James “T-Model” Ford

The following interview took place on April 8, 2008, on the campus of Delta State University.

Hear audio clips from the interviews below.

Click here to download the entire transcript of the interview.

Student: What is your full name?
Ford: James Lewis Carter Ford. That’s my full name. My given name is T-Model Ford, the ladies man.

Student: What was your childhood like?
Ford: I picked cotton, hoed cotton, chopped corn, pulled corn, I done some of everything. I had to do it, or get a whooping.

Student: What inspired you to play music?
Ford: Well, I was 58 before I picked up a guitar. My fourth wife bought me a guitar and an amplifier and then we separated. That’s when I started to play guitar. I went in that evening and parked my truck. Went in there, by myself, didn’t have no woman then, and I got my guitar, plugged it in the wall—my amp, plugged my guitar—first turned my amplifier on, and I didn’t see nothing, and I’m thinking to myself this thing ain’t on. So I turned another button, turned another button, and the light jumped on, and I said ah-ha. Then I got the amp to my guitar, opened the cage and the little cord in there, plugged it in the amp, and plugged it in my guitar—wasn’t like this one (indicates the guitar he is holding). Sitting there by myself, I looked down on the side and plugged it in. There was a little switch on it and I switched it on—BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—I said ah-ha. That’s when I started playin—trying to play guitar. I knew Muddy Waters’ sound, and Howlin’ Wolf’s sound, and that’s what I started off trying. About a week I played, couldn’t read, but kept on messing with it and I learned how to walk these strings down here. Then I—I don’t really have a voice to sing—and I sang I wish I had my baby in my right arm. Then I knowed one of Howlin’ Wolf’s songs, and I started trying to play it. Going to the stairs, I’m gonna beg her for my clothes. Where I go, nobody knows.

Student: How did you learn to play the Blues?
Ford: Grabbed a guitar and went on to playing. Womens made me play anyhow.

Student: Do you play other types of music besides the Blues?
Ford: Oh yeah but I can’t stand ‘em. I can play church songs. I was raised up in the church, but I married another girl and she got me out of the church. I got away from the church and I ain’t been back yet. But I’m a nice man. And I’m safe. God’s taking care of me. And I don’t worry about nothing. There more days to life.

Student: What do you like about the Blues?
Ford: I didn’t care nothing about ‘em. I played ‘em for the people. I never did have Blues. Blues makes you do bad things that you wouldn’t do if you didn’t have it. When you get too far in it, when you got a woman you’re loving, that will make you taste the Blues.

Student: What are some of your favorite musicians?
Ford: Some of them sound like Muddy Waters. Some of them sound like Howlin’ Wolf. Some of them sound like Jimmy Reed. Some of them sound like B.B. King, Little Milton.

Student: Do you write your own songs?
Ford: Nah. I sing em and make them over a little.

Student: How has Blues music changed during your life?
Ford: It’s like an apple on the tree. It’s hanging. That’s how the Blues goes with me. I don’t get lonesome, I don’t get worried.