Albert Einstein is reported to have said,”If I were not a physicist I would probably be a musician”. He claimed he often thought “in music”. I bet he and John Coltrane would have made some interesting music together. Or maybe they did? A 103 year old wiseman told me that what matters most about life is the impact one leaves behind. Einstein came into this world very near the turn of a century – 1879 – Coltrane – 1926 – and both pursued ways to elevate their ability to express life through physics and music. For Coltrane and perhaps Einstein it became a spiritual journey.
The turn of the century saw many who would have a profound impact on how I express myself musically. For me there was Duke Ellington, Thomas Dorsey , Louis Armstrong and Langston Hughes; just a few seeds from a full tree. Each sprout germinating creating edible fruit. All born between 1899 and 1901. The next quarter of a century’s fruit bore John Coltrane joined by the likes of Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, Patricia Walton, Hazel Scott, Sun Ra and Jack McDuff giving substance and breathe to what we’ve come to call Blues, Gospel, Swing, Jazz. . . .
My musical journey became impacted in unexpected ways by artists born between 1925 and 1950. E. Kojo Samuels, Abdullah Ibrahim, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela all born in Africa were joined by Nina Simone, Marcus Belgrave, Sylvia Moy, Jimi Hendricks and Gil Scott Heron and many more taught the true value of music and our responsibility to continue to encourage and protect the highest standards through our freedom of expression and performance.
I came into this world on the 20th day of January 1952. My oldest memories are the feel of my Uncle’s store front church in Detroit; the rhythm of my “Big Ma’s” lap, the stomping, the clapping and the voices. Memories of a time before I could speak or understand words. I remember the feel – the spirit of the place.
Today I am the sum of the past, present and future artist voices; those who have influenced me and those I have been a part of influencing. They include painters, poets, dancers and spoken word artists, vocalists and projectionist. We are artists who strive to produce music and performance that is good fruit. “You will know them by their fruits” Mathew 7:16.
Rene Ford Performance Artist 