About BEAR
GO GET THAT NEW BEAR CD FROM ITUNES OR CD-BABY.COM >Ladies and Gentlemen. The verdict is in. The soon to be released debut CD of R&Bs most highly anticipated newcomer, Bear of Port City Records, is a slapper! It has the best of everything that a well-rounded CD should have: riveting vocals, slammin beats and soulful lyrics and hooks that stay with you long after youve indulged. So how is it that this incredible 24 year old has managed to stay beneath the radar up until now? The truth is Bear, otherwise known as Richard Ward, has been on the scene right beneath our noses for some time.< >Beginning in 2001, Bear toured with consciousness hip-hop group Blackalicious (MCA/Geffen) throughout the US and Europe as a background singer, opening for such artists as Alicia Keys, Common, N.E.R.D. and many others. Bear confessed, That was my first intro to the real business of music. Touring was grueling, but I knew that this was what I really wanted to do and understood the stamina that it takes to mark your place in this industry. It was also very apparent to those around him that it was only a matter of time before his distinct and powerful vocals would soon find their way to being front-and-center stage.> Long time friends and old roommates, award-winning producers Teak and Dejon Underdue of Hallway Productions (Ice Cubes 2005 release) teamed up with Bear to produce his debut CD. This was a true outpouring of our heart and soul. We held nothing back when it came to putting this project together, said Bear. With features from Keak Da Sneak, The Bear Necessities (due to release in the summer of 2006) is going to knock the socks off of everyone by giving the audience a little something that we are just beginning to rediscover: real sangin! With a voice reminiscent of Aaron Hall and Anthony Hamilton, and a style influenced by Stevie Wonder and Usher, this self-proclaimed prodigy of Sam Cooke provides an eclectic mix of soul, street and fun. Byline: Ian Hill Sep. 8--STOCKTON -- R&B singer Richard "Bear" Ward has joined Chris Isaak as one of the few Stockton-raised musicians to appear on the Billboard charts. Ward's single "Do or Die" debuted at No. 35 on Billboard's "Hot 100" singles sales chart, released on the Internet today. "Do or Die" also is No. 99 on the "Hot" R&B/hip-hop singles and tracks chart, and it jumped from No. 27 to No. 9 on the "Hot" R&B/hip-hop singles sales chart CLIMAXING AT #2 on this chart . Artists behind Ward on the R&B/hip-hop singles sales chart include E-40, Diddy, Ludacris, Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake. "It kind of snuck up on us," said Ward, 25, a former football star at Franklin High School. "My whole family doesn't know. I've just been like, 'Are you serious?' " "Do or Die" has deep roots here. It was produced by Stockton's Teak Underdue, mixed by native David "Dizmix" Lopez and released on Stockton's Port City Records. Longtime local musician Willie Hines, 50, owner of Replay Records in Stockton, described reaching the Billboard charts as "a big deal. "To get on Billboard's charts means in no small way, you've arrived. You're on the merry-go-round in orbit of the brass ring. The potential's great," Hines said. Isaak's latest album, "Best of Chris Isaak," was No. 184 on last week's "Billboard 200" chart; it is not on the latest chart. Ward and other local artists also said "Do or Die's" accomplishments make a statement about the undiscovered talent in Stockton's urban music scene.
