Ward Swingle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ward Swingle
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ward Lamar Swingle |
| Born | September 21, 1927 Mobile, Alabama, United States |
| Died | January 19, 2015 (aged 87) Eastbourne, Sussex, England |
| Genres | Jazz, vocal group, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger |
| Instruments | Vocalist, piano |
| Years active | 1951-1990s |
| Associated acts | The Swingle Singers |
Ward Lamar Swingle (born September 21, 1927, died January 19, 2015) was an American singer and jazz musician. He is famous for starting a unique singing group called The Swingle Singers in France in 1962. This group became well-known for singing classical music in a jazz style.
Contents
Ward Swingle's Musical Journey
Early Life and Musical Start
Ward Swingle was born in Mobile, Alabama. He loved music from a very young age, especially jazz. As a child, he learned to play the clarinet, oboe, and piano. He even played in local big bands before he finished high school.
After high school, Ward continued to study music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. He graduated in 1950. While there, he met Françoise Demorest, a violin student from France. They got married in 1952.
Moving to France and New Ideas
In 1951, Ward Swingle moved to France with a special scholarship called a Fulbright scholarship. He studied piano with a famous musician named Walter Gieseking. He also worked as a rehearsal pianist for a dance group called Les Ballets de Paris.
In 1959, he helped start a group in Paris called Les Double Six. This group was special because they used a jazz singing style called scat singing. Scat singing is when singers use sounds and syllables instead of words.
Ward then had a brilliant idea: he decided to use scat singing for the music of famous classical composers like Johann Sebastian Bach. This idea became the foundation for his own group, The Swingle Singers.
The Swingle Singers' Success
The Swingle Singers officially started in 1962. They quickly became very popular. In 1963, they released their first albums, Jazz Sebastian Bach and Bach's Greatest Hits. These early recordings were a huge success and won five Grammy Awards!
In 1973, Ward Swingle decided to end the original Swingle Singers group. He then moved to London and started a new English group. This new group was sometimes called Swingle II or the New Swingle Singers. With this new group, Ward explored even more types of music. They sang classical and modern pieces, along with their famous jazz and scat vocal arrangements.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1984, Ward Swingle moved back to America. He still advised his London-based group, but he spent most of his time teaching workshops and leading other choirs. He also shared his musical arrangements through his own company, Swingle Music.
His new ideas for choral singing led to invitations to conduct many famous choirs around the world. He led groups like the Stockholm and Netherlands Chamber Choirs. In the 2000s, he taught many workshops and seminars at universities in Europe and North America.
In March 1994, Ward and his wife moved back to France. He continued to arrange music, compose, and conduct. In 1997, he wrote a book called Swingle Singing. In this book, he explained his special 'Swingle Singing' techniques.
On February 20, 2004, Ward Swingle received a special award from the French Minister of Culture. He was named "Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres," which means Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters. This award recognized his important contributions to music and art.
Ward Swingle passed away in Eastbourne, England, on January 19, 2015. He left behind his wife, Françoise, their three children, and three grandchildren. Françoise Swingle passed away in 2017. Ward Swingle's unique musical style continues to inspire singers and musicians today.
See also
- The Swingle Singers discography
