Philadelphia, PA (Tehillah Enterprises Public Relations) - Steven Ford, famed producer, songwriter, conductor, orchestrator, arranger, and keyboardist, is known as one of the top producers of gospel music. Consistently considered one of the industry's most sought-after producers, Ford has produced gospel's most notable artists including Bishop T.D. Jakes, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Vickie Winans,
Donnie McClurkin & The McClurkin Family, The Winans, Shirley Caesar, Maurette Brown-Clark, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, The Williams Brothers, Alvin Slaughter, John P. Kee,
Vanessa Williams, and Pastor Bruce Parham.
In the last few weeks, Ford's blistering schedule has had him in studios producing coast to coast. In one day, he was in Alameda, CA, at Infinite Recording Studios recording Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins, Edwin & Lynette Hawkins, then it was on to Los Angeles at the world famous Ocean Way studios recording Chaka Khan, then on to New York to the hit making studio, Right Tracks in Manhattan, to record Kelly Price, then completing arrangements orchestration, then off to Nashville, Atlanta, Chicago, then back to his production suite at Sparkle Studios in Delaware.
Ford has just completed a feat few, if any, have done in the genre of sacred music – he's produced three of projects by the top names in gospel, all releasing within weeks of each other.
Affectionately titled 'The Pastor Of Music', the two-time GRAMMY Award winner is no stranger to commendations. Ford has just come off the heels of a 2006 Gospel Music Workshop of America Gospel Announcers Guild Nomination for Producer Of The Year. The awards ceremony was held on Friday, August 18th, as part of the annual convention in Dallas, Texas. Ford was in great company with fellow nominees, producers Donald Lawrence, Sanchez Harley and Pastor Bruce Allen also being nominated in the prestigious category. Producer/Songwriter Donald Lawrence walked away with this year's award. Ford says, 'Although it was great to be nominated, it was definitely Donald's year. I'm happy for him; he certainly deserved to win.'
For the past few months, he has been working feverishly in the studio for some of gospel music's top artists. Gospel's Hardest Working Woman, Vickie Winans, who just debuted at No 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for her double CD, Woman To Woman: Songs Of Life, tapped Ford to help produce the live portions of the phenomenal 30-song CD. The project moved an astounding 25,000 units during its first week of release.
In addition, Ford is putting the finishing touches on two highly-anticipated projects from maestro Richard Smallwood and praise and worship icon Stephen Hurd. Smallwood's upcoming release, Journey, features the legends of gospel including The Hawkins Family, The Clark Sisters, The Smallwood Singers, and mainstream singers Kelly Price, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack. Recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City last year, the Verity Records recording artist's live cuts were recorded to a packed house. Smallwood is scheduled to drop the first single around September 26th.
The following week, October 3rd, Stephen Hurd, Integrity Gospel's recording artist, will be dropping his sophomore offering. Ford served as the producer and musical director of the live recording entitled My Destiny: I Know What I'm Here For. The live recording took place in Washington, D.C. and features Stellar Award winners Jonathan Nelson and Maurette Brown Clark. Ford, known for his dynamic live productions, believes his recent works are some of the best of his career.
Receiving a staggering 2 Grammy Awards, 10 Grammy Nominations, 5 Dove Awards, and 10 Stellar Awards, he's one of the most celebrated producers in the business. Unbelievably, his start as a gospel musician came at the age of 9 when he became the church musician for his father's church. After a Bible study and a supernatural experience, he was immediately touched with a talent for music. The experience gave him what he calls 'instant musical recall' and was beginning of a powerful music ministry.
With a strong desire to share the lessons he's learned from the decades in music ministry, Ford penned a book called 'Can I Take Your Order?', an insightful manuscript delving into the Levitical order outlined in scripture. The book focuses on the reason behind music ministry and clearly defines the purpose God has laid out for those who serve in the position of music minister. A worship clinician, Ford has been sharing jewels from the book with ministers of music across the country and welcomes more opportunities to do so.
Ford has just signed a deal with Zur Ltd., to launch his own distribution network company which places his product in the nationwide Family Bookstore chains, as well as other Christian retail stores. Ford is also CEO of the S. Ford Music Productions and the musical consultant of the music department's at The Redeemed Church in Baltimore, Maryland and The Ford Memorial Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
