"Lady" Esther Ford formerly of Philadelphia and Bucks County Pennsylvania
"Lady" Esther Ford's musical career began at the early age of five. She was billed as the "Child Wonder Gospel Singer" and toured with her maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Edgar Haywood of Charles County, Maryland on the Southern Maryland revival circuit.
In 1957, Lady Esther was contacted by Madam Gertrude Ward to became a member of the world famous Clara Ward Singers of Philadelphia, Pa. Albertina Walker of the famous Caravans also contacted her during that same week, Lady Esther sent her musician Professor Leroy Dulley to the Caravans and she joined the Ward Singers. Lady Esther did several recordings with the Ward singers the first was,"LIVE AT TOWN HALL NEW YORK CITY" while still in the Ward singers she was asked by Marion Williams to sing with her on her very first recordingd which she did.
In September 1958 Marion Williams,Frances Steadman,Kitty Parham and Esther Ford resigned from the Ward singers.They contacted Mrs Henrietta Waddy who had previously resigned and formed the "Stars of Faith"their first recording a single"Lord This Is A Mean Old World" featured Lady Esther and Frances Steadman and the flip side "When I Lay This Body Down" featured Marion Williams and Lady Esther. The Stars were featured in Langston Hughes play"Black Nativity"and toured Europe with it as well as the USA.
Lady Esther resigned from the group to organize her repetoire theatre company.Wrote and directed several plays one of which was "This Is Our Heritage was the first Gospel Play ever performed at Town Hall In Philadelphia Pensylvania. Her play" Crossroads of life"was performed in Europe also.
Lady Esther also appeared at New York City's famed" RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL" with the Willa Ward Singers in the Marc Platt Production"The Gospel Truth"as a featured singer performing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" for a total of eight weeks.
Lady Esther recorded her first solo album "Profiles of a Great Lady" on Nashboro Label and in 1964 she recorded her group The Exodus Singers on the Savoy Gospel Label.The Exodus singers Were the first intergrated female gospel group ever to record in America.
Lady Esther moved to Bucks County Pennsylvania in the late 70's and realized that the teens in that area needed an outlet so she organized,The Esther Ford Christian Youth Movement.The young people that could sing she formed a choir and gave the others different projects with in the movement,she bought time on W B U X for her radio show The Gospel Train which she allowed each one to Co Host.The Youth choir did concerts up and down the east coast.
In the early 80's Lady Esther returned to the Stars of Faith and did several recordings and six european tours and booked an African tour for the group. One of her cherished moments was with The Stars of Faith in a concert at the vatican for Pope Paul who was moved by her rendition of "Come Ye Disconsolate".which is many of the songs recorded by Lady Esther.
In the year of 2000 she recorded:Old Fashioned Gospel In The New Millennium.This CD features Vintage Gospel,Hymns of the Church and songs from her mothers era.
The familiarity you feel as you listen and watch Lady Esther is because you may have witnessed her through the years. Maybe it was her performance at World Renown Radio City Music Hall in New York Citywith the "Willa Ward Singers or view her historically via satellite when she was being presented to Pope Paul IV or the Queen of England with the "Stars of Faith" singers.
In 2007 and 2008 lady Esther Ford has dedicated her tours in the United States and Europe to the memory of the late Clara Ward ,and all of the great vintage gospel pioneers who have gone on to be with the lord . Her concert appearances include those in Germany, Spain and throughout the United States with the Esther Ford Concert Ensemble or solo with her musician of over 40 years the fantastic Maestro Barry Leroux Currington who is also the minister of music for the famed"Mother Bethel AME church in Philadelphia Pa.
However you have come to know Lady Esther, there's no doubt that it is her God given, natural abilities that have propelled her and continues to propel her to excellence in so many different fields.
Lady Esther is a Concert Artist and prefers to do full concerts because she has one of the most unique voices ever heard in religious music. A five Octave range which she gets an opportunity to use in concerts. and her vast repetoire includes: Inspirational , Patriotic Songs, Negro Spirituals,Hymns and her favorite Vintage gospel songs. Lady Esther is truly a blessed woman of God. She is still performing with the same vigor and agility she has had for over seventy years.Her voice is still in mint condition for which she gives God the glory,honor and praise.
In early 2009 Lady Esther was honored at the Notre Dame college in Baltimore Maryland for her seventy three year contribution to gospel music.Even though not in the "Main Stream Todays Gospel Scene" Lady Esther is one of the few female gospel artist left from what was called the "Golden Era Of Gospel"still performing who paved the way for our artist of today, The road was not easy when she use to tour here in the united states during the fifties and was not able to sleep in the hotels,eat in the restaurants or use the facilities in the gas station. Bishop JD Fowler productions did a magnificent job of making her contributions known to the over capacity crowd which inspired her to get back into the race and return to her first love"Singing To The Glory Of God"
Lady Esther has a new album of old favorites which will be released in early spring of 2010, featuring a supporting cast of some of the finest female vintage , seasoned gospel singers on the east coast.We will be featuring songs from this CD In her ongoing 2010 project:"BACK DOWN MEMORY LANE'" which will be featuring music from the golden era of gospel and old favorite hymns and songs from her childhood. This will be an on going event most third weekends of the coming months in 2010. Some Lady Esther music can be heard by following the link to myspace.com.
There are many more things I could say about the great accomplishments of Lady Esther Ford but I'm sure by now you will agree with me she is a legend in her own time.Thank you for visiting and we would be so happy if you would join friends,family and well wishers who have signed her guest book to let Lady Esther know they truly appreciate the great contributions she is still making by carrying the torch for those "Vintage Gospel Pioneers" who've gone on from labor to reward.
Glenston Laws - General Manager
Citadel Religious Productions