Ted Beard, born June 15, 1935, to Maurice Sr., and Fannie Mae (Asberry) Beard. Ted began his music career as a member of the Jewell Dominion Church of the Living God, where he played the steel guitar with his brothers Douglas and Billy Beard in Detroit, Michigan.

The Beard family later joined the Keith Dominion House of God Church, where Ted became the Chief Musician and National Music Coordinator. He is highly respected as one of the leading practitioners and innovators of the Sacred Steel music tradition.

Elder Maurice Ted Beard was ordained pastor of the Joy Road House of God Church in Detroit, Michigan in 1987. Ted has an audio CD playing many of his signature songs, hymnals, and church tunes. He has also produced an instructional video teaching the basics of Sacred Steel music.

Elder Maurice Ted Beard laid the foundation and set the standard by which many steel players are measured in the Keith Dominion Church.

Maurice Ted Beard received the Legends Award in 2009, he was inducted into Sacred Steel Hall of Fame in 2010, and later received the Sacred Steel Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.