Asaph Ward
American gospel music record producer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[1][2] Ward has collaborated with artists including Kim Burrell, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Smokie Norful, Donnie McClurkin, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, Virtue,[3] Crystal Aikin, Chrystal Rucker, Maranda Curtis,[4] and Maurette Brown Clark.[5][6] 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. [7]Several projects associated with Ward have also appeared on Billboard gospel charts.[8] Ward is also a personal development coach and public speaker, having presented on topics related to creativity, faith, and personal growth, including a TEDx talk.[9]
Asaph Ward | |
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Asaph 2026. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Asaph Alexander Ward |
| Origin | Kansas City, MO. United States |
| Genres | Gospel, Jazz |
| Occupations | Record producer, songwriter, arranger, vocal coach, speaker, personal development coach |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Labels | Verity Records, EMI Gospel, Zomba Label Group, Light Records, EOne |
| Website | www |
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.[10] 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.[11] Ward has also contributed to film and television projects, including production and scoring work on the soundtrack for Miracles Across 125th Street, a film directed by Nick Cannon, alongside Fred Hammond.[12] 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.[13]
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. [14]
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.[15]
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.[16]
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.[17]
Ward also arranged and produced the song "Endow Me" by Coko, featuring Faith Evans, Fantasia, and Lil' Mo.[18]
In addition to these projects, Ward has worked with artists including Crystal Aikin, Kierra Sheard, Maranda Curtis, Maurette Brown Clark, and Virtue.[19] 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:
| 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 |
Stellar Awards
Recordings produced by Ward have received numerous Stellar Awards honors, including:
| 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[20] | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | Win |
| 2008 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | Take It Back[21] | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | Win |
| 2012 | Dorinda Clark-Cole | Determined[22] | 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[23] | 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[24] | Contemporary Female Artist of the Year | Win |
| 2008 | Maurette Brown Clark | The Dream[25] | Praise and Worship Album of the Year | Win |
| 2009 | Crystal Aikin | Crystal Aikin[26] | 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 |
Dove Awards
Projects associated with Ward have also received recognition from the GMA Dove Awards, including:
| Year | Artist | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Donnie McClurkin | Duets[27] | Traditional Gospel Album of the Year | Win |
| 2016 | Maranda Curtis | "I'm All In"[28] | 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 |
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[29]
- Fred Hammond – “Alright” – Most Performed Gospel Song[30]
- Dorinda Clark-Cole – Take It Back – Song of the Year
NAACP Image Awards
- Donnie McClurkin – Duets – Outstanding Gospel Album (Nominee)
- Kim Burrell – A Different Place – Outstanding Gospel Album (Nominee)
Production Discography
Production credits adapted from AllMusic and Discogs.[31][32]
- 1996 – Men of Standard – Men of Standard (Muscle Shoals)
- 1996 – Chuck Smith – Basically Bass[33]
- 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)
- 2007 – Lil' Mo – Pain & Paper (KOCH Entertainment) – "Just Like That"[34]
- 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 – Miracles Across 125th Street (Soundtrack)[12]
- 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)