RIP Robert Ward, guitarist on Wilson Pickett's "I Found a Love", Motown sessionman, Black Top soul-blues comeback

From the Southern Soul Yahoogroups e-mails (I only knew his great comeback stuff for Black Top, but this person gives more history. He had a tough life, spent time in jail, all kinds of stuff)

2a. Robert Ward R.I.P.Posted by: Just heard from Cilla at Juke Blues that Robert Ward died on Christmas day. Great guitarist with that distinctive sound from his magnatone amp and a fine vocalist too, some great deep sides in the early 60's (My Love Is Strictly Reserved For You /Your Love Is Amazing) and of course his terrific uptempo sides 'I Will Fear No Evil' & 'Im Gonna Cry A River' that are popular in the UK on the Northern scene. Robert's comeback CD on the Black Top / Silvertone label 'Fear No Evil' blew me away at the time. I caught a few times live and he was an energetic & warm hearted entertainer. Unfortunately as a lot of ye on here know, Robert has been very sick for quite some time, unable to sing or play guitar.I remember a few years back when I tried to interview him over the phone for a Roy Lee Johnson article I was doing (Robert and Roy played together in a couple of groups - 'The Brassettes' & 'The Ohio Untouchables' ). Robert's family assured me Robert wanted to do the interview, but when Robert came on the phone it soon became obvious that Robert found it very difficult to speak and I cut the interview short. I spoke to Roy Lee Johnson about it, and Roy called to Robert's house a few times afterwards to talk about old times and play a few songs for him.

http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:axfpxqq5ldke~T1

You can see Robert playing guitar at the 6:15 mark or so of this Delmark studio sessions video

He was 70 when he died yesterday

Sorry to hear this. I was just re-reading the discography section of Sweet Soul Music, where he's praised, earlier in the week. Rest in peace.