Artist: Emile Ford
Genre: Rock and Roll

Emile Ford was a British rock and roll singer and guitarist born in Saint Lucia in 1937, who became one of Britain's first Black rock and roll stars. Ford and his group The Checkmates achieved success in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Their biggest hit was 'What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?' in 1959, which topped the UK charts. Ford's success was significant in British pop's racial integration, demonstrating that Black British artists could achieve mainstream success. His music combined rock and roll with pop sensibilities, making him appealing to broad audiences. Ford continued performing for decades, maintaining particular popularity in Australia and South Africa. He passed away in 2016. Ford represented British rock and roll's multicultural dimensions, breaking barriers for Black British artists and contributing to British pop's evolution beyond American rock and roll imitation.

Emile Ford vinyl records (12)