Born Iris Colleen Summers on July 7, 1924, Mary Ford was an accomplished guitarist, vocalist, and actress who was among the biggest recording artists of the early 1950s. Through her career in country music and her connections with Gene Autry and Eddie Dean, she developed a musical partnership with Gibson icon Les Paul that led to their marriage in 1949. In 1951 alone, the duo sold over six million records, and between 1950 and 1954, they recorded a string of 16 top-ten hits that showcased Mary’s rich, smooth voice, complex, perfectly executed harmonies that she sang along with herself through multi-track recording and overdubbing (a groundbreaking recording technique for the time), and versatile guitar playing that seamlessly blended country, jazz, and pop.
In 1951, Mary and Les influenced the design of the ES-295 hollowbody with a custom order, which Mary often used. In 1958, it is believed that one Les Paul Goldtop model with an ES-295-style floral pickguard and matching armrest was made at the request of Mary Ford.
Now, Gibson is proud to release the Mary Ford Les Paul Standard, based on that one-of-a-kind original. The Goldtop finish is accented by a Vintage Cherry back–a rarity for a Goldtop model. In addition to the cream and gold floral pickguard and armrest, it also features a mahogany body with a maple cap, a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard and Slim Taper profile, and is powered by a pair of Burstbucker pickups, with a Burstbucker 2 in the neck position and a Burstbucker 3 in the bridge position.
A hardshell case completes this offering that honors one of the most beloved and innovative artists of the 20th century.
