The Les Paul Foundation Launches New Website Page Honoring Mary Ford on Her 99th Birthday

Recording Artist Best Known as One Half of the Les Paul & Mary Ford Duo is an Original Guitar Girl

New York, New York – (July 7, 2023) – The Les Paul Foundation has announced a new addition to the official Les Paul website at. https://www.les-paul.com/about-mary-ford-2/. Honoring Mary Ford on her 99th birthday, the Foundation has launched a comprehensive new page within the website celebrating recording artist and guitarist Mary Ford, best known for her hits alongside her husband and inventor Les Paul.

In the 1950s, Les Paul & Mary Ford were hitmakers. Between 1950 and 1954, the couple had sixteen top-ten hits including “How High the Moon” and “Vaya con Dios,” which were also number one hits on the Billboard charts. Many deem Mary Ford as an original female guitarist who set standards for many of the female artists who are recording today. Mary and Les were married and went on to perform other hits including “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” “Tiger Rag,” and “My Baby’s Comin Home” and others. The duo sold millions of records.  Ford, whose real name was Iris Colleen Summers, began her career as a vocalist. She took up the guitar in high school, got her first break in 1944 on the Jimmy Wakely Radio Show when she appeared with Gene Autry, later married Les Paul and the rest is history.

The new Mary Ford page on the official Les Paul website at www.les-paul.com entertains and educates. Sections include biographical information on the trailblazing female artist, classic videos of Les Paul & Mary Ford performing, rare photos from her personal and professional life and interesting information.  To access the page visit https://www.les-paul.com/about-mary-ford-2/. Guests can spend time watching exclusive videos while viewing vintage photos of Mary in both her personal life and professional career.

Mary Ford, a trailblazer in her own right, a hitmaker in the industry and a gifted musician who worked side-by-side with the one and only Les Paul would have been 99 years old on July 7, 2023. She left behind a legacy shared by Les Paul and a monumental example to all female guitarists and vocalists in the industry. Visitors to the website will understand Mary Ford’s huge influence.

For more information on Mary Ford please click here.

The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through the support of music education, recording, innovation and exhibits about Les Paul and medical research relating to curing tinnitus. Follow the Les Paul Foundation at https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLesPaul or https://www.instagram.com/lespaulofficial or https://www.twitter.com/LesPaulOfficial.