Frankie Ford: The Voice Behind ‘Sea Cruise’
Frankie Ford (August 4, 1939 – September 28, 2015) was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer. He is best known for his 1959 hit “Sea Cruise”, which became a million-selling gold record.
Early Life and Education
Ford was born Vincent Francis Guzzo, Jr., in Gretna, Louisiana, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. He was the adopted son of Vincent and Anna Guzzo. He learned to sing and dance at an early age, and while in high school joined a group called the Syncopators, where he performed as singer and pianist.
Career and Achievements
Manager Joe Caronna spotted Ford and brought 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 “Sea Cruise”, a song originally written and recorded by Huey “Piano” Smith and his group, the Clowns. Since Smith already had a record in the charts and was away touring, the label released Ford’s version instead, which rose to No. 14 on the US pop chart and No. 11 on the R&B chart, selling over one million copies and earning gold disc status.
Ford toured widely across the US, but his subsequent recordings achieved less commercial success. His versions of “Alimony” and “Time After Time” reached only 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 the album “Let’s Take A Sea Cruise With Frankie Ford” before Ford moved to Imperial Records in late 1960. Working with producer Dave Bartholomew, he released a version of “You Talk Too Much”, but it was overshadowed by a competing version by Joe Jones released almost simultaneously. In 1961, his rendition of Boyd Bennett’s 1955 hit “Seventeen” became his last chart entry.
Ford was drafted in 1962 and performed for troops in Japan, Vietnam, and Korea. After his military service, he recorded occasionally for small labels and primarily performed in clubs around New Orleans. He appeared in the 1978 film “American Hot Wax” and toured in Britain and Europe. In 1984, he recorded the album “New Orleans Dynamo” in London. Ford co-owned the Briarmeade record label, which issued several of his singles and albums from the 1970s through the 2000s, and he continued recording and performing through the 1990s.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ford made his first recordings for Ace Records in 1958. The release of “Sea Cruise” in 1958 became the defining moment of his career, achieving platinum sales status. On May 16, 2010, Ford was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame at the Louisiana Music Homecoming in Erwinville.
Awards and Honors
Ford received a gold disc for “Sea Cruise”, which sold over one million copies. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame on May 16, 2010.
Additional Resources
Frankie Ford’s legacy as a rock and roll pioneer remains documented in music archives and biographical resources. Readers interested in learning more about his life, recordings, and influence on early rock and rhythm and blues can find additional information through Wikipedia and other music history databases.
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