Welcome to AfterElton.com!

Enter your AfterElton.com username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

Colton Ford plays "Tug of War" from porn to pop

The transition from porn to pop has never been an easy one; there have been many who have tried with varying degrees of success. Traci Lords for one did have some success with her singles “Fallen Angel” and “Control” as well as the full length CD named for the latter single.

Traci’s success is an exception to the rule; for the most part the transition never takes. Others like Jeff Stryker, Heather Hunter and Jeff Palmer and have failed to crossover. But it looks like the rules are about to be broken in a big way with the release of Colton Ford’s Tug of War.

What some may not know about Colton is that he only did porn for 10 months, but he has been singing since he was a child. He released his first single with John St. James in 1988. Shortly after a string of unlucky business deals put and end to his actively pursuing his music career.

Colton, tired of struggling in the corporate world, did something unexpected for a professional singer: he turned to porn as a means to an end. Porn was something that provided the financial stability that he needed in order to focus on his dream of making it big in the music industry, and put his name into the publics consciousness.

This career move is something most artists who have failed to make the transition to mainstream success have cited as a roadblock for them as an performer. Colton, however has managed to turn this “roadblock” into an asset.

Colton Ford in The LairColton Ford in The Lair

In 2004 he collaborated with dance diva Pepper Mashay on a cover version of Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” that scaled to number 9 on the Billboard Hot Club Play Chart.

His new album is getting a great deal of positive press for the former adult film star. Colton states that Tug of War “is the completion of a long journey for me, my collaboration with Quentin Harris covers a wide range musically, from House, Soul, R&B and goes all the way to pop.”

His video for the single “The Way That You Love Me” was voted one of Logo’s top ten sexiest videos, and there is also a steamier video version of the track (“The Blue Door Edit”) which, along with the original, can be viewed on YouTube.

With his starring role as Sheriff Trout on Here TV’s gay vampire series The Lair and the release of Tug of War, Colton is enjoying a very successful post-porn career. “The album has something for all of my fans to enjoy,” he says.

Those fans can pick up the album when it hits shelves today, and in the meantime here's the video for "The Way That You Love Me". 

zanefan's picture

He's hot and all, but once a

He's hot and all, but once a porn star, always a porn star.  He should stick to his talents.  If your goal is to sing gay club anthems and star in gay vampire series, just keep doing porn.  His skills would be much better appreciated.
Dwiz's picture

I'm wishing him success!

I don't really care much for his music, but that's only because I don't enjoy "club anthem" type music in general.

I admire him more for going for something that he really wants to do (sing) rather than what's "easy" (porn). (Is porn "easy"?? I'm not entirely sure...) It would be totally fun to imagine a concert tour some day with Traci Lords and Colton rocking out on stage together!

Best of luck to you, Colton!

PJ's picture

I might have liked the song...

...if the video didn't make me queasy!!

The video's production is horrible. The back and forth between the scenes is making me re-taste breakfast and the “subject” seems to be pandering to anyone who just wants to look at his muscular arms and bare chest (both of which are nice…what…I’m queasy not blind)! The choreography looks like something he may have come up with in his basement, with hairbrush in hand.

The song itself is O-K and he sounds like he’s got a legitimate voice.

I wish him better material, a better director, a better choreography and lots of success!

PJ

Maiyeko's picture

Tug of War

I bought the CD from Amazon.com and luv it.  Colton has an authentic feel that is lacking in many commercial releases. He isn't afraid to experiment with the processing in places it is minimal, in other's it is heavier or very subtle, non of it formula driven ie it is evidently not the same from one song to the next. This works well and the changes kill the monotony which result from artists that constantly sing in the same voice. Overall I think it is on par with Justin Timberlake’s last CD. I didn't know about his porn career since I heard the music first. In my mind one has nothing to do with the other and people (who have a problem with it) should just grow up and let that go. That’s like saying a teller at a bank can never become a professional golfer – one skill does nothing to negate the other. He is as good if not better than many of the artist backed by major labels. 
miket's picture

While in the UK i met some

While in the UK i met some london escorts who had this album on his ipod as soon as I got home went online and ordered it, i really love it.
hater's picture

LOSER!

Please, negro! Oh, wait, I just saw your pix, you're not black? Hmmmmm, ok poser! (Rick Astley & George Michael can get away with that shit, u can't!) "Oh, I only did porn for 10 "months" to "make ends meet". Maybe get a real job, like the rest of Americans. Well, if you're such a great "singer/songwriter" and you know so many "famous" people in the industry, why the hell haven't you been able to parlay that into a legit career? And if you're trying to distance yourself from "porn" why the hell would you lower yourself to using your "body" to promote videos? HYPOCRITE! Own it! You're a cocksucking ass-munching faggot! Be PROUD! When you have to use voice overs and rap on your single, you're not a real artist (props to the REAL rap artists and throwback R&B singers/songwriters. Let's hear some accopela (sp?) and then get back to me about what a "hot" singer" you are. And before you fellow self-hating bitches reply, that "regular" speaking voice?? PLEASE! Can I have a pair of Manolo slingbacks to go with that purse that just fell out of your mouth? HOT to look at? HOLLA! HOT to listen to? Keep on steppin!
aman's picture

Resurrection

It's a story of resurrection. From the dark world of wow nude movies to the glamor world of pop culture-what a bright way to move forward! Best of luck Ford.