{{short description|American gospel music record producer}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2012}} '''Asaph Alexander Ward''' is an American gospel music producer, songwriter, arranger, and vocal coach known for his work with prominent gospel artists and award-recognized recordings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asaph Ward Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/asaph-ward-mn0000609614 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Asaph Alexander Ward |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1116545-Asaph-Alexander-Ward |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref> Ward has collaborated with artists including Kim Burrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Smokie Norful, Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, Virtue,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-21 |title=NEWS: Multiple GRAMMY, Dove, And Stellar Award Nominated Urban Gospel Sister Trio VIRTUE Set to Release Highly Anticipated 7th Studio CD “FEARLESS” - The Gospel Music Association |url=https://gospelmusic.org/news/news-multiple-grammy-dove-and-stellar-award-nominated-urban-gospel-sister-trio-virtue-set-to-release-highly-anticipated-7th-studio-cd-fearless |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=gospelmusic.org |language=en}}</ref> Crystal Aikin, Chrystal Rucker, Maranda Curtis,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=Winners Unveiled At 50th Annual GMA Dove Awards - TCB - |url=https://www.thechristianbeat.org/winners-unveiled-at-50th-annual-gma-dove-awards/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> and Maurette Brown Clark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=asaph ward |url=https://journalofgospelmusic.com/reviews-2/jgm-pick-of-the-week-october-2-2019/ |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Journal of Gospel Music |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Asaph A. Ward {{!}} Asaph A. Ward: “I’m All In”/”Alright” - How I Wrote That Song {{!}} BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards {{!}} Video |url=https://www.bmi.com/video/entry/asaph-a.-ward-im-all-in-alright-how-i-wrote-that-song-bmi-trailblazers-of-g |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}</ref> Recordings produced or contributed to by Ward have received recognition from the Grammy Awards, Stellar Awards, GMA Dove Awards, BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards. <ref name="Group2007">{{Cite web |title=Asaph Ward Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/asaph-ward-mn0000609614 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>Several projects associated with Ward have also appeared on ''Billboard'' gospel charts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fred Hammond {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/fred-hammond/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Ward is also a personal development coach and public speaker who has presented on topics related to creativity, faith, and personal growth.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/asaph_a_ward_belief_systems_challenged_in_the_courtroom |title=Belief Systems Challenged in the Courtroom |date=2021-11-10 |last=Ward |first=Asaph A. |language=en |access-date=2026-03-10 |via=www.ted.com}}</ref>
==Background== Ward developed his musical foundation through church music and vocal training, which later informed his work as a producer, songwriter, and vocal arranger within the contemporary gospel music industry.
As his career progressed, Ward also worked on ''A Mary Christmas'' by Mary J. Blige, collaborating with producer David Foster.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Mary Christmas – Credits |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-mary-christmas-mw0002571010#credits |access-date=2026-03-23}}</ref> Ward has also worked in the broader recording industry across both gospel and mainstream music, including credits associated with the R&B group K-Otic.<ref>{{cite web |title=K-Otic – Credits |website=AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/k-otic-mw0000124648#credits |access-date=2026-03-23}}</ref>He has cited his experiences in both gospel and R&B as shaping his overall approach to music production and vocal development, particularly in his efforts to inspire and develop artists within contemporary gospel music.
== Career == Ward came to prominence in the gospel music industry as the producer of the 1998 album ''Everlasting Life'' by Kim Burrell. The project helped introduce Burrell to a wider audience and contributed to her receiving a Stellar Awards for Contemporary Female Artist of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stellar Gospel Music Awards {{!}} 2000 Winners |url=https://www.thestellarawards.com/2000-winners.html |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=www.thestellarawards.com}}</ref>
Ward later produced the self-titled debut album by Dorinda Clark-Cole. The project contributed to Clark-Cole receiving multiple Stellar Awards, including Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year and Traditional Female Artist of the Year. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Stellar Gospel Music Awards {{!}} 2003 Winners |url=https://www.thestellarawards.com/2003-winners.html |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=www.thestellarawards.com}}</ref>
He also produced two tracks on the album ''Nothing Without You'' by Smokie Norful, which won the Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smokie Norful {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/smokie-norful/13445 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>
Ward contributed to the Grammy-winning album ''Live: One Last Time'' by The Clark Sisters, which received the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clark Sisters {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/clark-sisters/7784 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>
He also worked on the Grammy Award-winning song “Wait on the Lord” by Donnie McClurkin featuring Karen Clark Sheard, which won Best Gospel Song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Donnie McClurkin {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/donnie-mcclurkin/4679 |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=grammy.com}}</ref>
In addition to these projects, Ward has worked with artists including Crystal Aikin, Kierra Sheard, Maranda Curtis, Maurette Brown Clark, and Virtue. Recordings associated with Ward have received recognition from the Stellar Awards, GMA Dove Awards, and the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards.
