Rev. Marv Ward
Bio

Why do I play the Blues?

Well I guess because the blues, in one form or another, is the music I grew up with. The Blues has to be part of your soul, your psyche, a part of your very existence. Now there is playing the blues and playing The Blues, this is something “blues players” are always talking about. Anyone can play tunes with a flat third and dominant seventh and call it the blues, but playing real Blues is not just about the notes, it’s about the heart and soul of the player, the ability to open your soul and let the world see your true heart. It’s about bleeding and inviting the world to watch.

 

I have a myriad of musical influences, in reality you are influenced by everyone and everything you hear and not just music – a train whistle, a baby’s cry, your lover’s moan, a whippoorwill, your mind screaming late at night in the dark.

But as far as players, Mississippi John Hurt holds a special place for me. I was fortunate to be able to see him play in D.C. numerous times at the Bayou on Wednesday nights when I was in high school after he had been “rediscovered”.

There was a guy I met in Rhode Island named Rick Hickman who had a huge influence on my playing and style – he was the best guitar player I’ve ever heard and I have heard everyone.

 

Yeah when I was doing the famous “ singer songwriter thing” I got to be opening act for a lot of great performers.

My favorites:

Steve Goodman – one of the greatest human beings I ever met

Dave Van Ronk – a true master of the blues and a very funny guy

Paul Geremia – a good friend and the best fingerstyle guitarist out there

Joan Baez – she was hot what else can I say

And there were some bizarre ones also like:

The Vanilla Fudge – Tim Bogart is a sweetheart of guy

And I once opened for Aerosmith as a single and that was quite interesting.

A 6000 seat venue and no one was interested in an acoustic folk blues guy.

Can you say “Rock n’ Roll” and “get off the stage loser”

Hey it all makes you better in the long run.

Oh, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention someone I have just met recently,

Mac Arnold – what a magnificent man and a true friend.

 

The Blues today is getting stronger, new acts likes Ben Harper, Guy Davis, and the White Stripes – yes that is blues – are keeping the blues alive.

People are always talking about the Blues dying, but to me the blues is just evolving. The Blues is a living, breathing entity that is going to change, it always has. People in Chicago nearly flipped 60 years ago when Little Walter ran his mike through an amp and Muddy Waters started playing an electric, but it was the natural progression of their blues; They will always change and remain the same; There will be new interpretations, instrumentations but there will always be just a guitar, a person, and a heart full of blues.

Rev. Marv Ward
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