Anita Ward

[Boo]

Biography by Greg Prato
Perhaps more so than any other genre in the history of popular music, the '70s disco scene was littered with countless one-hit wonders, including Anita Ward. Born during 1957 in Memphis, TN, Ward developed an interest in music at an early age, although it was gospel and not the up-tempo dance style she'd become synonymous with years later. Ward went on to sing with the Rust College A Cappella Choir (which included recording alongside renowned Metropolitan Opera vocalist Leontyne Price), as well as issuing an obscure album recorded by her own gospel quartet. But after graduation, Ward didn't automatically set out to pursue a career in music and instead became a substitute teacher in the Memphis elementary school system. It wasn't long before Ward realized music was too much a part of her life to ignore and her manager put her in contact with singer/songwriter Frederick Knight (who had scored a substantial hit on his own in the summer of 1972 with "I've Been Lonely for So Long"). Knight signed on to help produce a three-song demo session with Ward, but once the tape was rolling, Knight became so taken by Ward's singing ability that the sessions soon produced an album's worth of material.

Upon listening back to their work, both agreed that they were still one song short, which resulted in Knight digging up an old track titled "Ring My Bell" that he had originally penned for a young teenybopper singer, Stacy Lattisaw (who would later score several hits in the early '80s). The song's original lyrics dealt with teens chatting away on the phone and even though Knight gave the track a quick lyrical overhaul, Ward was less than enthusiastic about the song. Still, she agreed to record it (with Knight providing most of the musical accompaniment himself, including one of the first uses of synth drums on a record), which only took a total of two days to record. "Ring My Bell" turned out to be the best track of the bunch, resulting in a recording contract with the TK label, and the release of Ward's debut album, Songs of Love, in 1979. It didn't take long for "Ring My Bell" to scale the charts and it peaked at number one during the summer (out-gunning such other future disco-classics as Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls," plus Sister Sledge's "We Are Family," all of which were in the Top Five) and remained on the charts for five months solid.

[Edie Antoinette]

Excellent post...thanks!

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Why i start dancing in my chair.....LOL

[Boo]

Go Sole,Go Sole !!!!!!....thanks

[Boo]

Thanks,I am getting the swing of things.....LOL

[Tonya Anderson]

This song brings back old memories.

[KnightD12]

This is one of those song that would have been a hit....no matter who sang it. I acknowledge it was made for a woman to sing, or somebody like Sylvester. lol Its just a Fun song.

[Edie Antoinette]

My ex brought Sylvester home one day back in the 70's* and thought he had lost his ever-luvin mind! All that screamin in high pitch. I was thoroughly appalled!!! LOL

*husband was a DJ at a local radio station and would always be bringing home somethin I had never heard before...case in point: the group Ripple.

[KnightD12]

You music roots go deep. No wonder you know so much stuff. lol I don`t think I`m familiar with Ripple.
What did they sing? And speaking of Ripple, I have been intending for years to search online to see if they still made Ripple wine. I know peeps talk bad about it, but I used to love it! Gonna look now. Maybe I can find some mail order firm. :)

[KnightD12]

Wow that was quick. Not a drop of Ripple to be had, no where on earth. And I got insulted on top of that.
Question #66228. zbeckabee asks:

Can you still buy Ripple Wine?

Answer: Apparently this wine vanished many years ago.

Ripple was an inexpensive fortified wine popular among certain subclasses in the United States, particularly in the 1970s. Due to its high alcohol content and low price, it had a reputation as a drink for alcoholics and the destitute.


He called me a "subclass" and he don`t even know me! ( Holding my sides from laughing so hard )

[Edie Antoinette]

Ha ha ha ha ha!!! I saw that!!!! I fell on the floor laughing at the guy that said if he drank some Ripple ..now...it would kill him!!!! LOL!!!!!! We called it rot-gut wine back then...LOL

[Boo]

[Edie Antoinette]

Gone head ....on Bert!!!! This is classic!!!!