J. R. Ward
He started out playing country music in North Florida beach bars and nursing homes.
J.R. Ward started by playing country music in beach bars and nursing homes in North Florida. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Ward lived in Northeast Florida for a few years before moving back to his home state. He released his first EP, My Own Way, in 2017.
The first single released from his EP, "Ready to Go," was inspired by his time playing in the assisted living and nursing homes. It has been used for a national fundraising campaign with the Walk to End Alzheimer's, and a music video was created with the help of Kindred at Home.
Ward has headlined venues and played support for national touring acts such as The Steel Woods, Ward Davis, and Ray Scott. In his songwriting, Ward draws influences from Waylon Jennings, Gary Allan, and Jamey Johnson. The title of his EP comes from a quote by Waylon Jennings, "There is always one more way to do things, and that's your way..."
Ward's way is to write soulful country songs that tell stories—sometimes as a solo act and at other times with his full band.
