Thomas Edison "Brownie" Ford was more than just a country singer, he was a cowboy balladeer with a vast repertoire based on his personal experience as a ranch hand and rodeo rider. He was born in 1904 in Gum Springs, OK, of Comanche and Anglo-American ancestry. He spent most of his life in Baton Rouge and later settled in the countryside of Hebert in Caldwell Parish. Ford practiced folk craft traditions like making cinches and bridles, and was well-known for his engaging storytelling ability, which earned him a National Heritage Fellowship in 1987. His legacy has been preserved on the lone album Stories From Mountains, Swamps and Honky-Tonks. Released in 1990 on Flying Fish Records, it was a combination of primitive field recordings and professional studio recording accompanied by D.L. Menard and David Doucet. ~ Al Campbell, Rovi
