"Lady" Esther Ford formerly of Philadelphia and Bucks County Pennsylvania

"Lady" Esther Ford's musical career began at the early age of five. She was billed as the "Child Wonder Gospel Singer" and she toured with her maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Edgar Haywood of Charles County, Maryland on the Southern Maryland revival circuit.

In 1957, she was contacted by Madam Gertrude Ward to became a member of the world famous Clara Ward Singers of Philadelphia, PA. Albertina Walker of the famous Caravans also contacted her during that same week, Lady Esther sent her musician Professor Leroy Dulley to the Caravans and she joined the Ward Singers. Lady Esther did several recordings with the Ward singers the first was,"LIVE AT TOWN HALL NEW YORK CITY" while still in the Ward singers she was asked by Marion Williams to sing with her on her very first recordingd which she did.

In September 1958 Marion Williams,Frances Steadman,Kitty Parham and Esther Ford resigned from the Ward singers.They contacted Mrs Henrietta Waddy who had previously resigned and formed the "Stars of Faith"their first recording a single"Lord This Is A Mean Old World" featured Lady Esther and Frances Steadman and the flip side "When I Lay This Body Down" featured Marion Williams and Lady Esther. The Stars were featured in Langston Hughes play"Black Nativity"and toured Europe with it as well as the USA.

Lady Esther resigned from the group to organize her repetoire theatre company.Wrote and directed several plays one of which was "This Is Our Heritage was the first Gospel Play ever performed at Town Hall In Philadelphia Pensylvania. Her play" Crossroads of life"was performed in Europe also.

Lady Esther also appeared at New York City's famed" RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL" with the Willa Ward Singers in the Marc Platt Production"The Gospel Truth"as a featured singer for a total of eight weeks.

Lady Esther recorded her first solo album "Profiles of a Great Lady" on Nashboro Label and in 1964 she recorded her group The Exodus Singers on the Savoy Gospel Label.The Exodus singers Were the first intergrated female gospel group ever to record in America.

Lady Esther moved to bucks county pennsylvania in the late 60's and realized that the teens in that area needed an outlet so she organized,The Esther Ford Christian Youth Movement.The young people that could sing she formed a choir and gave the others different projects with in the movement,she bought time on W B U X for her radio show The Gospel Train which she allowed each one to co host.The Youth choir did concerts up and down the east coast.

In the early 80's Lady Esther returned to the Stars of Faith and did several recordings and six european tours and booked an African tour for the group. One of her cherished moments was with The Stars of Faith in a concert at the vatican for Pope Paul who was moved by her rendition of "Come Ye Disconsolate".which is many of the songs recorded by Lady Esther. There are many more things I could say about past accomplishments.

In the year of 2000 she recorded:Old Fashioned Gospel In The New Millennium.This cd features Vintage Gospel,Hymns of the Church and songs from her mothers era.

The familiarity you feel as you listen and watch Lady Esther is because you may have witnessed her through the years. Maybe it was her performance at World Renown Radio City Music Hall in New York Citywith the "Willa Ward Singers or view her historically via satellite when she was being presented to Pope Paul IV or the Queen of England with the "Stars of Faith" singers.

In 2007 and 2008 lady Esther Ford has dedicated her tours in the United States and Europe to the memory of the late Clara Ward ,and all of the great vintage gospel pioneers who have gone on to be with the lord . Her concert appearances include those in Germany and her tour of Spain and throughout the United States with the Esther Ford Concert Ensemble or solo with her musician of over 40 years the fantastic Maestro Barry Leroux Currington who is also the minister of music for the famed"Mother Bethel AME church in Philadelphia Pa.

However you have come to know Lady Esther, there's no doubt that it is her God given, natural abilities that have propelled her and continues to propel her to excellence in so many different fields. Her vast repetoire includes all types of sacred music. Lady Esther is truly a blessed woman of God. She is still performing with the same vigor and agility she has had for over seventy years.Her voice is still in mint condition for which she gives God the glory.

In early 2009 Lady Esther was honored at the Notre Dame college in Baltimore Maryland for her seventy three year contribution to gospel music. Lady Esther was one of those who paved the way for our artist of today,The road was not easy when she use to tour here in the united states during the fifties and the JD Fowler productions did a magnificent job of making her contributions known to the over capacity crowd which inspired her to get back into the race.

Lady Esther is currently in the studio doing a new album of old favorites which will be released this fall, featuring some members of her current  vintage gospel group of seasoned gospel singers. Rev.Harriett Noakes of Baltimore Maryland  who is a gospel legend in her own right is featured along with other dynamic singers. In the meantime we invite you to listen to the songs we have provided on this page for your pleasure. Some are recordings of songs from albums she had released previously and several are from live performances this year.

Thanks