Michael Ford

Known firstly as the other half of Boynton/Ford, the songwriting team and creators of 4 best selling CD's for children and family, 3 gold records and one (Philadelphia Chickens) almost platinum, Michael Ford is a seasoned pianist who performs his own original music like a storyteller who delights in describing something new, but in a language everyone understands.

Pianist, composer, arranger, recording artist, music producer and film score composer, Michael Ford began studying the piano at the age of 4, and performed his first public concert at age 6. He made his debut as soloist with a symphony orchestra at 14. He studied piano with Ralph Kemmerer, Eleanor Sokoloff and Susan Starr. He studied composition with Romeo Cascarino and Theodore Antonio, and electronic music with Andrew Rudin. He also played many kinds of rock music on many kinds of keyboards in many kinds of groups, finding a particular interest in the British progressive "Art Rock" genre.
In the '80's, he toured as pianist for the Paul Taylor Dance Company and performed both as soloist and with the orchestra in their Broadway seasons. He recorded the two piano version of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" with Don York, music director of the Paul Taylor Company for PBS "Dance in America" series as well as "Great Performances" for the Joffrey Ballet.
After exploring many more worlds of music such as jazz, blues, folk, and the avant-garde, and performing extensively with various ensembles, he became an independent recording artist/composer. He has developed a compositional style that draws on these influences but is rooted in a classical aesthetic that stems from his dedication to the piano.
At the same time he developed an expertise in computer assisted electronic music, creating music in many styles and formats for keyboard synthesizer companies as well as soundtracks for film and video. This led to "Keyboard Magazine" awarding him high honors for a recording of his composition for piano and electronic orchestra in 1992. In the summer of 1993 he performed at Lincoln Center using his electronic keyboards with fellow recording artist/composer John Greenland.
In 1995-1996 he co-wrote a musical based on the life of Harry Houdini with composer/lyicist Carl Kusnell.
In 1996 he collaborated with children's book author, lyricist and illustrator, Sandra Boynton, creating a collection of children's songs entitiled "Rhinoceros Tap" in the form of a book/cassette for Workman Publishing Co.
Their next children’s book/CD entitled “Philadelphia Chickens” released in 2002 was Grammy nominated and was on the New York Times best-seller list for close to a year It featured Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Laura Linney, Kevin Bacon, Eric Stoltz, Patti LuPone, Natasha Ritchardson, Scott Bakula and many others each singing an original song. Like “Rhinoceros Tap”, he co-wrote, arranged and performed all of the music as well as co-directed and engineered the recordings.
Their next collaboration in 2005, entitled “Dog Train” included Alison Krauss, Blues Traveler Hootie & the Blowfish, John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting, The Bacon Brothers with Mickey Hart, Kate Winslet & “Weird Al” Yankovic, Mark Lanegan, Rob Hyman & Eric Bazilian of The Hooters, Spin Doctors as well as Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme.
2007 saw the release of a fourth Boynton/Ford book/CD – Blue Moo, Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never which featured B.B. King, Brian Wilson, Neil Sedaka, Davy Jones, Sha Na Na, Bobby Vee, Gerry & the Pacemakers, and others.
2008 brought the release of a solo piano CD entitled Simple Truth as well as a re-release of two CD’s – Dream of the Wind and Music of Perpetual Motion.
Currently, he has been collaborating with singer Beth Andrien creating a collection of extended songs for upcoming CD’s.