We are thrilled to announce our special guest, Larry Ford, a Grammy award winning tenor who has committed his life to singing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Larry’s music career began when he climbed up on a chair at five years old at his home church in Levelland, Texas. Accompanied by his mother on the piano, he sang his first solo, How Great Thou Art.
Fifty years later Larry still sings How Great Thou Art. He has sung it in English, Spanish, Swedish, Russian, Italian and Norwegian. Larry’s music ministry has taken him to 49 states of the United States and to more than thirty foreign countries.
Larry’s training is in classical music, having studied privately as a teenager with an Italian vocal coach. He attended Eastern New Mexico University on a music scholarship. After working for two years as a pilot, Larry sang briefly with The Downings as a featured soloist. He sang tenor with the Dixie Echoes and The James Blackwood Quartet.
In recent years many invitations have been extended as a result of Larry’s participation in the Gaither Homecoming videos and concerts. Larry has often been a featured soloist on the DVDs and has become closely associated with the songs, Little is Much When God is In It, Sing of My Redeemer, Follow Me and O What a Savior.
Larry and his wife, Sherryl, have been married for over 40 years. They served as pastors at churches in Texas and Florida for ten years before Larry returned to full time music ministry. Larry and Sherryl have five sons, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Jon and Seth (and his wife Jennifer.) They also have a daughter and son in law, Amanda and Darius, and seven grandchildren.
Larry’s brother, Bruce, is an internationally renowned operatic tenor and vocal coach. Bruce has been described as “the leading Rossini tenor of this generation.” Bruce, his wife, Hetty, and son, Patrick, live in Naples, Florida.
Larry’s traveling schedule includes over 100 concerts a year. In spite of his rigorous schedule, Larry’s priorities are as a proud husband, father and grandfather. The Ford's church home is First Assembly of God in Fort Myers, Florida. Dan and Darlene Betzer are their pastors and friends.
Larry has been a professional pilot, a pastor – and all of his life, a worshipper. Often when people hear Larry sing for the first time, they are overwhelmed by the power of his voice. Those who know him best know it is not only powerful, but an anointed gift for which he gives God all the glory.
Be a part of this incredible worship service, Sunday, July 13th at 10:30 AM.