First Listen: Carlos ‘Budd’ Ford is willing to "Say Less"

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    (March 28, 2022) During the early nineties, new jack swing dominated a lot of the urban radio waves.  However, in 1993, just as this genre was starting to fade slowly, Four Sure came along for their only recorded effort, We Can Swing It, for Ruffhouse Records, featuring the lead single “Innocent Girl” with rapper Father M.C. 

    While the group’s front man ‘Budd’ Ford and the other three group members were a casualty of new jack swing’s decline, the singer/songwriter continued in the industry working with Adina Howard and CeCe Peniston.  Eventually, the artist now known as Carlos ‘Budd’ Ford resurfaced with a 2019 independent project entitled There’s Only One Me, filled with his creamy soulful frosted tenor blended with fundamental R&B/soul touched up with futuristic arrangements sprinkling jazz and reggae.     

    (March 28, 2022) During the early nineties, new jack swing dominated a lot of the urban radio waves.  However, in 1993, just as this genre was starting to fade slowly, Four Sure came along for their only recorded effort, We Can Swing It, for Ruffhouse Records, featuring the lead single “Innocent Girl” with rapper Father M.C. 

    While the group’s front man ‘Budd’ Ford and the other three group members were a casualty of new jack swing’s decline, the singer/songwriter continued in the industry working with Adina Howard and CeCe Peniston.  Eventually, the artist now known as Carlos ‘Budd’ Ford resurfaced with a 2019 independent project entitled There’s Only One Me, filled with his creamy soulful frosted tenor blended with fundamental R&B/soul touched up with futuristic arrangements sprinkling jazz and reggae.     

    As part of his upcoming project titled The Definition of R&B, Ford has released two singles, including “Say Less” (The Secret Art Society), his debut First Listen appearance.  Joining Ford on the production team are two musicians who were also part of the jack swing movement:  Joey ‘Jake’ Carter (Joe Public) and Tony ‘Prof T’ Tolbert (Lo-Key?). “Say Less” says plenty about romance, focusing on Ford’s crooning towards his one and only true lady love. And the soundtrack rides on a smooth, yet bumpy nineties’ R&B grooves filled with guitar squeals and slick backing vocals.  For a modern twist on the past, check out Ford’s “Say Less.”

    By Peggy Oliver

    Carlos ‘Budd’ Ford – “Say Less”