Role

:

Performer

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

July 7, 1924 in Pasadena, CA

Death

:

September 30, 1977 in Arcadia, CA

 

Mary Ford was an American singer and guitarist who rose to fame in the 1950s as one half of the musical duo Les Paul and Mary Ford. Born on July 7, 1924, in El Monte, California, Mary Ford was originally named Iris Colleen Summers. She was the youngest of five children and grew up in a musical family. Her father, Charles Summers, was a Baptist minister who played the guitar and sang, while her mother, Dorothy, played the piano and sang. Mary Ford began singing and playing the guitar at a young age, and by the time she was a teenager, she was performing at local events and on radio shows. In 1946, she met guitarist and inventor Les Paul, who was already a well-known musician and recording artist. The two began performing together and soon fell in love. They were married in 1949 and began recording together as Les Paul and Mary Ford. Les Paul and Mary Ford's music was a unique blend of country, pop, and jazz, and they quickly became one of the most popular musical acts of the 1950s. Their first hit single, "How High the Moon," was released in 1951 and became a number one hit on the Billboard charts. The song featured Mary Ford's distinctive voice and Les Paul's innovative use of multi-track recording, which allowed him to layer multiple guitar parts to create a rich, full sound. Over the next few years, Les Paul and Mary Ford continued to release hit songs, including "Vaya Con Dios," "The World Is Waiting for Sunrise," and "Mockin' Bird Hill." They also became regular performers on television shows, including The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Les Paul and Mary Ford at Home Show. In 1953, they won a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Performance for their song "I'm a Fool to Care." In addition to their musical success, Les Paul and Mary Ford were also known for their innovative use of technology in the recording studio. Les Paul was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar, and he also invented the first multi-track recording machine, which allowed him to layer multiple guitar parts and create a new sound that was unlike anything that had been heard before. Mary Ford was also involved in the recording process, and her voice was often used as an instrument in its own right, with Les Paul manipulating it to create new sounds and effects. Despite their success, Les Paul and Mary Ford's marriage began to suffer in the late 1950s, and they divorced in 1964. Mary Ford continued to perform and record music on her own, but she never achieved the same level of success that she had with Les Paul. She released several solo albums in the 1960s, including The Best of Mary Ford and The Many Moods of Mary Ford, but none of them were as successful as her work with Les Paul. Mary Ford continued to perform and record music throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but she largely withdrew from the public eye in the 1990s. She died on September 30, 1977, at the age of 53, from cancer. Mary Ford's legacy as a musician and performer is significant. She was a talented singer and guitarist who helped to pioneer a new sound in popular music. Her work with Les Paul was groundbreaking, and their use of technology in the recording studio paved the way for future generations of musicians. Mary Ford's distinctive voice and style continue to influence musicians today, and her contributions to the world of music will not be forgotten.

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