“I’ve got the power.” When SNAP! unleashed that line on the world in 1990, it didn’t just top charts — it announced the arrival of eurodance as a global force. At the heart of that record, and every SNAP! performance that matters, is Penny Ford — the American vocalist whose powerhouse voice defined the group’s sound and helped make their debut album one of the best-selling dance records in history. The debut album World Power sold over seven million copies worldwide.
Penny Ford performs as SNAP! and is available to book worldwide through Poise Artists.
Penny Ford was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Carolyn Griffith (née Ford), an evangelist, and Gene Redd Sr., a veteran record company executive and producer. A multi-instrumentalist and songwriter as well as a vocalist, Ford had already built serious music industry credentials — working as Chaka Khan’s vocal director and main backup singer — before her introduction to SNAP! producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. When Chaka Khan couldn’t make it to the recording session, she told Penny: “You could use the money, you do it.”
Ford flew to Germany, spent three days improvising vocals in the studio, and unknowingly recorded one of the most iconic hooks in dance music history.
“The Power” reached number one in Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, as well as on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. On the Billboard Hot 100 it reached number two. The debut album spawned further smashes including “Ooops Up,” “Cult of Snap,” and “Mary Had a Little Boy.” The album contained hits that collectively sold over nine million records.
The second album produced “Rhythm Is a Dancer” — the biggest-selling UK single of 1992. In 2022, Rolling Stone featured “The Power” in their list of the 200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time.
Ford is a multi-instrumentalist who has played guitar, flute, drums, percussion, bass, keyboards, and synthesizer throughout her career. She has produced and arranged songs for Natalie Cole, the Gap Band, Chaka Khan, and Snap! She also had a successful solo career, signing to Columbia/Sony after leaving the group, and has remained one of the most formidable voices in dance music throughout her career. Throughout her career, Ford has sold over 16 million records. In 2006, Ford returned as the original and official singer of SNAP! and has been performing worldwide with them since.
SNAP! featuring Penny Ford is one of the most electrifying and historically significant acts on the eurodance and 90s nostalgia festival circuit. Her voice is unmistakable, her catalogue is enormous, and her live performance delivers every time. Available for music festivals, nostalgia events, corporate shows, and club nights worldwide. Contact Poise Artists today.