Saxophonist CLARENCE FORD dies at 64

[Eric LeBlanc-CISTI]

Stellar saxophonist CLARENCE FORD has died at the age of 64. Some of us
on BLUES-L will remember his playing on Earl King's 1976 Sonet album
(SONET 719 : THAT GOOD OLD NEW ORLEANS ROCK 'N' ROLL), though it's the late
David Lastie who has most of the solos. But, if you want to hear CLARENCE
FORD solos, check out the 1973 album BLUESWAY 6077 : Roosevlt Sykes - DIRTY
DOUBLE MOTHER (with his long time friend guitarist Justin Adams) and the
1977 SONET 752 / GNP 10023 : SNOOKS EAGLIN - DOWN YONDER (with Ellis Marsalis
on piano). He also appeared on albums by Little Sonny Jones (CSA, '75),
Dave "Fat Man" Williams (New Orleans Records, '74), Alvin Alcorn (New Orleans
Records,'75), Wallace Davenport (Shalom, '76), George Finola (Maison Bourbon,
'76), usually on clarinet. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

CLARENCE FORD was born Tuesday, December 3, 1929, New Orleans, LA., and
according to John Roven's book, "Walking to New Orleans", was a member of
the Eureka Brass Band (1945) and Wallace Davenport's Be-Bop Jockeys (1948).
By 1953 Dave Bartholmew began to call him for his productions at Imperial
Records, recording with The Hawks (1953/54), Faye Adams (1957), Roy Brown
(1957), Snooks Eaglin (1961) and Bobby Mitchell (1954-1957), including
Mitchell's wonderful 1956 R&B hit, "Try Rock 'n' Roll". CLARENCE FORD
also recorded with Guitar Slim (Specialty,'55), Shirley & Lee (Aladdin,'55)
and Amos Milburn (Aladdin,'56-57). By September 1955, he would join Fats
Domino and remained in his band until 1970, when a very serious accident
in Natchitoches, LA. killed bass guitarist Jimmy Davis, seriously injuring
himself & Buddy Hagens. You can hear his playing (mostly on baritone sax)
on such Fats Domino Top 5 R&B hits as "Poor Me"(1955), "Bo Weavil" (1956),
"I'm in love again" (1956), "My Blue Heaven" (1956), "Little Mary" (1958),
"Whole lotta of loving" (1958), "I want to walk you home" (1959), "Be my
guest" (1959), "Walking to New Orleans" (1960) and "Let the four winds blow"
(1961). The next time you see the 1958 movie "The Big Beat", CLARENCE FORD
is the 2nd sax player next to Domino. If you want more, check out BEAR
FAMILY BCD 15541 : FATS DOMINO - OUT OF NEW ORLEANS (8CD BOX), the one
definitive set of Dominio's Imperial Recordings. As he played on so many
records, I better stop now, except to say quickly that he also recorded
with Smiley Lewis, Herb Hardesty, Professor Longhair, Dave Bartholomew, etc.
and he's on Jessie Hill's 1959 mega hit "Ooh-poo-pah-doo"!

CLARENCE FORD died on Tuesday, August 9, 1994, New Orleans, LA.