Earlston Valentino Ford

“Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away”

Earlston passed peacefully from this life the morning of November 12th after a gradual decline in health at the Future Care Rehabilitation Center, Landover MD. Earlston was born to the late James G. and Mary M. Ford on April 26, 1932. Earlston was one of nine children and was educated in the DC school system; attending Van Ness Elementary, Randall Junior High, and Dunbar Senior High Schools.

Earlston joined the United States Army in 1950, serving in the Korean War during his three-year enlistment. In 1953, after leaving the Army, he became a singer joining the group called “The Warblers.” In 1954, the Warblers appeared on “The Capital Caravan Show” on WTTG TV Channel Five. Leaving the group in 1957, Earlston signed a contract with Mercury Records as a recording artist, releasing his first records titled “It’s Over” and “Please Do Something For Me.” Also known as Rudy McPhatter, he shared stages with artists such as Ruth Brown, Roy Hamilton, Fats Domino, Redd Foxx, Sam Cooke, Della Reese, Dinah Washington, The Five Keys, The Drifters, and many more.

In 1975, Earlston returned to his childhood roots and rededicated his life to Christ, ending his R & B career, but that didn’t end his singing career. Instead, he formed a group called “The Ford Singers,” under his given name of Earlston Ford. The group included his sister Shirley Ford Fields, Singer Pat Lassitter, guitarists Curtis Lassitter and Alfonso Riley, bass player Wade Sigler, and Earlston’s son, Rudy, who played the xylophone. Earlston and the group first album was released in 1975 on Glori Records. Some of his biggest hits included “Before Your Life Is Too Far Gone,” “I Feel Like Travelin On,” “I’m Not Tired Yet,” “I Can Tell It Was The Lord,” and “Jesus Never Fails.”

The Ford Singers recorded nine albums. They shared stages with Shirley Ceaser, James Cleveland, The Five Blind Boys, The Wiliam Brothers, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dorothy Norwood, and many other great gospel artists.

In 1955 he met and married Shirley Byrd. They were married for 46 years before she went home to the Lord in 2001. Earlston was preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings and his wife. He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter Sabrina Roberts, sons Earlston Ford II, Clinton Ford (Catherine), and Elder Rudy Ford (Vonner): 13 grandchildren: 21 great-grandchildren: and 5 great great grandchildren: a host of nieces, nephews,

other relatives and friends.