From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Aug 4, 2002  2:08 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Frankie Ford
 
FRANKIE FORD (By Shaun Mather)

Born Frank Guzzo, 4 August 1939, Gretna, Louisiana

A true ambassador of New Orleans good-time music, Frankie Ford has
etched his living playing a rolling piano in a style that seems to come
naturally to the Big Easy ivory tinklers. Unlike most of them (Dr John
excluded), Frankie was a white guy, but he played with the flair and feel
of his black counterparts. He recorded in the '50s for Johnny Vincent's
Ace label in a style that never lost sight of his roots - despite the odd
foray into poppier sounds, Chinatown being an example.

His first single Cheatin' Woman was popular in South Louisiana but it
was the glorious follow-up, Sea Cruise, which saw him have his largest
hit in 1959 (# 14). His vocals were added to a Huey Piano Smith backing
track and the rest is history. Follow-ups somehow failed to chart despite
the same feel-good factor and the exquisite backing of the top New Orleans
session players. Roberta and Alimony were particularly exciting numbers
which failed to chart despite concert appearances as part of the Alan Freed
packages and tv dates like American Bandstand. As one-third of Morgus
& the Three Gouls (with Dr John and Jerry Byrne) he cut the novelty Morgus
The Magnificent for Ace, but again the appeal was only regional.

After his debut album, Let's Take A Sea Cruise With Frankie Ford (1960)
failed to regenerate interest he switched to Imperial records, a label with
a long history in New Orleans. A match-up with producer Dave Bartholomew
looked like a perfect pairing, but only two minor hits resulted, a cover of Joe
Jones's "You Talk Too Much" (# 87) and "Seventeen" (# 72).

In 1984 he cut an album in London, New Orleans Dynamo, which featured a
sparkling version of Whiskey Heaven, now a highlight of his live set. He
made a memorable appearance in the Alan Freed biopic American Hot Wax
where he was captured in the studio supposedly cutting Sea Cruise. By the
end of the '90s he'd gone full circle and was back recording for Johnny Vincent.
He continues to tour and always puts on a great show. I saw him in North
Wales about a dozen years ago and he was dynamic. I look forward to this
year's Rhythm Riot where he'll be strutting his stuff again. With Fats
Domino no longer touring, Frankie appears to be the last truly active
international member of the New Orleans rock 'n' roll fraternity. Long may
it continue.

Recommended listening:
Ooh-Wee Baby! The Best of Frankie Ford (Westside WESM 519)
Cruisin' With Frankie Ford : The Imperial Sides and London Sessions
(Ace 696).
Official website: http://www.frankieford.com/
There's plenty about Frankie in the two classic books on New Orleans
R&B/R&R : John Broven's "Walking To New Orleans" and Jeff Hannusch's
"I Hear You Knockin'".