Tommy Ward to bring classy, jazzy style to 41st WV Italian Heritage Festival

Photo by JENNA THALL

By Steven Baublitz, WV News

CLARKSBURG — Critically acclaimed musician Tommy Ward is bringing his unique, classic sound to Clarksburg’s main stage at 8 p.m. Aug. 30 as part of the 41st West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival.

Ward, born in Houston and raised in Las Vegas, will present his own take on modern music that comes from his appreciation of great musicians.

Tyler Terango, chairman of the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, said Ward is the perfect example of what the first night of entertainment should be.

“Tommy Ward has kind of a Michael Bublé sound to him. Friday nights, we always like a crowd pleaser that gets the crowd in the mood and is a nice variety for all ages. We thought it would be a real classy way to start the festival,” Terango said.

Ward, 23, said he’s looking forward to his first appearance at the annual event.

“I’ve never heard of it before but am extremely excited to be part of it. I’ve done similar things in Las Vegas. Being an Italian American, I’m excited to continue tradition,” he said.

Ward first learned of great artists thanks to his grandfather’s musical influence.

“Every day when I came home from school, we’d listen to his vinyl collection and talk about music, life and the world. He loved the big band sounds of the ’40s and ’50s — Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, to name a few. This was the music I grew up listening to and what ultimately brought me into performing,” Ward said.

Ward mentioned that coming from a primarily Italian family ensured that “Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald were pretty much non-negotiable and deeply rooted into my musical psyche.”

Ward said his biggest idols are Frank Sinatra and The Crooners, from whom he draws much of his performing inspirations.

“Big jazz music is the name of my game. That’s what I do, and that’s my life,” he said.

Ward began performing in high school at age 15. He performed in all the school plays and musicals, which made for an easy transition when he began performing professionally by 16, he said.

Before long, Ward became a nightly headlining act in various clubs, restaurants, casinos and galas in Las Vegas.

Ward was later involved in a two-month run for stand-up comedian Louie Anderson at The Plaza and 10 months with former Stratosphere headliner Frankie Moreno. Ward has also been featured in shows with Clint Holmes, Michael Bublé, Matt Goss, Jeff Civillico, Mac King, The Million Dollar Quartet, Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera and Rock of Ages, to name a few.

In 2014, Ward played at the Power of Gala in Las Vegas for Keep Your Love Alive, an event supporting research for Alzheimer’s disease.

That evening, Ward said the right-hand man to Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, was set up in the audience to watch him perform.

“I walked out on stage ready to start, and 20 feet away on the couch was legendary Quincy Jones,” Ward said.

With a part of musical history sitting in front of him, Ward said it took him and the band a few songs to come down from their excitement after realizing an icon was watching them perform.

That evening, Ward said, was one of the highlights of his career.

After the show, Ward was asked by Jones to come down to Los Angeles and see him. Upon doing so, Jones managed Ward for three years.

“I was honored to work with such a legend in the business,” Ward said.

In Ward’s biography, Jones said, “Tommy is the epitome of great music. He reminds me of working with Frank in some strange way.”

Ward, who is currently located in Georgia, said his next career steps, other than recording an album at the famous Capitol Studios, are to continue playing and spreading the music he loves “and continue the tradition of the Great American Songbook.”

“I hope to one day carry the torch of the Sinatras and Bublés,” he said.

Jazz music is where American rock and roll and today’s modern music once originated, he said, adding that it’s part of American history.

“It’s such a beautiful part of my life and other Americans’, too,” he said.