Ford Leary (September 5, 1908 - June 4, 1949) was a gifted trombonist and singer who gained fame in the 1930s and 1940’s.
Ford was born in Lockport, New York. He was married to Bernice Harlow and had a son (Scott) and apparently left them for a musical career.*Ford was noted for having performed with the bands of Frank Trumbaur (1937) & Bunny Berigan (1937 - 38). That association was one of the better jobs Leary found for himself while scuffling to establish himself as a freelance musician in New York City. Other bands included Larry Clinton (1938- 39), Charlie Barnet (1940 -41), and Mike Riley (1941). In 1942, trumpeter Muggsy Spanier also featured Leary in a big band.
He was just beginning a new career track as a replacement performer in the hit Broadway musical Follow the Girls in 1944 when he suffered a serious back injury from which he never fully recovered. Leary’s short musical career ended in the late '40s at Bellevue Hospital. He is in fact the only trombonist of note to have died institutionalized on June 4, 1949. He was only 40.
(Edited from scarce sources mainly All Music. * from YouTube comment by Bill Rayney.)