Remembering Mary Ford

[Alan Brookes]

Mary Ford passed away on this day, September 30, 1977.

She is best remembered for her work with her first husband, Les Paul, who was the first person to work with multiple-track recordings, and one of the pioneer developers of the solid electric guitar.

[b0b]

Gone Home is for "Obituaries and remembrances of steel guitarists, their friends and families". Topic moved to Music section.

[Billy Tonnesen]

Got to see Mary Ford and Les Paul up close when they were booked into McDonalds Party House in Compton, Cdalif. in the early 50's when I was playing with the Ole Rasmussen House Band. She was known in her early years as Colleen Summers part of a musical family here in So.Calif. At their appearance she played Guitar parts with her husband Les Paul to get close to his recording effects. However, to get the three part singing harmony, they had her sister with a mike backstage singing who the audience never saw. Can't rememberd the sister's name. They were all very freindly with our Band and it was a great experience !

[Dave Hopping]

Allan-thanks for the reminder about Mary.As Jackson Browne said,"that girl could sing".

[Andy Volk]

Mary doesn't get enough credit for "The Les Paul Sound." Les may have been the conceptual genius but Mary had to execute! She had to double and triple parts with perfect intonation and rhythm and all in basically direct-to-disc situations. She was a pro.

[Karl Fehrenbach]

Mary Ford was a wonderful musician. If you find the Les Paul video "Chasing Sound" you will have an appreciation as to how essential she was to the overall Les Paul/Mary Ford sound. What a treasure she was.

[Butch Pytko]

One of the greatest iconic duo's of all time. In my musical family they were very highly regarded through the years. I remember them very well being on Ed Sullivan and other variety shows back in the 50's. Mary had that distinct instantly recognizable VOICE. They had many, many hits, but for some reason, the one song that stands out to me is TEXAS LADY. It was even a theme song for the motion picture--TEXAS LADY. I still have the 45, which says--"from the RKO picture "TEXAS LADY". I remember seeing the movie when I was a kid back in the 50's and haven't seen it since. What is so great about this recording is just 2 guitars, bass, AND that great strong voice of Mary's, right out front exactly as it should of been. Also, what stands out on the rhythm track is that fabulous guitar sound--could be Mary, but I remember reading up on how Les at times would do just about all the instruments with multi-track recording techniques--that HE INVENTED! However it was recorded, Mary was a great guitar player in her own right, as she demonstrated on TV and their many recordings.