Anita Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anita Ward
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Ward at the 2015 Miami International Film Festival presentation of The Record Man
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 20, 1956 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1970–present |
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Anita Ward (born December 20, 1956) is an American singer from Memphis, Tennessee. She started her music career in the late 1970s. Anita Ward is most famous for her huge 1979 hit song, "Ring My Bell". This song was number one on music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom.
About Anita Ward
Early Life and Education
Anita Ward was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. She went to Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. There, she earned a degree in psychology, which is the study of the mind.
Her Music Career
Before becoming a singer, Anita Ward worked as a schoolteacher. She then signed a contract to make music.
While she was recording her first album, the owner of her record label, Frederick Knight, gave her a song. He had written it for another singer, Stacy Lattisaw. Anita Ward did not really like the song at first. But Knight thought a dance song was needed because disco music was very popular. So, Anita Ward agreed to record it.
The song was originally about teenagers talking on the phone. But the lyrics were changed to be more for adults. This song became the famous single "Ring My Bell". It quickly became a number one hit in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada in 1979. Her first album, Songs of Love, came out that same year. "Ring My Bell" has been remixed and re-released many times since then. After "Ring My Bell" was a huge success, another song called "Make Believe Lovers" was released. However, it did not become a hit.
Later in 1979, Anita Ward released a second album called Sweet Surrender. This was common in the 1970s for artists to release albums close together. This album also had a disco sound. It included a smaller hit song called "Don't Drop My Love". This song reached number 87 on the US Billboard chart.
Anita Ward faced some challenges after this. There were disagreements with her record label owner, Frederick Knight. She was also in a serious car accident. At the same time, disco music became less popular. These things slowed down her music career. Because of this, she was sometimes called a "one-hit wonder".
Many years later, in 1989, Anita Ward recorded another album called Wherever There's Love. This album was recorded in the United States but was only released in other countries. It sounded different from her earlier disco music. It had mostly fast 1980s pop songs, including a new version of "Ring My Bell". It also had two slower songs. One single from this album, "Be My Baby", was released in Australia but did not become a hit. After this album and single did not chart, Anita Ward took a break from music. She focused on her family, including her daughter who was born around that time.
Anita Ward has performed her famous song "Ring My Bell" many times since then. On New Year's Eve in 2002, she sang it in Times Square in New York City. On New Year's Eve in 2005, she performed on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2006, she performed in Zagreb, Croatia, with other disco artists. In 2011, she released a new single called "It's My Night".
More recently, on January 23, 2024, Anita Ward sang "Ring My Bell" at the First Ladies of Disco Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was joined by other singers and a comedian. Anita Ward is also featured in the 2024 PBS TV series called Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution.
Music Albums
Anita Ward has released several albums:
- 1979: Songs of Love
- 1979: Sweet Surrender
- 1989: Wherever There's Love
Hit Songs
Here are some of Anita Ward's singles:
- 1979: "Ring My Bell" (This was her biggest hit, reaching number one in many places.)
- 1979: "Make Believe Lovers"
- 1979: "Don't Drop My Love"
- 1980: "Can't Nobody Love Me Like You Do"
- 1981: "Cover Me"
- 1989: "Be My Baby"
- 2011: "It's My Night"
See also
In Spanish: Anita Ward para niños
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
- List of people from Memphis, Tennessee
- List of disco artists (A–E)
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
