Matthew Ward Photo David Ball - Original work Wikipedia CC BY 2.5
Donna Summer Photo: Wikipedia Public Domain
Keyboardist: Gail Nobles
Story by: Gail Nobles

Back in 1983, when I first caught wind of that magical duet between Donna Summer and Matthew Ward, my mind was racing! I heard that gorgeous, soulful voice, and I thought, "No way! That’s gotta be Peabo Bryson singing with the Queen of Disco!" After all, Peabo was the king of those smooth ballads back in the day, and you couldn’t help but think of him when you heard those heavenly harmonies.

But lo and behold, just today, I finally laid my eyes on Matthew Ward! And boy, was I stunned! I had never seen the guy before, and I was thinking, “Wait a minute, this can’t be right. Is this some kind of mix-up?” But it was no mistake, my friends! It was indeed Matthew Ward, and his voice is absolutely a treasure! A rich, soulful sound that just sweeps you off your feet! And what’s even cooler is that he’s also known for his Contemporary Christian Music—talk about versatility!

Now, if you don’t know the tune "Love Has a Mind of Its Own," let me give you the scoop. It comes from Donna Summer’s album **She Works Hard for the Money** and was released in December 1983 as the third single. The magic is really in the collaboration—though Matthew didn't get credited on the sleeve, he brought a special magic to this ballad, and it surely resonates with the heart.

The song itself made a splash on the charts! It peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 35 on the R&B chart, and hit number 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart! It lingered on the charts 12 weeks.

So, whether you thought it was Peabo or not, there’s no denying the brilliance of Donna Summer and Matthew Ward together. It’s a duet that reminds us just how beautiful love and music can be—each note bringing us together in harmony.

I’m Gail Nobles. Thank you for listening.

Radio Music Memories