Who was Willie Ford?
Willie “Sugar Bear” Ford was a phenomenal bass singer and one of the co-founders of the legendary soul group The Dramatics, who died on May 28, 2023 at the age of 68. He was born on July 10, 1950 in LaGrange, Georgia and moved to Detroit as a child. He attended Northern High School, where he played the saxophone, baseball, and ran track. He joined The Dramatics in 1968, after singing with the Capitols. He was known for his outstanding bass voice, which he used on many songs for The Dramatics, such as “Me And Mrs. Jones”, “Love is Here”, “Don’t Go There”, “Love is About to Start”, “Let’s Make Luv Forever, “Be My Girl” and “I’m so Alone”. His hero was another well-known bass singer of the time, Melvin Franklin of The Temptations.
What did The Dramatics achieve?
The Dramatics, formed in Detroit in 1964, are best known for their 1970s hit songs “In the Rain” and “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”, which both reached the Top 10 Pop hits. They were one of the most popular and influential soul groups of the era, with a unique group harmony and stage show. They appeared frequently on the local dance show “The Scene” and were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. The group was also depicted in the 2017 film “Detroit”, which portrayed the events of the 1967 Detroit Riots and the Algiers Motel incident, in which one of the founding members, Larry Reed, survived victimization by Detroit Police officers and the group’s valet, Fred Temple, was killed.
How did Willie Ford die?
The cause of death of Willie Ford is not officially confirmed, but according to some sources, he had just had surgery before his passing. He was resting at his home in Detroit, but his health deteriorated and he died on May 28, 2023. His friend and fellow singer, Michael Henderson, said that he was one of the greatest bass singers of all time and that he had spoken to him recently and he was ready to get back to work. Ford’s viewing was held on June 11 and his home going services were held on June 12 at the Detroit World Outreach. He was buried in his beloved hometown of Detroit and his legacy lives on in his music and his fans.
