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Walter Ward (August 28, 1940 – December 11, 2006) was an American R&B singer, and lead vocalist of The Olympics.

Ward was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and began singing professionally as a child with his father and three uncles, in a gospel group known as 'The Ward Brothers'.

Ward's family moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s. In 1954, when he was attending Centinela High School in Compton, California, Ward and his cousin Eddie Lewis formed a group known as 'The Challengers'. After winning a number of talent shows, Ward and Lewis were approached by another singing duo who asked to join their group. The new quartet became The Olympics.

Ward's last performance with The Olympics was on November 12, 2006, at a Doo-Wop Spectacular on Long Island, New York.[2]

Ward died in Northridge, California in December 2006, at the age of 66

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


The Mothers
The Mothers 1971
2022, ,
Art Rock
The Mothers
Fillmore East - June 1971
2022
The Esquires
The Singles...Plus
2011, CD, Comp, Mono, Pacemaker Entertainment Limited
John Lennon
Imagine - 40th Anniversary Special Edition
2011
Marty Robbins
More Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs
2011
John Lennon
John Lennon Signature Box
2010, Box Set, 9x CD, CD, CD, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
Amen Corner
High In The Sky
2004, CD, Comp, Pazzazz, ,
Psychedelic Rock/Mod
Various
Land Of 1000 Dances (Special Soul & Funk Edition)
2004, CD, Comp, RM, Kent Dance, ,
Soul/Funk
The Big Heat
The Good, The Bad & The Nutty
2002
Deborah Harry
Collection
1998
Various
Northern Soul Dance Party
1998, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
John Lennon
Wonsaponatime (Selection From Lennon Anthology)
1998
Various
Northern Soul Originals
1998, 3x CD, ,
Soul
John Lennon
Anthology
1998
Various
Ottawa Rocks - The Sir John A. Years 1966-1968
1995, CD, Comp, Sound Investment Enterprises
Bob & Earl / The Olympics
Dancetime USA
1994, CD, Album, Comp, Goldmine Soul Supply, ,
Soul
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention*
Playground Psychotics
1992, 2x CD, ,
Art Rock/Novelty/Field Recording/Prog Rock/Dialogue
John Lennon
Lennon
1990, ,
Rock & Roll/Pop Rock
Various
Harlem Shuffle • Sixties Soul Classics
1986
Various
The Sue Story!
1983, 2xLP, Album, Comp, Mono, RE, Line/OutLine, ,
Rhythm & Blues
The Olympics / The Marcels / The Shirelles / Jerry Butler
The Olympics / The Marcels / The Shirelles / Jerry Butler
1982, Vinyl,
John Lennon
John Lennon
1981, ,
Pop Rock/Rock & Roll
Joey Dee
"Live" (The Golden Years Of The 60s)
1979
Various
Rock 'N' Soul 1963
1973, LP, Comp, ABC Records
John & Yoko* / Plastic Ono Band* With Elephant's Memory* And Invisible Strings
Some Time In New York City
1972, 2x Vinyl, ,
Rock & Roll/Art Rock/Avantgarde/Noise Rock
The Persuasions
Acappella
1970, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Joey Dee And His Starliters*
Rock-Story Vol. 3
1970, Vinyl, ,
Rock & Roll
Amen Corner
The National Welsh Coast Live Explosion Company
1969
Olympics*
Lookin' For A Love
1968
The Fantastic Johnny C
Boogaloo Down Broadway
1968
The Dynatones
The Fife Piper
1966, ,
Soul
Don Norman & The Other Four
The Bounce
1966
Jackie Lee
The Duck
1966, ,
Soul/Funk
Bocky & The Visions
The Bounce / To Be Loved
1966
Various
The Sue Story!
1965, LP, Comp, Mono, Sue Records, Sue Records, Sue Records, ,
Rhythm & Blues
The Bouncin' Beats
The Bounce
1965, ,
Garage Rock
Vianey Valdez
Mis Siete Novios
1964
Lonnie Mack
The Wham Of That Memphis Man!
1963
The Olympics, The Marathons, The Robins
Dance By The Light Of The Moon
1961
The Harmonians
I've Always Wanted To Call You My Sweetheart / When My Dreams Come True
1929, Shellac, 10", Velvet Tone
Small Faces & Amen Corner
Famous Popgroups Of The '60s Vol. 1
,
Pop Rock/Beat/Mod
Olympics*
The Bounce / Hully Gully
Various
Looney Tunes - The Ultimate Fun Pack
1992
Various
Funbusters Volume 1
LP, Comp, J & B Records, ,
Novelty
John Lennon
John Lennon Signature Box
2010
John & Yoko* / Plastic Ono Band* With Elephant's Memory* Plus Invisible Strings
Some Time In New York City
2005, 2x CD Mini LP Papersleeve, ,
Rock & Roll/Art Rock/Noise/Avantgarde/Pop Rock
John Lennon
Sometime In New York City / Walls And Bridges
1999
John And Yoko Lennon*
Live
1995, CD, Album, Unofficial, D.V. More Record (2)