== Awards and Recognition == Recordings produced or contributed to by Ward have received recognition from the Grammy Awards, Stellar Awards, GMA Dove Awards, BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.
=== Grammy Awards === Projects associated with Ward have received several Grammy recognitions, including:
{| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Artist ! Work ! Category ! Result |- | 2005 | Smokie Norful | ''Nothing Without You'' | Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album | Win |- | 2006 | Donnie McClurkin feat. Karen Clark Sheard | "Wait on the Lord" | Best Gospel Song | Win |- | 2008 | The Clark Sisters | ''Live: One Last Time'' | Best Traditional Gospel Album | Win |- | 2006 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Live from Houston: The Rose of Gospel'' | Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album | Nomination |- | 2009 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Take It Back'' | Best Traditional Gospel Album | Nomination |- | 2011 | Kim Burrell | ''The Love Album'' | Best Gospel Album | Nomination |- | 2012 | Kierra Sheard | ''Bold Right Life'' | Best Gospel Album | Nomination |}
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=== Stellar Awards === Recordings produced by Ward have received numerous Stellar Awards honors, including:
{| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Artist ! Work ! Category ! Result |- | 1999 | Kim Burrell | ''Everlasting Life'' | Contemporary Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2003 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Dorinda Clark-Cole'' | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2003 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Dorinda Clark-Cole'' | Traditional Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2006 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Live from Houston: The Rose of Gospel''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2007-winners.html</ref> | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Take It Back''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2009-winners.html</ref> | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2012 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Determined''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2025-winners.html</ref> | Traditional Album of the Year | Win |- | 2012 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | ''Determined'' | Traditional Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | The Clark Sisters | ''Live: One Last Time''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2008-winners.html</ref> | Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | The Clark Sisters | ''Live: One Last Time'' | Album of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | The Clark Sisters | ''Live: One Last Time'' | Duo/Chorus Group of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | Vickie Winans | ''Woman to Woman: Songs of Life''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2008-winners.html</ref> | Contemporary Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2008 | Maurette Brown Clark | ''The Dream''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2008-winners.html</ref> | Praise and Worship Album of the Year | Win |- | 2009 | Crystal Aikin | ''Crystal Aikin''<ref>https://www.thestellarawards.com/2010-winners.html</ref> | Contemporary Female Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2009 | Crystal Aikin | ''Crystal Aikin'' | New Artist of the Year | Win |- | 2007 | The Anointed Pace Sisters | ''Access Granted'' | Traditional Group/Duo of the Year | Nomination |- | 2015 | Larry Callahan and Selected of God | ''Dwell in Me'' | Traditional Choir of the Year | Nomination |}
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=== Dove Awards === Projects associated with Ward have also received recognition from the GMA Dove Awards, including:
{| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Artist ! Work ! Category ! Result |- | 2012 | Donnie McClurkin | ''Duets''<ref>https://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners</ref> | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Win |- | 2016 | Maranda Curtis | "I'm All In"<ref>https://doveawards.com/awards/past-winners</ref> | Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year | Win |- | 2004 | Virtue | ''Free'' | Urban Album of the Year | Win |- | 2011 | Kierra Sheard | ''Bold Right Life'' | Gospel Album of the Year | Nomination |- | 2006 | Londa Larmond | ''Love Letters'' | Urban Album of the Year | Nomination |- | 2009 | Crystal Aikin | ''Crystal Aikin'' | New Artist of the Year | Nomination |}
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=== BMI Awards === Songs produced or written by Ward have received recognition from the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, including:
