He was born in Gretna, Louisiana, as Vincent Francis Guzzo, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans, and was the adopted son of Vincent and Anna Guzzo, who named him Vincent Francis Guzzo, Jr. He learned to sing and dance at an early age, and when at high school joined a group, the Syncopators, as singer and pianist. He was spotted by manager Joe Caronna, who took him to Johnny Vincent of Ace Records. Taking the stage name Frankie Ford, he made his first recordings for Ace in 1958. He 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.. As Smith already had a record in the charts, and was away touring, the record label decided to release Ford's version, and it rose to #14 on the US pop chart and #11 on the R&B chart, selling over one million copies, and gaining gold disc status.
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. He also 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. Ace released an LP by Ford, Let's Take A Sea Cruise With Frankie Ford, before the singer moved to Imperial Records in late 1960. He 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. In 1961, his version of Boyd Bennett's 1955 hit "Seventeen" was Ford's last chart entry.
Ford was drafted in 1962, and performed for troops in Japan, Vietnam and Korea. He later recorded occasionally for small labels, but mainly performed in clubs in and around New Orleans. He appeared in the 1978 movie American Hot Wax, and toured in Britain and Europe, recording the album New Orleans Dynamo in London in 1984. He continued to record and perform through the 1990s. 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, Ford was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Ford died in Gretna at the age of 76 on September 28, 2015, following a long illness.
Time After Time
Frankie Ford Lyrics
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I tell myself that i'm
So lucky to be loving you
So lucky to be
The one you run to see
In the evening, when the day is through
The passing years will show
You've kept my love so young, so new
And time after time
You'll hear me say that i'm
So lucky to be loving you
Frankie Ford's "Time After Time" is a classic love song that expresses gratitude and amazement for the power of love. The song's lyrics highlight the singer's conviction that he is fortunate to be loving someone, and this joy is expressed repeatedly in the chorus, "Time after time, I tell myself that I'm so lucky to be loving you." The singer reflects on the fact that, despite the passing years, his love for his partner remains as strong as ever. He credits his partner with keeping his love "so young, so new."
The song's theme of cherishing love is universal and timeless, and it resonates with many listeners who identify with the idea of feeling lucky to be with the person they love. The repetition of "time after time" in the chorus emphasizes the enduring nature of true love, and the fact that it endures despite the challenges and changes that life brings. The singer's heartfelt delivery and the simple yet powerful melody combine to create a moving love song that has stood the test of time.
Overall, "Time After Time" is a beautiful and heartfelt love song that expresses deep gratitude for the power of love. The song's theme of cherishing love is universal and timeless, and it has resonated with generations of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Time after time
Over and over again, on a regular basis
I tell myself that i'm
I convince myself that I'm
So lucky to be loving you
Fortunate to love you
So lucky to be
So fortunate to be
The one you run to see
The person you come to meet
In the evening, when the day is through
During night time, after a busy day
I only know what I know
I am only aware of what I know
The passing years will show
The future will tell
You've kept my love so young, so new
You have preserved my love as young and fresh
And time after time
Continuously
You'll hear me say that i'm
I will repeatedly tell you that I am
So lucky to be loving you
Fortunate to love you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind