Clara Mae Ward, born on April 21, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was an American gospel singer. She began her career as part of the Ward Singers, a family group founded by her mother Gertrude in 1931. The group gained national attention after touring in 1943 and achieved significant success with albums like Surely God is Able (1957), which became one of the first million-selling gospel hits, featuring the iconic "Surely, God is Able". Clara Ward also made history as the first gospel singer to perform with a 100-piece symphony orchestra in the 1960s. She recorded notable albums such as Down by the Riverside (1965) and Soul and Inspiration (1969), as well as collaborated on Dee Dee Sharp's hit "Mashed Potato Time" (1962). Clara Ward passed away on January 16, 1973.
