About Sheila Ford

Cool, sexy, soulful and serene. With a voice that glistens like a string of pearls, musicianship beyond her years, and a lovely, irresistible stage persona, Sheila Ford is indeed a musical treasure. Vast experience as a vocalist and entertainer has equipped Miss Ford for nearly any challenge the music stage has to offer. Though Sheila has a special love for jazz (Ella Fitzgerald is one of her earliest and best loved influences), she has dazzled audiences in nearly every musical style-jazz, funk, r&b, blues, classic soul, pop, house, rock, Latin, even rap. No stranger to the studio, Sheila is a highly sought after session vocalist and songwriter. Producers and songwriters love her range, tone, versatility, and ear for harmony. Whether she's jazzin' it up or rockin' the house, Sheila has what it takes and is loved by audiences and musicians alike.

Sheila is a graduate of the elite Berklee College of Music, Boston Massachusetts, where she majored in Music Education. In addition to exceptional vocals, Sheila plays the piano, organ, and has studied several woodwind, brass, string and percussion instruments. In 2004, she was added to the staff of The Maryland Conservatory Of Music as a vocal instructor. Sheila has also served as a juror for the Billy Holiday Vocal Competition in Maryland.

Sheila has performed in concert halls, hotels, resorts, at festivals and clubs across the U.S. and around the world with some of the finest musicians and ensembles around. Some highlights include The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; Caesar's Pocono Resorts in Pennsylvania; The Lincoln Center, S.O.B.'s and the Dean Street Cafe in New York; The Loft in London;  ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event);  The Southport Weekender, which was a huge festival in Southport, England; The Winter Music Conference in Miami, Florida; The Bluebird Cafe in Moscow; The General Walker Hotel in Germany; House On The Eastside, Pips on Labrea, Akbar, and Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California; Le Disco in Greece; The Top of the Rock Club in Iceland; Schinnen AB in the Netherlands; and Kleine Broegel AB in Belgium. Other highlights include Blues Alley, The Mandarin Oriental, One Step Down, and Takoma Station in Washington, DC; The Flamingo Hilton and Casino in Kansas City, MO; various cruise ships; The Myerhoff Symphony Hall, The Lyric Opera House, Pier Six Concert Pavilion, The New Haven Lounge and Caton Castle in Baltimore, MD.

Sheila has toured with the Washington Jazz Ensemble performing in Russia and Greece to sold-out audiences. Numerous concert tours have taken her all over the world to Iceland, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Asia and beyond. She has also had the pleasure of performing for numerous dignitaries including President Bill Clinton and First Lady (Former Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Sheila has performed, recorded, and shared stages with renowned artists such as Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Frank Foster, Jimmy Heath, Kim Waters, Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Gary Thomas, Cyrus Chestnut, Antonio Hart, Ben Vereen, Alex Bugnon, Rachelle Farrell, Art Sherrod, Jr., The Midnight Movers (Wilson Pickett’s band), ” Wolfman” Jack, The Village People, Ann Nesby, Crystal Waters, CeCe Rogers, Maysa, Robin S., Nona Hendryx, Angie Stone, Ultra Nate', Barbara Tucker, Michael Watford, Marc Evans, Josef Saddler, Marti St. Michaels, Juanita Dailey, and numerous others. She has also worked with several internationally renowned producers including, Charles Dockins, DJ Spen, Louie Vega, The Muthafunkaz, Thommy Davis, At Jazz, Joey Negro, Kenny Dope, Michele Chiavarini, Kiko Navarro, Reelsoul, Stacy Kidd, Gramophonedzie, Abicah Soul, DJ Pope, and DJ Oji. She is currently the vocalist for Raggs and the All Stars/SRO, a top-notch big band with strings led by trombonist Scott Ragsdale. She also has her own bands, The Sheila Ford Quintet, Sheila Ford and Friends, and Sheila Ford's Harlem Review. Sheila is currently performing on Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines as a headliner with Sax and Songs, as well as The Tina Turner Experience. 

