords/Warners) HOL-2014
1987 Boys And Girls/Just Like Me (Attic) ATT-256
1987 What Kind Of Love/Two Can Play (Attic) ATT-362
198? Twist Of Fate/take A Chance (MCA) MCA-52284
Albums
1978 Spark Of Desire (Warner) KWSC-92000
1981 Time Stands Still (House Of Lords) HLR-10004
1987 Christopher Ward [EP] (Attic)
Video
Compilation Tracks
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