Where Are They Now: Colton Ford on His Passion For Music, His Rise to Fame, and Making Great Porn

From 2001 to 2003 there was one stud who seemed to reign supreme in the world of gay porn. With his sexy voice, killer bod, and both a dick and an ass that he used to maximum effect, Colton Ford was one of the biggest and brightest stars in the business.

Colton's journey in and out of the adult industry was a unique one. He'd already been a successful singer and songwriter before doing porn, but the porn star image seemed to just amplify his success in music, rather than jeopardize it. Now in his fifties (and still crazy hot!), Colton Ford joined us for an update on music, men, and how he looks back on his time fucking on film.

Could you share with us your journey to joining the industry?
I started doing adult films in October of 2001. Prior to that, I had fantasized about doing porn, but never gave myself permission to explore the fantasy, as I was completely focused on my music career. I had done some nude modeling over the previous two years for a couple of coffee table books, but that was the extent of it. I started dating Blake Harper that year (who’s real name is Peter), one of the biggest porn stars at the time, and I shared with him my fantasy. A month or so later, Peter was going to shoot a scene for the first Porn Struck film for All Worlds Video in Palm Springs. I was going out there the same weekend he was filming to shoot with Jeff Palmer (the photographer) for a coffee table book he was putting out. It was right after 9/11, and Peter’s scene partner was stuck in NYC and couldn’t get out to Palm Springs due to the airports being shut down. Peter asked me if I’d like to do the scene with him and have the experience. Careful what you wish for. Lol. After thoughtful consideration, I decided to give myself permission to go for it. I was having a liberating time in my life at 39, exploring myself sexually in ways I hadn’t previously. At that age, I wasn’t major labor material anymore, and so in terms of my career, I thought perhaps I could use whatever attention doing porn could give me to help draw people’s attention to my passion: singing, and songwriting.

You had actually been in the mainstream music and entertainment industry for quite some time before porn. Can you give us an overview? 
I’ve been singing, songwriting and performing professionally ever since I got out of high school. In the '80s I was in a jazz quartet (like Manhattan Transfer) for years. I did a bunch of commercial jingle work during that time and was signed to Jon St. James, who managed and produced Stacie Q, Bardeaux and Louis Louis, releasing a single in the late '80s under that deal. In the ‘90s, I was signed to Grammy-nominated songwriters Denise Rich and Michael O’Hara’s production company, MIDE Productions, and had two deals with Virgin, the first of which had me paired up with the Godfather of House Music, Frankie Knuckles. In between those deals I had a deal with Third Stone/Atlantic that fell through before it got finalized due to the company closing. Fun fun fun!

You were in the business for a relatively short time but became a huge star. How do you think you achieved that?
I knew there would be eyes on me because I was Blake Harper’s new partner. He and his ex, Jason Branch, were a very well known gay couple in the industry, so there was a natural curiosity for some to see who Blake’s new squeeze was. I also knew Chi Chi (LaRue) before I got started. She’s an accomplished and award-winning director, a legend in the biz, and has created a powerful and very well-known brand. She has always been very supportive (and still is), she's a dear friend ,and I knew that my work with her would get noticed. I also think that my look was different than a lot of the other guys that were happening at the time. I was older, muscled, hairy. Whatever the case I was grateful for the way it turned out. Plus I had fun with it all.

What made you decide to leave the business?
I really wanted to re-focus my full energy and attention on my musical endeavors. When I left the industry, I felt that I had gotten everything out of the experience that I needed and that it was time to move on and shift gears. A production company approached me around that time about letting them document on film my leaving porn and releasing new music. It felt like a great opportunity to use what was happening with me and move it all forward in the direction I really wanted to go, and what I had been doing for 21 years prior to porn—music, and acting. The documentary is titled Naked Fame. I never left my provocativeness, though, and have carried it forward throughout my career. It’s one of the ways I express myself.

Was it challenging to continue pursuing music while in the adult industry?
I had been in the music business 21 years before I did porn, and being a recording artist is challenging, period. Just being an artist is challenging. The music and mainstream entertainment industry are challenging to say the least. I think I benefited more than suffered from the experience. I got to enjoy a fantasy and was able to create a name at 40 that I’ve used to draw attention to the other things that I do. I had a built-in audience already to expand on. And in my own unique way, I’ve done a lot throughout my career and can look back with no regrets.

How have you been since leaving the industry? What have you been up to? 
I’ve been doing my thing and doing a lot of it! I’ve released 4 albums, 2 EPs, several Billboard charting singles (high as #2) and a bunch of music videos. I’ve been touring all over the world, did a HereTV series, a talk show, a couple of mainstream films, off-Broadway, a two-man play in Hollywood, and I was a featured artist on Cyndi Lauper’s True Color’s Tour 2008, and featured in her video for “Into the Nightlife.” Me and my creative partners, Ron Schrader and Spin Sista, started a production company in 2020 called Woop Woop Productions. We write, perform, record, produce and arrange all of our music and videos, and have amassed a catalogue of 35+ new tracks, several of which we’ve released over the past year. I have a new single, “The Way,” coming out in several weeks, along with remixes and a slammin’ video. I also launched an OnlyFans page last year to lean back into the erotic part of my brand. From erotic to melodic I got ya covered! ;-) I launched my page with the uncensored version of the video to one of my singles from last year titled “Stay” (A Woop Woop Production), as an exclusive on my OF page: Onlyfans.com/coltonford.

How do you look back on your time in the industry?
For the most part, with a smile. I met some wonderful people, had some wild experiences and fulfilled some fantasies of mine. It was an adventure for sure. I was also experiencing it with someone who I loved and trusted, and who understood what it was all about. Peter is an amazing man and one of the finest people I know!!

The industry has changed in many ways since your retirement. Many things which were pretty taboo (bareback, cum play, etc.) are pretty acceptable. How do you view this change? 
We are obviously in a different place with HIV than we were years and years ago, and thankfully so. I think eventually it was going to be a natural progression back to these activities when things got safer. The desire is there of course. I mean, who really wants to fuck with a rubber on? With medications that are effective at keeping us safe and alive, we have a greater ability to explore more things. Exposure to other STDs has to be considered when having sex, as always, but I think we can manage these things with maturity and respect. If consenting adults are clear and good with each other, these decisions can be made with transparency and without judgment. We are each responsible for and entitled to the decisions we make with regard to our bodies and what we do with them. Is the Supreme Court listening??

What other changes do you observe in the industry? Good and not so good.
The blaring one is the impact that technology has had on the industry. I’ve watched the impact on the music/entertainment industry, and there are gains and losses. This expansive technology will continue to reshape everything we do as we know, and we’ll see in real time what comes from our technological advances. Now with the Internet and sites like OnlyFans and JustForFans, workers in the industry can monetize their work and deliver it directly to their audience. This, of course, is impactful to studios who created, produced, and distributed porn on DVDs. Again, gains and losses.

Anything sexual that you never did on screen and wish you had?
No. I think I’ve covered it all really.

What was your favorite scene and why?
Oh wow! That would require me to watch all my scenes again!Haha. It’s always hard to pick just one favorite of anything. I generally always have more than one for varying reasons. I will say that I think my scene in Prowl 3 with Blake was super hot, in a dungeon with leather and shit, you can feel our connection for sure. And between takes, we were singing Judy Garland songs. Dicks all hard, little greased up, grabbing a quick bite of pizza if need be before getting back at it, and Judy of course. #GAY

Do you follow the industry today? Any talents stand out for you?
I don’t really. I do see some beautiful men out there, but that’s always been the case. I love being gay!!

We love you being gay too Colton!

Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected].