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Dean Ford

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  • Comment: Can't find any substantial coverage about him. I'm leaning towards non-notable. FoCuS contribs; talk to me! 03:14, 10 November 2015 (UTC)
  • Comment: There is still much in this article that is unsourced. You need to have independent sources for every statement of fact in the article. If there are facts that you cannot source you need to remove them from the article. LaMona (talk) 21:17, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
  • Comment: There are still many paragraphs without inline citations. Read WP:ILC and WP:MINREF for more information about how to create inline citations and where they are required. Thanks, /wia /tlk 16:02, 8 November 2015 (UTC)

Dean Ford
Dean Ford (center) & the Gaylords, 1964
Dean Ford (center) & the Gaylords, 1964
Background information
Birth nameThomas McAleese
Born (1946-09-05) September 5, 1946 (age 78)
OriginCoatbridge, North Lanarkshire
GenresPop, Rock
Occupation(s)Singer, Songwriter
Years active1963–present
LabelsEMI Columbia, CBS, Decca, EMI

Dean Ford (born Thomas McAleese on September 5, 1946) is a Scottish singer and songwriter best known for his tenure as lead vocalist and frontman of the beat pop group Marmalade from 1966 to 1974. Ford (credited as McAleese) co-wrote the group's worldwide hit "Reflections of My Life" with fellow band member Junior Campbell.[1] Reflections of My Life has sold in excess of two million units globally and in 1998 the writers were awarded a Special Citation of Achievement by BMI for attaining radio broadcast performances in excess of one million in the U.S. alone.[2]

As a young boy, he began singing in public accompanying a jazz ensemble at the local Whifflet parish church dance hall. By the age of thirteen he had formed his first musical group The Tonebeats, one of several he hooked up with during his teenage years.[3] By the time he left school at age 15, he had been gaining more exposure as a featured singer. His break came after a performance with the Monarchs at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow in 1963, where he was seen by members of the popular east Glasgow band The Gaylords and subsequently invited to join the group.[3]

Shortly thereafter, McAleese adopted his stage name and The Gaylords were re-christened Dean Ford and the Gaylords. With hopes of achieving more commercial success, Ford and the band relocated to London in 1966. Two years later, the newly named Marmalade, with Ford as lead singer, became the first Scottish band to score a number-one hit song on the U.K. pop singles chart.[4] Aside from his lead vocal duties, Ford expanded his songwriting credits and added instrumental support on harmonica and tambourine. His singing style was distinctive in its use of melisma. On stage he developed the trademark of singing both the lead and back-up harmony vocal lines.

With the dissolution of the original Marmalade, Ford embarked on a solo career and released a self-titled LP in 1975, produced by Alan Parsons.[5] His collaboration with Parsons extended to a guest vocal appearance on Parsons' 1978 Pyramid album. Ford also recorded one-off tracks with former Marmalade band member Hugh Nicholson.[6]

Ford moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s, and, aside from playing small clubs as a solo act, essentially dropped out of the organized music business.[7] He did not completely sever ties with his musical contemporaries: in 2003 he teamed up with a revamped The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, participating in an album tribute by well-known Scottish musicians to Glaswegian Frankie Miller, a fellow artist recovering from a brain hemorrhage. [8] His most recent collaboration was with former Badfinger guitarist Joe Tansin in 2012.

With the support of crowdfunding, Ford recently began production in Los Angeles of a second solo album of original material.[9]

Discography

  • Dean Ford
  • Radio Heart/Let It Rain

Notable Songwriting Credits

Year Song Author Chart Position
1967 I See the Rain Campbell-McAleese #23 Netherlands
1969 Reflections of My Life Campbell-McAleese #3 UK, #7 US-Cashbox, #10 US, #21 US-AC
1970 Rainbow Campbell-McAleese #3 UK, #7 US-AC, #51 US
1971 My Little One Campbell-McAleese #15 UK, #31 US-AC, #123 US

References

  1. ^ "Reflections of My Life (legal title)". repertoire.bmi.com. Broadcast Music, inc. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  2. ^ "The Marmalade". www.carlinmusic.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ a b Gray, Andy (February 8, 1969), Dean Ford: He's the Quiet Tornado, New Musical Express, No. 1152, p. 12{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Marmalade". Allmusic.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "Dean Ford". hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Dean Ford". www.ncorps.eu. NB Music (GB). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  7. ^ Grehan, Ellen (November 15, 1998), My Name is Dean Ford, Glasgow: Sunday Mail, retrieved November 8, 2015{{citation}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ Kielty, Martin (2004). SAHB Story: The Tale of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Neil Wilson Publishing LTD. p. 165-167. ISBN 978-1-906476-76-2.
  9. ^ "Dean Ford". pledgemusic.com. Retrieved 9 November 2015.

Category:Scottish musicians Category:composers Category:singers