Dean Ford Biography

Dean Ford (born Thomas McAleese on 5 September 1946) is a Scottish singer and songwriter best known for his tenure as lead vocalist and frontman of the beat pop group Marmalade from 1966 to 1974. Ford (credited as McAleese) co-wrote the group's worldwide hit "Reflections of My Life" with fellow band member Junior Campbell. Reflections of My Life has sold in excess of two million units globally and in 1998 the writers were awarded a Special Citation of Achievement by BMI for attaining radio broadcast performances in excess of one million in the U.S. alone.

Career

Early life

As a young boy, he began singing in public accompanying a jazz ensemble at the local Whifflet parish church dance hall. By the age of thirteen he had formed his first musical group The Tonebeats, one of several he hooked up with during his teenage years. By the time he left school at age 15, he had been gaining more exposure as a featured singer. His break came after a performance with the Monarchs at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow in 1963, where he was seen by members of the popular east Glasgow band The Gaylords and subsequently invited to join the group.

The Gaylords

Shortly thereafter, McAleese adopted his stage name and The Gaylords were re-christened Dean Ford and the Gaylords. With hopes of achieving more commercial success, Ford and the band relocated to London in 1966.

Marmalade

Two years later, the newly named Marmalade, with Ford as lead singer, became the first Scottish band to score a number-one hit song on the U.K. pop singles chart. Aside from his lead vocal duties, Ford expanded his songwriting credits and added instrumental support on harmonica and tambourine.

Post Marmalade career

With the dissolution of the original Marmalade, Ford embarked on a solo career and released a self-titled LP in 1975, produced by Alan Parsons. His collaboration with Parsons extended to a guest vocal appearance on Parsons' 1978 Pyramid album. Ford also recorded one-off tracks with former Marmalade band member Hugh Nicholson.

Career in the US

Ford moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s, and, aside from playing small clubs as a solo act, essentially dropped out of the organized music business. He did not completely sever ties with his musical contemporaries: in 2003 he teamed up with a revamped The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, participating in an album tribute by well-known Scottish musicians to Glaswegian Frankie Miller, a fellow artist recovering from a brain hemorrhage. His most recent collaboration was with former Badfinger guitarist Joe Tansin in 2012.

With the support of crowdfunding, Ford recently began production in Los Angeles of a second solo album of original material.

Discography

• Dean Ford
• Radio Heart/Let It Rain

Notable Songwriting Credits

Year	Song	Author	Chart Position
1967	I See the Rain	Campbell-McAleese	#23 Netherlands
1969	Reflections of My Life	Campbell-McAleese	#3 UK, #7 US-Cashbox, #10 US, #21 US-AC
1970	Rainbow	Campbell-McAleese	#3 UK, #7 US-AC, #51 US
1971	My Little One	Campbell-McAleese	#15 UK, #31 US-AC, #123 US