Wardell started her tenure in music at the tender age of five, singing with her siblings Dee, Charlita, and Glenn as "The Piper Children" under the direction of their mother, Lois. Wardell decided at the age of seven after seeing "The Supremes" on the Ed Sullivan show, that she wanted to entertain.
After moving from Albany, NY to Philadelphia, Wardell met Rochelle Fleming, Malanie McSears, and Annette Guest to become The Debonnetts/First Choice from 1968-1973. Wardell recorded in 1971-1972 with the group three hits: "This is the House Where Love Died, One Step Away, & Armed and Extremely Dangerous". Shortly thereafter, she exited to pursue a solo career as opening act for The Three Degrees, Rudy Ray Moore, The Spinners at Club Harlem, Atlantic City.
She also opened for Frankie Beverly & Raw Soul at the Inn Towner, Philadelphia. In 1977, Wardell met Reuben Cross, and John Fitch who had written "Shame" for Evelyn "Champagne" King, and produced Wardell's first LP on Midsong Records in 1978, entitled "Wardell Piper. 1978, 1979, 1980 hits, "Captain Boogie, Supersweet, catapulted her to #33 & #20 on the Billboard R&B charts.
Wardell performed twice in NYC at Paradise Garage for Frankie Crocker in 1979, as well as other club venues. She has appeared on various TV shows in the U.S. & Canada, and in 1980 was opening act for Sylvester at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
Wardell's follow-up recording efforts for Midsong produced by John "Monster Orchestra" Davis, featured an Ashford & Simpson remake entitled "Gimme Something Real" which entered Billboard at #59 on the Billboard R&B charts. The b-side "Power of Love" was recently remixed by Tom Moulton,
re-emerging in the clubs both in the U.S. and overseas. During the 1980's, Wardell recorded for Sam Records, Polydor and Prelude Records with producers Victor Scott, Don Ray, and James Batton.
Wardell's signature hit "Supersweet" was featured in the 1999 movie "Joe the King". Wardell also recorded in 1999, a house hit for The David Banks Project, produced by Terry Jones & Helen Bruner on Catch 22 Records. Wardell is featured with her own chapter in the "First Ladies of Disco" 2013 book by James Arena, along with 31 other major recording artists from the era of disco music.
In 2014, Wardell received an award from the GEMA Foundation, a citation from the City of Philadelphia, as well as the Legends of Vinyl Award in 2015, for her lifetime contribution to the recording industry. Wardell reunited in 2014 with Rochelle Fleming, Annette Guest, and Ursula Herring, along with other artists from the Salsoul Records label in NYC at Riverside Park, working also with Annette and Ursula performing as First Choice in Brooklyn & Westbury.
In 2015, Wardell recorded her first cd project and second album entitled "Spell" a Blue Magic remake, on Society Hill Records with legendary producer Butch Ingram. The single "Keep Living" is a tribute to the LGBT community, who has embraced Wardell's music from the beginning and still supports her recording efforts today.
Wardell still performs, dazzling her audiences everywhere~