* Maranda Curtis – “I'm All In” – Most Performed Gospel Song<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asaph A. Ward {{!}} Asaph A. Ward: “I’m All In”/”Alright” - How I Wrote That Song {{!}} BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Awards {{!}} Video |url=https://www.bmi.com/video/entry/asaph-a.-ward-im-all-in-alright-how-i-wrote-that-song-bmi-trailblazers-of-g |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}</ref> * Fred Hammond – “Alright” – Most Performed Gospel Song<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-07 |title=BMI Celebrates its Top Gospel Music Creators at the 2021 BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/bmi-celebrates-its-top-gospel-music-creators-at-the-2021-bmi-trailblazers-o |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=BMI.com |language=en}}</ref> * Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Take It Back'' – Song of the Year
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=== NAACP Image Awards ===
* Donnie McClurkin – ''Duets'' – Outstanding Gospel Album (Nominee) * Kim Burrell – ''A Different Place'' – Outstanding Gospel Album (Nominee)
== Production Discography ==
* 1996 – Men of Standard – ''Men of Standard'' (Muscle Shoals)
* 1998 – Kim Burrell – ''Everlasting Life'' (Tommy Boy Gospel)
* 2001 – The Tommies – ''Real'' (Word Records)
* 2002 – Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Dorinda Clark-Cole'' (Gospo Centric) * 2002 – Brent Jones – "Spiritual Things" (EMI Gospel) * 2002 – Brent Jones – "Holy Ghost High" (EMI Gospel) * 2002 – Brent Jones – "Midnite" (EMI Gospel)
* 2003 – Virtue – ''Free'' (Verity Records) * 2003 – Virtue – "Lord I Lift My Hands" (Verity Records) * 2003 – Virtue – "Worthy" (Verity Records) * 2003 – Virtue – "Open Arms" (Verity Records) * 2003 – Virtue – "Nothing Else I Can Do" (Verity Records) * 2003 – Virtue – "Everything Will Be Alright" (Verity Records)
* 2004 – Twinkie Clark – ''Home Once Again: Live in Detroit'' (Verity) * 2004 – Londa Larmond – ''Love Letters'' (EMI Gospel) * 2004 – Shea Norman – ''My Heart Depends on You'' (Verity) * 2004 – Smokie Norful – ''Nothing Without You'' (EMI Gospel) * 2004 – Benita Washington – ''Hold On'' (Compendia Music Group / Light Records)
* 2005 – Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''The Rose of Gospel'' (Gospo Centric) * 2005 – Maurette Brown Clark – ''The Dream'' (Atlanta) * 2005 – Evelyn Turrentine-Agee – ''Go Through'' (Light Records) * 2005 – Joann Rosario – ''Now More Than Ever… Worship'' (F. Hammond Music / Verity)
* 2006 – Coko – "Endow Me" (feat. Fantasia, Faith Evans & Lil Mo) (Light / Artemis) * 2006 – Vickie Winans – "Angel of Mine"
* 2007 – Dijion – ''Kid's Point of View'' (Verity)
* 2008 – Donnie McClurkin – ''We All Are One (Live in Detroit)'' (Verity) * 2008 – Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Take It Back'' (Verity) * 2008 – Crystal Aikin – ''Crystal Aikin'' (Zomba) * 2008 – The Clark Sisters – ''Live: One Last Time'' (EMI Gospel)
* 2009 – Kierra Sheard – ''Bold Right Life'' (EMI) * 2009 – The Anointed Pace Sisters – ''Access Granted'' (Tyscot) * 2009 – The Clark Family Experience – ''Clark Family Christmas'' (Karew / EMI)
* 2010 – Lowell Pye – ''Finally'' (Miralex Entertainment)
* 2011 – Kim Burrell – ''The Love Album'' (E One) * 2011 – Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''I Survived'' (Light Records) * 2011 – Maurette Brown Clark – ''Sound of Victory'' (Atlanta)
* 2012 – Larry Callahan & Selected of God – ''Dwell In Me'' (8th Mile)
* 2013 – Mary J. Blige – ''A Mary Christmas'' (Verve)
* 2015 – Donnie McClurkin – ''Duets'' (Verity) * 2015 – Kim Burrell – ''A Different Place'' (Shanachie) * 2015 – Crystal Aikin – ''So Amazing'' (Verity)
* 2016 – Grace – ''Grace'' (Dexterity Sounds) * 2016 – Virtue – "Miracle" (from ''Fearless'')
* 2018 – Kim Burrell – "Drummer Boy" (IndieBlu Music)
* 2019 – Maranda Curtis – "I'm All In" * 2019 – Chrystal Rucker – "Take Your Burdens" * 2019 – Fred Hammond – "Alright"
* 2021 – Fred Hammond – ''Sunday Morning Fred'' * 2021 – Fred Hammond – "Hallelujah"
* 2024 – Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Determined'' * 2024 – Otis Kemp – ''Meet Me in Miami'' (Revive 5.0 Entertainment)
* 2025 – Asaph Ward – ''Psalms of Asaph'' * 2025 – The Jesus Collective – ''FLOW, Vol. 1 (Live in South Africa)'' * 2025 – Sharon Ann – ''Sacred Disruption''
* 2026 – Renee Spearman – "You Chose Me" (feat. Montell Jordan & Kim Burrell)
== Selected Production Discography ==
* Kim Burrell – ''Everlasting Life'' (Tommy Boy Gospel) * Smokie Norful – ''Nothing Without You'' (EMI Gospel) * The Clark Sisters – ''Live: One Last Time'' (EMI Gospel) * Donnie McClurkin – ''We Are One'' – “Wait on the Lord” (Verity) * Donnie McClurkin – ''Duets'' (Verity) * Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Dorinda Clark-Cole'' (Gospo Centric) * Dorinda Clark-Cole – ''Take It Back'' (Zomba Label Group) * Fred Hammond – “Alright” * Fred Hammond – “Hallelujah” * Maranda Curtis – “I'm All In” * Crystal Aikin – ''Crystal Aikin'' (Zomba) * Kierra Sheard – ''Bold Right Life'' (EMI Gospel)
* Virtue – ''Free'' (Verity Records)
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Asaph Alexander}} Category:American male songwriters Category:African-American songwriters Category:Living people Category:American record producers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century African-American people