Frankie Ford (August 4, 1939 – September 28, 2015), was an American rock an… Read Full Bio ↴Frankie Ford (August 4, 1939 – September 28, 2015), was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer, best known for his 1959 hit "Sea Cruise".
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.
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.
Whiskey Heaven
Frankie Ford Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Whiskey Heaven' by these artists:
Fats Domino Every afternoon when I wake up I say a little prayer…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Frankie Ford:
A Certain Girl There's a certain girl I've been in love with a…
Alimony The monkey was arrested for the nonsupport He sent for his…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be li…
I Wanna Walk You Home I want to walk you home, please let me walk…
Roberta I ain't mad at you Don't you be mad at me I…
Sea Cruises …
Sick And Tired Oh baby, whatcha gonna do Oh baby, whatcha gonna do I'm si…
st. louis blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
St.Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down I hate…
Time After Time Time after time I tell myself that i'm So lucky to be…
White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones…
You Talk Too Much You talk too much, you worry me to death, You talk…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@MudcatBlues
We played this with him at an event in Ticono, Switzerland at a posh resort above Lake Lugano. He was SUCH a hoot! WE were laughing too hard to play almost! The police arrived and he wooed them too! GREAT ARTIST!
@HallowedForever
I saw Frankie Ford at jazzfest a few years back. He said, "This song is about all my money." And he played the old country song "Gone."
@EdwardFischer54
Hi Friend! Frankie Ford was one of my all time Great Artist, We all will miss him. Thanks and God Bless.. R.I.P Frankie
@Johnnycdrums
Nice smooth “triplet walk”.
@saguarosamsrecordroundup8660
The Liberace of Rock n Roll!
@texasred777
Great! Never heard anyone else sing this except Fats. Thanks for posting!!!
@johnastrup1549
Frankie Ford -Fats Domino.Missing.The music lives on.Great performance. By FRANKIE FORD, Singer ,Showman and Musician. ✊👏🎹🎤🎷
@Dickneeds
Sat with Frankie at the Surf Ballroon in Clear Lake. What a great. We had a few beers until the ballroom lady in charge through us out for no reason. She was very mean. Frankie was a great guy. RIP Frankie from a friend.
@jtm0071
Frankie was the best! Huge talent!
@Johnnycdrums
He was an institution down there.
Frankie Ford (RIP).