Wade Ward

Although Wade Ward made his living as a Virginia farmer, his enduring legacy is that of a strongly talented banjo player who emerged from a talented musical family in the early part of the 20th century. It was Ward's older brother, Crockett, who was his main influence. Twenty years Wade's senior, Crockett was a masterful player himself and he filled his younger brother with the Appalachian banjo and fiddle styles of the day. Wade then began forming his own bands to play at country dances and auctions, first recruiting fiddler Van Edwards and his son, guitarist Earl. In the ear...