I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with some of the greatest people and if I owe any success to anything it’s that I always showed up two hours early for every gig, show, rehearsal or auditions - I was NEVER late! I was a great organizer and troubleshooter and that got me more jobs than my piano playing skills! I consider myself a survivor through epidemics, bouts of self-destruction and show business itself. My mother in particular came to see everything I did - unfortunately, the rest of my Republican Trump-supporting so called family couldn’t have cared less. My parents were the greatest people ever and supported me fully in my personal life and my professional life. I published a book about my career last March and I think I could write something else! Superpower? I’ve been sober for 27 years. I had a talent for playing the piano but it certainly wasn’t hidden. I love the fact that it’s now a very gay neighborhood. My building went co-op in 1987, and my maintenance is really low today - yes, it can happen just one block from Times Square! I used to know everybody in the neighborhood, because at one time everybody was in show business. It was incredibly convenient for doing 20 Broadway shows, and also many fantastic famous people came to my apartment for various show business purposes. Share with us why you love Hell’s Kitchen
Paul playing at the original cast recording session of Sunday in the Park with George watched by Isaac Grody-Patinkin, Mandy Patinkin’s eldest son. What’s your favorite New York minute (or moment) so far?īeing offered the pianist’s job on the original Stephen Sondheim show, Sunday in the Park with George in 1984… and having Petula Clark sit on my couch! My first job in 1978 was playing the piano for the 1954 musical, The Golden Apple, at the York Theatre. What was your first job? What do you do now? I’ve lived in two apartments, both on W45th Street - now I live at the famous Whitby apartment building. I’m from Atlanta and moved here in 1978 at 25 years old, played the piano for Broadway shows until 2015. So, what’s your New York story? Born here, or just arrived? Paul Ford made his home at The Whitby in Hell’s Kitchen. Paul has lived in Hell’s Kitchen since the 1970s - this is his West Side Story. Paul Ford played piano for Broadway shows for over 40 years, with Stephen Sondheim publicly declaring him the “indefatigable master of the musical theatre”.
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