Emile Ford was born in Castries, Saint Lucia, in the West Indies. He was the son of Barbadian politician, Frederick Edward Miller, and Madge Murray, a singer and musical theatre director whose father had founded and conducted the St. Lucia Philharmonic Band. His mother married again, taking the name of Sweetnam; some sources erroneously give Emile Ford's birth name as Sweetnam or Sweetman.
He was educated at St Mary’s College, Castries. He moved to London with his mother and family in the mid-1950s, partly motivated by his desire to explore improved sound reproduction technology, and studied at the Paddington Technical College in London. It was during this time that he taught himself to play a number of musical instruments, including guitar, piano, violin, bass guitar and drums. Using an abbreviated form of his name, as Emile Ford, he first entered show business at the age of 20, and made his first public performance at the Buttery, Kensington. His first appearance with a backing group was at the Athenaeum Ballroom in Muswell Hill. His TV appearances in 1958 included outings on The Music Shop, the Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson Show, Oh, Boy!, and Six-Five Special.
He teamed up in January 1959 with his half-brother, bassist George Sweetnam-Ford (born 1 January 1941), electric guitarist Ken Street (born 1943) and drummer John Cuffley to form Emile Ford & the Checkmates. The band appeared on the TV programme Sunday Serenade, which ran for six weeks. They won the Soho Fair talent contest in July 1959, but turned down a recording contract with EMI because the company would not allow Ford to produce their records, and instead agreed to a deal with Pye Records. Their first self-produced recording, "What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?", a song originally recorded by Ada Jones and Billy Murray in 1917, went to number one in the UK Singles Chart at the end of 1959 and stayed there for six weeks. Ford was the first black British artist to sell one million copies of a single.
In January 1960, Ford signed a two-year employment management contract with Leslie Grade. He had several more hits in the UK, and also scored a number one EP in 1960. The readers of the British music magazine New Musical Express voted Emile Ford and the Checkmates as the "Best New Act" in 1960. Ford's debut album was made up of covers. He made several albums, but his last studio recordings were in 1963. His half-brothers George and Dave Sweetnam-Ford were later members of the Ferris Wheel.
As a sound engineer, Ford was responsible for creating a backing track system for stage shows, first used in 1960, which provided a basis for what became known as karaoke. In 1969, he set up a recording studio in Barbados with the help of his father, before moving to Sweden. While there, he further developed a new open-air playback system for stage shows, patented as the Liveoteque Sound Frequency Feedback Injection System.
Counting Teardrops, an anthology including all of Ford's recordings with Pye Records, was released in 2001.
Emile Ford died in London on 11 April 2016.
Half of My Heart
Emile Ford Lyrics
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And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell
Of an age the world has long forgotten
Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today
The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada
For she can remember the splendor that once was Granada
It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along
Entranced by the beauty before me
When day is done and the sun touch the sea in Granada
I envy the blush of the snow-clad Tierra Novada
Soon it will welcome the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft carbinera
Then moonlit Granada will live again
The glory of yesterday, romantic and gay
And soon it will welcome the stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft carbinera
Then moonlit Granada will live again
The glory of yesterday, romantic, gay Granada
The song "Half of My Heart" by Emile Ford features the lyrics which describe the city of Granada in Spain. The singer expresses their fascination with the city and how it is enchanting them. They praise the city's past glory and how it still holds onto its magic even in the present day. The verses evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for the beauty of the past that still exists in Granada. The lyrics describe how the dawn in the sky seems to sigh for Granada, as it remembers the past splendor of the city. The beauty of the land, full of flowers and song, enchants the singer.
The chorus describes how Granada comes to life at night when a thousand guitars play a soft carbinera. The moonlit city brings back the memory of its past glory and how it was once romantic and gay. The repetition of the word "romantic" emphasizes the singer's admiration for the city and how it is still alive in the night. The song describes Granada as a place of wonder that has the power to enchant and captivate any visitor that falls under its spell.
Line by Line Meaning
Granada, I'm falling under your spell
I am captivated and entranced by the beauty and magic of Granada
And if you could speak, what a fascinating tale you would tell
The history and culture of this ancient city would be an incredible story to hear
Of an age the world has long forgotten
The rich history and traditions of this city have been overlooked and forgotten by the rest of the world
Of an age that weaves a silent magic in Granada today
The ancient beauty and charm of Granada still lingers and creates a sense of enchantment in the city today
The dawn in the sky greets the day with a sigh for Granada
The sunrise brings a sense of nostalgic longing for the past splendor of Granada
For she can remember the splendor that once was Granada
Granada holds memories of a grandeur and beauty that is no longer present
It still can be found in the hills all around as I wander along
The beauty and magic of Granada can still be found in the natural surroundings of the city as I explore
Entranced by the beauty before me
I am captivated and mesmerized by the stunning scenery around me
Entranced by a land full of flowers and song
I am enchanted by a place that is adorned with beautiful flowers and filled with music and culture
When day is done and the sun touch the sea in Granada
As the sun sets over the sea in Granada in the evening
I envy the blush of the snow-clad Tierra Novada
I am envious of the snow-capped mountains that turn a beautiful shade of pink during sunset
Soon it will welcome the stars
The nighttime sky will soon become visible and fill the city with stars
While a thousand guitars play a soft carbinera
The sound of many guitars playing a gentle and romantic song fills the air
Then moonlit Granada will live again
The city will come alive once more in the light of the moon, highlighting its beauty and history
The glory of yesterday, romantic and gay
The past grandeur of Granada is filled with romantic and joyful memories
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ISAAC ALBENIZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind