Michael C. Ford
Encyclopedia
Michael C. Ford is a poet, playwright, editor and recording artist.
toward the end of World War II
. Between 1974 and 1977 he co-edited a prose/poetry journal called The Sunset Palms Hotel. He also edited two anthology projects The Mount Alverno (Peace Press, 1971) and Foreign Exchange (Biographies, 1979).
He was greatly influenced by Poet Kenneth Patchen
in terms of integrating the spoken words with Jazz
. Ford has done collaborative recordings with members of The Doors
drummer John Densmore
and pianist & keyboardist Ray Manzarek
. He also has done collaborative recording with Trombonist Julian Priester
. His debut spoken word record Language Commando earned a Grammy nomination in 1986.
His first reading of his poetry occurred at a Fund Raiser for Norman Mailer
's run for Mayor of New York in 1969 with Jim Morrison
lead singer The Doors
and poets Jack Hirschman
, Michael McClure
& several Andy Warhol
"Factory workers"
, Dorothy McGuire
to legendary jazzmen such as Charlie Parker
and Charles Mingus
. His work conjures and preserves the ambience of woebegone days of Los Angeles neglected regions and landmarks from the Pacific Northwest to the shores of Lake Michigan, marking passages of time in America. Many of Ford's poetic narrations especially accompanied by former Doors] drummer John Densmore
would trace the roots of American music, mainly hardcore jazz.
Bio
Ford (born December 13, 1939) in Chicago, Illinois and moved with his parents to Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
toward the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Between 1974 and 1977 he co-edited a prose/poetry journal called The Sunset Palms Hotel. He also edited two anthology projects The Mount Alverno (Peace Press, 1971) and Foreign Exchange (Biographies, 1979).
He was greatly influenced by Poet Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen
Kenneth Patchen was an American poet and novelist. Though he denied any direct connection, Patchen's work and ideas regarding the role of artists paralleled those of the Dadaists, the Beats, and Surrealists...
in terms of integrating the spoken words with Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Ford has done collaborative recordings with members of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
drummer John Densmore
John Densmore
John Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
and pianist & keyboardist Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
. He also has done collaborative recording with Trombonist Julian Priester
Julian Priester
Julian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
. His debut spoken word record Language Commando earned a Grammy nomination in 1986.
His first reading of his poetry occurred at a Fund Raiser for Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
's run for Mayor of New York in 1969 with Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
lead singer The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and poets Jack Hirschman
Jack Hirschman
Jack Hirschman is an American poet and social activist who has written more than 50 volumes of poetry and essays.-Biography:...
, Michael McClure
Michael McClure
Michael McClure is an American poet, playwright, songwriter, and novelist. After moving to San Francisco as a young man, he found fame as one of the five poets who read at the famous San Francisco Six Gallery reading in 1955 rendered in barely fictionalized terms in Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums...
& several Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
"Factory workers"
Styles & Poetics
The motif of many of Ford's works be it collaborative cd recordings or written poetry, he resurrects iconic figures ranging from such as actreses Susan HaywardSusan Hayward
Susan Hayward was an American actress.After working as a fashion model in New York, Hayward travelled to Hollywood in 1937 when open auditions were held for the leading role in Gone with the Wind . Although she was not selected, she secured a film contract, and played several small supporting...
, Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy McGuire
Dorothy Hackett McGuire was an American actress.-Career:Born in Omaha, Nebraska, she began her acting career on the stage at the Omaha Community Playhouse...
to legendary jazzmen such as Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
and Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus Jr. was an American jazz musician, composer, bandleader, and civil rights activist.Mingus's compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music...
. His work conjures and preserves the ambience of woebegone days of Los Angeles neglected regions and landmarks from the Pacific Northwest to the shores of Lake Michigan, marking passages of time in America. Many of Ford's poetic narrations especially accompanied by former Doors] drummer John Densmore
John Densmore
John Paul Densmore is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the drummer of the rock group The Doors.-Early life and The Doors:Born in Los Angeles, Densmore attended Santa Monica City College and Cal...
would trace the roots of American music, mainly hardcore jazz.
Poetry
- Stuttering in the Starlight, 1970
- There's a Beast in my Garden, 1971
- Sheet Music, Anacapa Press, 1972
- Lacerations in a Broom Closet, Seeing I Press, 1974
- Lawn Swing Poems, Snowville Press, 1975
- Rounding Third, 1976
- Westpoint, Biographics, 1977
- Sleepless Night in a Soundproof Motel, Mudborn Press, 1978
- Prologue To An Interview With Leonard Cohen, Image Graphics, 1979
- Twice, 1980
- The World is a Suburb of Los Angeles, Momentum Press, 1981
- Sloe Speed, Biographics, 1984
- Ladies Above Suspicion, Illuminati, 1987
- Cottonwood Tract, Amaranth Editions, 1996
- Emergency Exits (Selected Poems 1970-1995), Amaranth Editions, 1998
- Nursery Rhyme Assassin, Inevitable Press, 2000
- To Kiss The Blood Off Our Hands, Ion Drive Publishing, 2007
- The Marilyn Monroe Concerto, Ion Drive Publishing, 2008
- The Demented Chauffer & Other Mysteries, Ion Drive Publishing, 2009
Recordings & CDs
- Language Commando, SST, 1986
- Motel Cafe, Blue Yonder Sounds, 1988
- Fire Escapes, New Alliance Records, 1995
- The Los Angeles Bards (9 Poets Take A Swing at the National Pastime), Hen House Studios, 2002 (compilation)
- Hen House Studios Anthology Volume 2 with Jazz Fiction 2002
- Hen House Studios Anthology Volume 4 with Ray ManzarekRay ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
2004