The man from Little Darby Creek, the master of a thousand stories, the captured Irish balladeer, Dad, or even Grandpa – whatever you call him, Bob Ford is a performer that you won’t soon forget! His rich, booming voice has captivated audiences for over 20 years, and it is only surpassed by his ability to welcome audiences and make them feel at home. And that’s his goal: to make you feel like you’re in his living room where friends are family, and family means home.
Singer & Songwriter
The best way to get to know Bob is to listen to his songs. When you do, you’ll find a history-lover with a sense of humor who puts family first. Listening to his songs can be like meeting members of his family or sharing snippets of his life. As he says himself, “my songs are like a family journal.”
Here are some of Bob’s originals that you may remember along with a little description from Bob himself:
“Goin’ Home” I’m told by reliable sources that “Goin’ Home”
convinced my wife to take a second look at me.
“Daddy’s Hands” – Dedicated to my dad and all dads
“Little Bit” – my Elizabeth “Anne with an E” Ford
“Sons of the Seven Hills” for the dedication of the Veterans Memorial
in Hillsboro, Ohio, my dad’s hometown.
“Pirates Three” or what happens to three stupid high school buddies
“Flying Leap” describes my first (and last) parachute jump.
“Rusty Nuts” dedicated to Uncle Terry and all good mechanics
“Changes” truer every year
Bob also plays a wealth of folk songs. In his own words, “I play the hits from the 1570s to the 1970s.” From sea chanteys to civil war songs to Harry Chapin, Bob has a way of bringing a song to life and broadening people’s horizons with songs that cover more experiences than any one person could have in a lifetime.
Thanks to his vast arsenal of music, Bob has performed at venues of all kinds from Irish pubs to festivals to concerts of all sizes. Some of his favorite venues to perform at include...
Belle of Louisville
Shakertown at Pleasant Hill
Sauder Village
The Ohio State Fair
Miami U. at Middletown
Kuss Auditorium
Fitton Center
And many, many more!
Through these concerts and festival performances, Bob has also been blessed with many wonderful audiences and faithful fans, and he can never thank them enough. There’s nothing he likes better than playing for friends (new and old) and seeing people singing along – that’s one of the great joys of live performance.
As Bob says,
“Every show is different because every audience is different. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life without art, ain’t really livin’.”
Well, Bob is really living. He continues to share his songs and stories around the country, and in his career, he has been honored to open for such great names as...
Bob also counts it a great privilege to have shared the stage with many other talented musicians over the years. Fantastic fiddlers, great guitarists, brilliant banjo players, and outstanding singers – you never know who’ll be joining Bob onstage next, but whether he’s performing solo or with friends, there’s one thing you do know: it’ll be toe-tapping, rib-cracking fun!
Want to see Bob perform? Check out his calendar for upcoming performances.
You can also book Bob for a show at bobfordmusic@gmail.com or (937) 766-3880.
Historian & Educator
If you’ve seen one of Bob’s concerts, then you know that he loves history. What you may not know is that he is a historian who has spent much of his career writing, directing, and performing educational plays and shows for schools and the public. In fact, over the years, Bob has shared his love of history and learning with over 300,000 students across the Midwest.
Starting with Tecumseh! in 1980, Bob began to explore teaching history through theatre. He went on to direct the outdoor drama The Legend of Daniel Boone, and while there, he partnered with the Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky Humanities Council, and the Department of Parks to create Frontier Tales, a program that brought the history of Old Fort Harrod to life for thousands of Kentucky school children.
As a juried educational artist in both Ohio and Kentucky, Bob continued teaching children the love of history through stories, songs, and plays. His stories delve into life in history from the frontier with Daniel Boone to Ohio riverboats and the Underground Railroad. Students learn about historic garb and different instruments all while singing along or even taking part in the stories and demonstrations. These school performances give students and teachers a memorable taste of history and the arts alike.
Along with his school performances, Bob also created, wrote, performed, and directed school residencies that explore early American history with plays specially written for each school. These residencies guide students through all steps of the theatrical process from research to performance in an experiential learning adventure that leaves a lasting understanding beyond the scope of homework.
That’s what Bob likes best: bringing history to life through stories and songs and having fun while doing it. That’s why he named his business Bob Ford: Folklore & Fun!
Want to see Bob perform? Check out his calendar for upcoming performances.
You can also book Bob for a show at bobfordmusic@gmail.com or (937) 766-3880.
Collaborations & Event Management
Bob has always been interested in collaborating with other artists. Over the years, he has managed a wide variety of events where he was responsible for hiring performers and recruiting artists for festivals and performance series.
Here are some of Bob’s favorite collaborations:
- Holes Creek Gathering 1997-2003: Bob worked with the Washington Township Recreational Center in Centerville, Ohio, to create a colonial reenactment on the rec center grounds.
- Lincoln’s Last Hours 1995, 2003, and 2009: In concert with the author Gary Kersey and the Murphy Theatre in Wilmington, Ohio, Bob cast and directed the production.
- Cleveland Tall Ships 2003: Working with the festival sponsors, he coordinated the historic performers and craftsman for the pioneer village of the Tallship Festival.
- Live at the Lodge 2006-2009: In partnership with WYSO (91.3 FM) and the Greene County Parks, Bob brought bands and singer-writers to perform at the Lodge at Clifton Reserve once a month.
- Live at the Library 2009-2010: Collaboration with WYSO and the Xenia Community Library allowed the monthly performances begun with the parks to continue in a new venue.
Performing and teaching history through the arts will always be Bob’s first love, but collaborative projects are a continuing inspiration. As Bob says, his favorite part is “working with great artists who help him grow.”
Want to see Bob perform? Check out his calendar for upcoming performances.
You can also book Bob for a show at bobfordmusic@gmail.com or (937) 766-3880.
