Died On This Date (September 30, 1977) Mary Ford / Popular ’50s Vocalist, Wife of Les Paul

themusicsover September 30, 2009 1 Comments

Mary Ford (Born Iris Summers)
July 7, 1924 – September 30, 1977

Mary Ford was the wife and musical partner of Les Paul.  She sang and played guitar when performing and recording with her famous husband.  They were extremely popular in the early ’50s, scoring sixteen top-10 hits and selling over six million records in 1951 alone.  Ford married Paul in 1949 and the two almost immediately launched a radio show on NBC.  The signed to Capitol records at around the same time and began releasing a string of hits.  Their popularity began to wane in the late ’50s, and the two divorced, thus ending their professional relationship in 1964.   Ford spent the latter years of her life performing occasionally with her sisters and brother.  She died of complications from diabetes on September 30, 1977.  She was 53 years old.

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