New York's Rich Ward

[Roburt]

Anyone here know anything about New York based singer Rich Ward. 
He was a NY cop till he decided (around early 1969) to try to make it in show biz. Born in North Carolina , after moving up to New York he settled in Brooklyn and got a day job while setting about to try to establish a singing career for himself. He played gigs in small NY & Philly clubs and then via his manager (Brooklyn based Wilbur Smith, a local dry cleaning magnate) he landed a booking at Pegleg Bates Country Club in Kerhonkson. This place had him performing in front of audiences of around 5000 folks and by all accounts, he took off with the ladies. He was wowing the crowds at the club through summer 1969 and on the strength of his performances got to cut a record ("He Will Break Your Heart") with Peg Leg Bates House Band. This escaped on the Hit label (out of 1115 Union St, Brooklyn) and Rich was still with the label in 1973 when he cut "My Baby, She's Gone". He also played guitar and it seems likely then that he played on some of his tracks. 

[Roburt]

He seemed to disappear off the radar after his 2nd Hit Record's 45 escaped in 1973.

I guess he gave up on fame and settled down to an existence of a 9 to 5 job and family life.

I wonder if he's still up in the New York area or if he's gone back home to Carolina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOr5HYRfRjo

 

[Roburt]

I've never heard his take on Jerry Butler's "He Will Break Your Heart" (guess copies of that 45 ain't too plentiful).

Anyone here got it & if so, is it a worthy version (back in 1969 he was being compared to Tom Jones, so his take on the song may be less than soulful). 

[Guest uroffal]

I can't be much help but 'My Baby She's Gone' is pretty rare, there was a thread about it a while ago, a couple went through ebay around 6 months ago at wildly different prices and from memory there were about 3 found elsewhere, not sure if it's been played (Europe maybe?). Would be interesting to hear his version of '...Heart' I've never seen a copy or heard of him before hearing 'She's Gone'.

[Guest uroffal]

 

He seemed to disappear off the radar after his 2nd Hit Record's 45 escaped in 1973.

I guess he gave up on fame and settled down to an existence of a 9 to 5 job and family life.

I wonder if he's still up in the New York area or if he's gone back home to Carolina.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOr5HYRfRjo

 

Here's a link to the previous thread I mentioned in case it helps

[Roburt]

A bit here about PegLeg Bates place .................

seems that by 1969, he had built the large club the newspaper piece refers to & so up to 900 people could see the live acts performing.