The Music Makes the History
By: Madison Ford-McKnight
What is the "norm" of Black History?
Black History Month has always been the same run around, talking about the basic people that we have been learning about since third grade: Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Fredrick Douglass. But have we ever thought about focusing on the people who are in our everyday lives and have done extraordinary things as well? I want to talk about my grandfather, Joe Ford. He has lived through some amazing times and still is to this day. He has helped society and his communities , and I want to shine light on that. My grandfather is a famous, multi-talented, jazz musician who worked ever since he was little to show that there is more to his history than just the basics. According to History.com, black history month “is an annual celebration of achievements, and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S History.” Yes, we grew out of the event which used to be “Negro History Week,” and we received a month, but we always only talk about the same people or things. I want to show that first, we need to talk about more people who have affected our personal history.
Meet the Artist
Let me introduce you to my grandfather, Joe Ford, a musician, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Buffalo, New York, this man, who I am grateful to call my family, was always surrounded by music. He began to play the piano at the age of seven and switched to the saxophone and other instruments at 11.
While in high school and attending college as a music major, he perfected his craft to be something that could take him far. Throughout these years he performed with campus groups, guest performers, and local funk bands. In an interview with him he stated, “All the styles I grew up with and have played professionally, funk, gospel, classical, avant-garde and jazz, are within me. Though I've been playing professionally for many years, every note I play is brand new, providing a current overview of what I'm about at the present time." Graduating from Central State University, he returned to Buffalo where he taught music and directed the school band/chorus. Throughout that time he still made appearances with local groups and even backed up touring acts like The Miracles. He stopped teaching and ended up touring with a top 40 band, he was originally hired as a pianist. After eagerly accepting the invitation to join the McCoy Tyner Quartet, he relocated to New York City, and has since established himself as one of the strongest independent voices in Jazz. Since then he has appeared on over 80 albums, and his work has been witnessed at over 300 venues across the world. This amazing man who has shaped this genre of music has played on two Grammy winning albums and three Grammy nominated albums. As a member of the Fort Apache Band and others, he helped these groups become winners of the Downbeat Critic’s Poll Award, The World Beat Group Readers Poll Award, a New York Jazz Award, multiple Playboy Jazz Poll awards, The Seagrams Jazz Talent Search, and a Jazz Journalist Award. Ford's legacy was later solidified and acknowledged greatly in 2004 when he was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Throughout my grandfather's vibrant career, he continually reached new audiences in the best way possible. His heartfelt, intensely performed music gives people a feeling of warmth that changes communities. He is someone that I respect greatly in Black History, not only because it is my history but because he is someone that shaped me to love where I come from.