14 Facts About Frankie Ford

Frankie Ford was born in Gretna, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, and was the adopted son of Vincent and Anna Guzzo, who named him Vincent Francis Guzzo, Jr.

Frankie Ford learned to sing and dance at an early age, and when at high school joined a group, the Syncopators, as singer and pianist.

Frankie Ford was spotted by manager Joe Caronna, who took him to Johnny Vincent of Ace Records.

Frankie Ford toured locally in Louisiana, before recording a vocal overdub on the song "Sea Cruise", a song written and originally recorded by Huey "Piano" Smith with his group, the Clowns, and featuring overdubbed bells and ships' horns.

Frankie Ford toured widely around the US, but his later records were less successful, with his versions of "Alimony" and "Time After Time" only reaching the lower reaches of the national charts.

Frankie Ford recorded a novelty record in praise of a local TV presenter, "Morgus the Magnificent", with musicians including Mac Rebennack and Jerry Byrne, but it failed to sell.

Frankie Ford recorded with producer Dave Bartholomew, and released a version of "You Talk Too Much", but Ford's recording missed out in competition with one by Joe Jones which was issued almost simultaneously.

Frankie Ford was drafted in 1962, and performed for troops in Japan, Vietnam and Korea.

Frankie Ford later recorded occasionally for small labels, but mainly performed in clubs in and around New Orleans.

Frankie Ford appeared in the 1978 movie American Hot Wax, and toured in Britain and Europe, recording the album New Orleans Dynamo in London in 1984.

Frankie Ford continued to record and perform through the 1990s.

Frankie Ford co-owned the Briarmeade record label, which issued several singles and albums by him from the 1970s to the 2000s.

On May 16,2010, at the Louisiana Music Homecoming in Erwinville, Frankie Ford was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Frankie Ford died in Gretna at the age of 76 on September 28,2015, following a long illness.