Michael Joseph Ward (born 14 December 1990) is an English country singer from Salford who took part in UK series 2 of The Voice as part of Tom Jones' team singing mostly country music and became finalist in the last Final 4 round.[1] Ward took part in the show after his mother Julie applied for him.[2] He auditioned with the song "Don't Close Your Eyes" from Keith Whitley, with three of the four judges, Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Sir Tom Jones turning their chairs. He opted to be in "Team Tom" and was his team's finalist in the competition singing "Suspicious Minds" solo and "Green Green Grass of Home" with Tom Jones.[3] As a result of the public vote, he and Leah McFall were runners up, with the title going to Andrea Begley. Throughout the series, he was credited for trying to get country music noticed in the UK.[4]
Mike Ward | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Joseph Ward |
| Born | 14 December 1990 Salford, Greater Manchester, England |
| Genres | Country music / pop music |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2013–present |
Personal life
editWard was born to Julie Berry and Michael Ward on 14 December 1990. He is named after his father. Mike has four siblings Maria, Darren, Daryl and tank. Mike has Irish Traveller roots on his father's side. His grandmother died while he was filming The Voice live shows.[5][6]
On 24 December 2014, Mike's father Michael Ward was a victim of a hit and run with his girlfriend (Paula Jolly) outside an ASDA store in Manchester. Paula died at the scene and Michael died in hospital hours after. Ward is a distant cousin of British The X Factor winner Shayne Ward in the 2nd series of the show.[7]
On 6 September 2015, Ward became a father for the first time. He and his partner Francesca found out they were expecting a child a week after the loss of Mike’s father.[8]
Discography
editSingles
edit| Song title | UK release date | UK peak chart position [9] |
|---|---|---|
| "When I Was Your Man" | 22 June 2013 |
60
|
| "Picking Up the Pieces" | 29 June 2013 |
72
|
References
edit- ^ "The Voice UK 2013 finalists: Mike Ward". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "BBC One - the Voice UK, Series 2 - Mike Ward". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Salford singer Mike Ward wows on The Voice ... and reveals a star relative". Manchester Evening News. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "The Voice: Andrea is surprise winner". Metro. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "UnrealityTV: The Voice 2013: Shayne Ward's cousin Mike Ward picks between Tom Jones, Jessie J & Danny at blind auditions". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ^ Manchester Evening News: The Voice star's champagne homecoming
- ^ The Daily Mirror: The Voice 2013: Shayne Ward's cousin Mike Ward shows off his lovely smooth vocals on Saturday's show
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (23 February 2015). "@BBCTheVoiceUK star @MikeWardUK to become a dad". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "MIKE WARD". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2013.