Wade Ward

Wade Ward
Wade Ward in 1937 holding a 5-string banjo
Background information
Birth nameBenjamin Wade Ward
Also known asUncle Wade
Born(1892-10-15)October 15, 1892
Independence, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 1971(1971-05-29) (aged 78)
Independence, Virginia, U.S.
GenresOld-time
OccupationFarmer
Instrument(s)Banjo, fiddle
Years active1919–late 1960s
LabelsOkeh, Folkways, Biograph, FRC

Wade Ward (1892–1971) was an American old-time music banjo player and fiddler from Independence, Virginia. He was widely known playing the clawhammer banjo and frequently won the Galax, Virginia Old Time Fiddler's Convention. His instrument, a Gibson RB-11 5-string banjo, is now in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. Along with Kyle Creed, Wade Ward is known for his 'Galax' style of playing the clawhammer banjo.