Although a well-versed musician at the age of 5, it wasn't until a few years later when a God-inspired event occurred that a talent turned into an anointing. One night when the youngster was coming home from a bible study, he walked up the steps to his bedroom. As he got to the top of the stairs, an almost unbelievable thing happened. Ford describes it as "stepping into an oven". He felt an overwhelming presence of God and the experience saw the timid youth shouting and yelling and praising God. Ever since that profound experience, he has what he's dubbed "instant recall". After hearing a musical piece only once, he instantly recalls it.
Shortly after this event, Ford was chosen by his father, a pastor, to be chief musician at his church. With his brother, they led 5 choirs - all before reaching the age of ten! Years later, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia completing four years of his Music Composition & Orchestration Degree. He began his musical career as a studio musician, performing on numerous recordings, television and radio commercials. His first recording gospel recording found him playing the organ on the Mighty Clouds Of Joy's Catching On in 1972. For Ford, it was just the beginning. Steven's infatuation with recording and musical arranging soon became the driving force behind his maturity into a consummate musician, writer and producer.
Since that time, he's written, performed and produced for artists such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Vickie Winans, Donnie McClurkin & The McClurkin Family, The Winans, Shirley Caesar, Maurette Brown-Clark, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy, The Williams Brothers, John P. Kee, the late Phyllis Hyman, Pieces Of A Dream, The New York Voices, Bishop Merritt & The Straight Gate Mass Choir, The Dallas Ft. Worth Mass Choir, The Potter's House Mass Choir, and many others.
In addition, he's a musical consultant, a respected musician, a lecturer, and an award-winning producer who has been recognized with 2 GRAMMY Awards, 10 GRAMMY Nominations, 5 Dove Awards, and 10 Stellar Awards.
With a strong desire to mentor, he's taught many symposiums and workshops on music ministry in the African-American Church and in the music industry as a whole. He's authored a book, Can I Take Your Order?, an in-depth study of the levitical order in the bible. Targeted specifically to ministers of music and worship leaders, the book provides a blueprint on God's design for the Church's music departments.
Having contributed to the success of over 50 projects, there's no stopping this incredibly anointed and talented man of God.