Sheila also brings to the stage years of musical theatre experience, having performed prominent roles in a number of professional productions. Highlights include Dreamgirls, Purlie, Tap Dance Kid, Big River, The Wiz, Bubblin' Brown Sugar, Showboat, and Ain't Misbehavin’. She has also sung jingles, provided voice-overs, and appeared in international, national and regional commercials. Highlights include a "Just Say No To Drugs" public service announcement,  jingles for Calico Corners Fabric Stores,  commercials for Cookies Men's Clothing Stores, and numerous voice-overs and station identifications for radio stations all over the world including KISS F.M. in London, WEAA F.M. in Baltimore, MD, and various stations across the globe.

Sheila has performed on numerous recordings, which have enabled her to exercise her exquisite vocals (lead and background) as well as her superb songwriting and instrumental skills. Her most recent recording, a full length CD entitled "HERE YOU ARE", was recently released on Quantize Recordings and has been tearing up charts and getting lots of airplay around the world. Sheila wanted to pay homage to one of her influences, the late great Natalie Cole, with a remake of her beautiful song, "LA COSTA." It was produced by two extraordinary producers,  Reelsoul and DJ Spen, and has been well-received across the globe. Her single "WHY CAN'T YOU SEE", produced by super producers Louie Vega and DJ Spen, has also been receiving a lot of love in several countries. Other notable recordings include the infectious “GOTTA HOLD ON ME (THAT SKATT THING)” , “OH I (MISS U)” with the dynamic Marc Evans (MuthaFunkaz), "ALWAYS " with DJ Spen and the MuthaFunkaz, on Code Red Recordings/Defected, “THE MUTHALODE” and “THE MUTHALODE RELOADED”, which are full length CDs from The MuthaFunkaz, "LIFE’S SO MUCH BETTER (Abicah Soul Mix)", which is included on The CODE RED SUMMER VIBES SAMPLER 2008, "BEAUTIFUL DAY (THANK YOU)" , “SPIRITUAL JOURNEY”, and “L.O.V.E.” on Poji Records, “MAGIC (Terry Thompson)”, on Code Red/Defected, “FEEL THE SAME (Groove Armada featuring Angie Stone – Muthafunkaz mixes (keyboards and bass))”, on Strictly Rhythm, “LOVE HANGOVER (Joey Negro-DJ Spen mixes (background vocals and operatic chant))” , on Z Records, "MOODY (STATE OF MIND)", on Blackvinyl Records, "IT’S ALRIGHT" (which was used for a television show on the British Broadcasting Company), on Slip ‘n Slide Records, UK, "JOURNEY", on Slip ‘n Slide Records, UK, "CHARLES DOCKINS PRESENTS THE BLACK-CUBAN CHRONICLES OF LOVE", on Slip 'n Slide Records, UK; and "HIGHER LOVE", on 157 Shelter Records, to name a few. Sheila is currently working on a live jazz cd and a follow up to her current dance music CD, which will be released in the very near future (for a partial list of recordings, go to
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Sheila+Ford ).

Sheila has recently added the title of DJ to her long list of accomplishments. She currently has regular international radio shows on Handz On Radio, D3EP Radio Network, and numerous guest spots on shows that are featured in several countries. Be on the lookout for lots more from Sheila Ford, the DJ.

If you thought music was enough, think again. Sheila is also an exceptional dancer. She has been a member of and an instructor for The Charm City Dancers (The New Baltimore Hand Dance Association), a very prestigious organization specializing in hand dancing, line dancing, cha-cha, the bop, and much more. She is also a highly skilled jewelry and fashion designer. Actors on television shows including the former CBS daytime drama, THE GUIDING LIGHT, have worn her designs.

Highly prized by bandleaders, sought-after by producers and songwriters, loved by audiences and musicians, and admired by singers, Sheila is a complete vocalist. She's equally at home in the studio layin' down hot tracks or on stage heatin' up an audience. Be sure to experience Miss Sheila Ford-the lady with a voice like a string of pearls.