Brownie Ford

Known not solely as a country performer, Thomas Edison "Brownie" Ford embodied the spirit of a cowboy balladeer whose extensive song collection drew directly from his time working as a ranch hand and rodeo rider. Born in 1904 in Gum Springs, OK, he traced his roots to both Comanche and Anglo-American heritage. Baton Rouge claimed the bulk of his years before he eventually made his home amid the rural landscapes of Hebert in Caldwell Parish. In addition to his musical pursuits, Ford engaged in traditional folk crafts such as crafting cinches and bridles, while his talent for captivating narratives brought him recognition through a National Heritage Fellowship awarded in 1987. The sole recording capturing his contributions, Stories From Mountains, Swamps and Honky-Tonks, appeared in 1990 via Flying Fish Records; it blended raw field captures with polished studio sessions featuring accompaniment from D.L. Menard and David Doucet.