Most musicians will nominate the music of their parent’s, and/or older siblings records as being their earliest musical influences, and performing singer, songwriter and guitarist Ross Ward is no exception to the rule. Born in Sydney in May 1954, he grew up around a switched-on musical family, and a pile of 78’s and (later) 45’s, which included such gems as Fats Domino, Winnifred Attwell, Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Lonnie Donnegan, Johnny Cash, amongst others. Then came surf music, shortly followed by the Stones, then the big ’blues’ discovery trip they inspired, which led to Muddy Waters, The Three Kings, and back to John Mayall.....
Once older brother Warren joined Sydney’s ’Flying Circus’ (and later on, Blackfeather & Flake) the inevitable parental resistance caved in to Ross’ demands that he be allowed to follow suite, but only on the condition that he learn to play his instrument first! His on-stage career began in the late sixties, and as a young professional side-man he played both bass and guitar behind many of the era’s leading artists and bands. After Warren left the Flying Circus, the brothers formed the band ’Stonehenge’ with Nigel Macara (drums) and guitarist Tim Gaze, also something of a child prodigy himself at age sixteen, and another huge influence on Ross.
A long residence at Sydney’s Whiskey Au Go-go in William St, Kings Cross during the Vietnam war, and then still more formative and important ’progressive’ rock years led out the seventies for Ross, who also recorded albums with John J Francis, and Aiden Nolan, while the band ’Cinamon’ toured constantly for three years from ’71-’74.This band contained guitarist singer-songwriter Phil Doherty, who was a long-time musical partner to Ross through three different bands and eras, up to and including the early eighties, and both were founding members of Sydney act ’Speed Limit’, who released several records via Polygram/Airborne.
A tour with Canned Heat, and some kind words from (the late) Henry Vestine convinced Ross to re-examine his musical roots, and in the mid-eighties, he formed the R & B Band, which went on to provide a musical door for some of Sydney’s finest blues/rock musicians, and regular guests included Phil Emanuel and Dave Tice, a recording with Ron King, long-serving members Bruce Stephens (drums), bassist Zolton Budai, and earlier line-ups which included drummer Rudy Miranda and guitarist Steve Edmonds. The R & B Band was a Sydney fixture from approx ’84-’95, but Ross also escaped for short forays with ’Bandana’ & "Lucky Starr’’.
In 1995, Ross moved to the Byron Shire on the far north coast of NSW, and set about establishing himself in the area as an acoustic-based soloist, before hitting the road solidly from 2000 onwards, presenting both his band (Ward’s Xpress) and his solo music along much of the east coast, via his regular touring schedule and recent festival appearances from Qld to WA. In Nov. 2003, and after three prior Ward’s Xpress CD’s, Ross released his debut effort ’Transit Lounge’, which was awarded the ’BluesOz CD of the Year’, has garnered great support and reviews for the album, and is still enjoying airplay via the ’Commrad’ network in Oz.
Yet more touring, but particularly recording projects are scheduled in for 2008, and Ross will also celebrating 40years of creating and playing music this year, so please check back for regular updates........
I was by your site today, and I wanted to say thank you for your kindness and friendship. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and if you want to get somewhere in life, you have to know where you want to go, and how to get there. So never, never, give up. Have a safe week.
The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air, it knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair.
It ricocheted into a corner and burst with a deafening boom, then splattered all over the kitchen, completely obscuring the room.
It stuck to the walls and the windows, it totally coated the floor, there was turkey attached to the ceiling, where there'd never been turkey before.
It blanketed every appliance, it smeared every saucer and bowl, there wasn't a way I could stop it, that turkey was out of control.
I scraped and I scrubbed with displeasure, and thought with chagrin as I mopped, that I'd never again stuff a turkey with popcorn that hadn't been popped.
Friends answer your needs before their own. You come to them with your hunger, And they satisfy you with peace. That's how friends are. Friends let you speak your mind, Without worrying what their thoughts will be. Friends know when you are silent, They need to listen your heart. Friends share the joy and the pain. They know about desire and rejection. Friends allow you to be who you are, Without expectations of who you should be. Friends don't come with a purpose, They don't come with a plan. They come to enlighten your spirit, They come to brighten your heart. They come to give you a hand when needed And expect nothing in return. It is the little things that friends do. Like fill your heart with pleasure, hope and joy. AAHH... The Sweetness Of Friendsip There can be no price placed on Friendship It has once been told. For Friendships are worth far more than gold.
In every change that you experience in life, there will be times when you'll wonder if you can endure. But you'll learn that facing each difficulty one by one isn't so hard. It's when you don't deal with a situation that it sometimes comes back to confront you again. Changes are sometimes very painful, but they teach us that we can endure and that we can become stronger. Everything that comes into your life has a purpose, but the outcome is in your hands by the action you take. Be wise with your life, be willing to endure, and always be willing to face life's challenges.
Thank you for your great music and for being my friend, I enjoy your music very much and can't wait too hearing what you might have next too show me. I wish you great success in your career and again thanks for your friendship.
Thank you for your great music and for being my friend, I enjoy the music and hearing what you might have next too show me. I wish you great success in your career and again thanks for the friendship.
A friend is the one who tells you the truth regardless of the cost, A friend will help you find the thing's you'd given up as lost A friend will never put you down or make you feel alone, He'll smile and try to comfort you 'cause together you have grown A friend is the one who picks you up when you've fallen on the ground, A friend is the one whose voice at night is a welcome, warming sound So when you think you're on your own and wish you had a helping hand, Remember, a friend is the one who, when you cry, will always understand Because the world is full of people who will laughingly pretend, But, when it's said and done you're lucky if you've got a friend ...
Josh Owen Band
July Gigs & Espy Residency
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6th July Espy - Front Bar (Band)
13th July Espy - Front Bar (Band)
18th July Corner Hotel (Solo)
Jaimi Faulkner Album Launch
20th July Espy - Front Bar (Band)
26th July Marong Family Hotel (Solo)
27th July Espy - Front Bar (Band)
31st July Thin Green Line (Band)
Hickinbotham Winery Dromana
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www.facebook.com/joshowenband
Hey there, Here's one from left field... Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat? A while back I came across some very disturbing information, which inspired me to make this video: Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4 Both artistic (ensure you've good enough sound to enjoy the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice. Though the source materials are somewhat aged, the fundamentals remain relevant today. I encourage all to visit the YouTube web page above to learn more (Show your support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly re-post and circulate as widely as possible. Help to raise awareness. Say have you checked out my web site (http://www.faberoptime.com) recently? Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
Hey! I'm happy to say that my new "Far and Wide" album is finished and available now on iTunes, Napster, Amazon, etc... Please, if you are interested, check out my page for the info and links!!! Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the add! Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people. :) I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site at www.faberoptime.com some time. For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!). Oh and you might like to take a look at some of my vids on my YouTube channel too! www.youtube.com/faberoptime Take care and keep in touch. Best, Faber. "Just a guy trying to make the world a better place."
Just letting you know that due to the success of my Debut Album "Ambivalence" You can now get your own copy for the small price of $10 or download straight to your computer for $6.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/toddrobinson
Their will be much big news in the coming month in the Todd Robinson Guitar world with the release of my film clip, new endorsement announcements, live video jams, magazine reviews and interviews and much much more so check out
www.toddrobinsonguitar.com
Thank you for your continued support and look out for Album song teasers in the coming months
Just letting you know that due to the sucess of my Debut Album "Ambivalence" You can now get your own copy for the small proce of $10 or download straight to your computer for $6.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/toddrobinson
Their will be much big news in the coming month in the Todd Robinson Guitar world with the release of my film clip, new endorsment annoucments, live video jams, magazine reviews and interviews and much much more so check out
www.toddrobinsonguitar.com
and sign up to the mailing list on my myspace or at the above website for all the latest
Black List Rock Club is reopening at the Civic Underground, cnr Pitt and Goulburn streets sydney. Now open til 5am with Torch Le Monde performing LIVE!
