James Lewis Carter Ford – better known as T-Model Ford – was, they say, born in Mississippi in 1920. Depending on who you believe, he might have 26 children and he served two years on a chain gang in the 1930s for killing a man. He says that he was released due to his excellent behaviour.
A staple of the wonderful Fat Possum Records, he’s been recording since the seventies, playing a rickety old melange of Delta and Chicago Blues.
Word filtered through The End of the Road Festival site that Ford would be playing a ’secret’ set in the woods. When he finally emerged (he doesn’t move too fast these days) he was all smiles and gratitude – happy that 40 or so had eschewed Steve Earle to see him play.
Over an extended set, he recounted his story, weaving a little myth alongside fact, no doubt, and offering his whisky bottle up to the audience. When I made motions to take pictures, he grinned at me and shuffled himself into my line of view, trying not to seem like an 89 year-old prima donna – and yet it was clear he loved the attention and the applause.
I’ve posted a short video of Ford taken moments after I shot this photo elsewhere on this blog.
