Official Website of Nashville Recording Artist: David Ball

                  ALTANTA, GA – Grammy Award winner David Ball will join Atlanta’s R&B legend Francine Reed for the first time, at Smith’s Olde Bar on Saturday Feb 4th.

                  Reed is best known for her sultry vocals backing up troubadour Lyle Lovett.  Ball is a founding member of Americana pioneers, Uncle Walt’s Band.  Coming up together in the same Austin TX music scene in the 70’s, Lovett would often open shows for UWB.  Coming full circle in 2009, he reached back into Uncle Walt’s repertoire to include one of Ball’s early UWB hits, “Don’t You Think IFeel It Too” on his 2009 disc, Natural Forces.  Over the years, both men have collaborated on the other’s records, in addition to the solo recordings of UWB’s front man, Walter Hyatt.

                   Bob Dylan asked Ball to add a song to The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers – A Tribute and won a Grammy for his contribution to the 2005 collection Beautiful Dreamer-The Songs of Stephen Foster.  He was one of the first artists to take an independent release to the Country Top 5, with 2002’s “Riding With Private Malone.”

                   Reed has appeared with Miles Davis, Stanle yJordan, Smokey Robinson, Etta James, and The Crusaders.  In 1985, she began recording and touring with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band. Reed has also appeared on recordings by Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison.

                   Ball is currently on tour in support of his ninth studio album, Sparkle City, being backed by his band, The Pioneer Playboys, the same band used on record.  The Austin Chronicle said of the album, “he glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues, and even a touch of Tex-Mex, with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material.”

                  Show begins at 8.  For ticket information, contact Smith’s at 404-875-1522 or http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/16914.aspx

Eclectic legend releases first Christmascollection November 28

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Grammy Award winner David Ball will release The Greatest Christmas, his first ever collection of Christmas music, on November 28th.

Initially a founding member of Austin-based Uncle Walt’s Band, Ball has since written and recorded such dance floor favorites as “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Look What Followed Me Home.”  He was one of the first country artists to take an independent release to the top of the charts, 2002’s “Riding With Private Malone.”

With the exception of two tracks, all holiday compositions are original.  In classic David Ball style, he touches on all of his influences, from traditional country and swing, to Tex/Mex and Bluegrass. Again taking a nod from his influences, David is backed by The Pioneer Playboys, the same band that Ball takes on the road.

For the last two years, Ball has been on tour in support of his ninth studio album, Sparkle City.  The Austin Chronicle said of the album, “he glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues, and even a touch of Tex-Mex, with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material."

The Greatest Christmas will be available at all digital outlets, and at www.davidball.com, of November 28th.

Singer and songwriter David Ball won a Grammy for the song “Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)” from the album Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster. (2005)  David’s music came full circle when Lyle Lovett reached back into Uncle Walt’s repertoire to include one of David’s early songs, “Don’t You Think I Feel It Too” on his 2009 disc, Natural Forces.  Bob Dylan invited David to collaborate on The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute (1997).

David met Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood in their hometown of Spartanburg, SC and formed Uncle Walt’s Band. After graduating high school, they relocated to Austin.  For more information, go to www.davidball.com.

Tags:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-08-13/1068434/

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/09/04/lyle-lovett-has-a-ball-song/

http://walterhyatt.com/

Eclectic legend releases first Christmas single

NASHVILLE,Tennessee – Grammy Award winner David Ball will release “The Greatest Christmas,” his first single and title cut from his album of the same name.  Single will ship 11/7 on the Christmas 2011 CD, track #10.

“The Greatest Christmas” is pure David Ball, an original song written in the same spirit as the classic “These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things.”

Initially a founding member of Austin-based Uncle Walt’s Band, Ball has since written and recorded such dance floor favorites as “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Look What Followed Me Home.”  He was one of the first country artists to take an independent release to the top of the charts, 2002’s “Riding With Private Malone.”

With the exception of two tracks, all holiday compositions are original.  In classic David Ball style, he touches on all of his influences, from traditional country and swing, to Tex/Mex and Bluegrass. Again taking a nod from his influences, David is backed by The Pioneer Playboys, the same band that Ball takes on the road. 

For the last two years, Ball has been on tour in support of his ninth studio album, Sparkle City.  The Austin Chronicle said of the album, “he glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues, and even a touch of Tex-Mex, with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material.”

The Greatest Christmas will be available at all digital outlets, and at www.davidball.com, as of November 28th.

Singer and songwriter David Ball won a Grammy for the song “Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)” from the album Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster. (2005)  David’s music came full circle when Lyle Lovett reached back into Uncle Walt’s repertoire to include one of David’s early songs, “Don’t You Think I Feel It Too” on his 2009 disc, Natural Forces.  Bob Dylan invited David to collaborate on The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute (1997).

David met Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood in their hometown of Spartanburg, SC and formed Uncle Walt’s Band. After graduating high school, they relocated to Austin.  For more information, go to www.davidball.com.

Tags:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-08-13/1068434/

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/09/04/lyle-lovett-has-a-ball-song/

http://walterhyatt.com/

David Ball and The Pioneer Playboys have been touring in support the latest CD Sparkle City, which includes the single “Hot Water Pipe” and the upcoming “What’ll I Do If I Don’t Have You.”

David Ball is not resting on his legendary success. He and The Pioneer Playboys are touring as actively as ever, playing more dates than most contemporary hit-makers.

Sparkle City is vintage David Ball. It’s simple and sophisticated; jazzy, swingy, bluesy with a touch of Tex-Mex and a little Latin flavor. His songs don’t fit the kind of template demanded by hit radio. The man is a true independent. He writes from the heart and the beat is in the sincerity of every word.

You think you know David Ball …but the artist and the man run far deeper than the moments he has spent in the media spotlight.

His contemporaries are not the usual suspects from Top 40 radio. Ball’s spirit and music are more closely aligned with troubadours like Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett and Guy Clark.

Yes, there have been the hits. Fourteen of his singles have entered the Billboard charts, including “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Riding With Private Malone,” which made Ballone of the first artists to take an indie single to the Country Top 5. He has recorded a total of seven studio albums on different labels, including his platinum certified Thinkin’ Problem.

David grew up in Spartanburg, SC where he learned to play guitar but later honed his skills on the upright bass, which led to a gig playing bass in Uncle Walt’s Band, credited as the first Americana act. The legendary trio was headed by Walter Hyatt and also included Champ Hood. A solo career led Ball to Nashville where he signed a publishing deal and later, a recording contract.

David’s music came full circle when Lyle Lovett reached back into Uncle Walt’s Band repertoire to include one of David’s early songs, “Don’t You Think I Feel It Too” on his 2009 disc, Natural Forces.

David won a Grammy Award for the song “Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)” from the album Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster. (2005)

Bob Dylan invited him to join artists like Jerry Garcia, Bono, and Willie Nelson on The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute (1997). Later that same year, David joined Bruce Springsteen as they performed at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception, celebrating Dylan’s impact on American music.

With the release of the single “What’ll I Do If I Don’t Have You” David will honor the military by teaming up with the charitable organization, Operation Troop Aid. The 501c3 sends care packages to deployed US troops. A portion of sales will benefit OTA, and David currently appears in a national TV campaign in support of the organization.

Coming December 2011:  David’s first collection of Christmas music!  Don’t touch that dial….

National Spokesman: Operation Troop Aid

http://www.urbancountryblog.com/2011/03/david-ball-pioneer-playboys-honor-us.html

To view national TV campaign, click here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e6KoY3ELHM

Nationally, David Ball's known as a country traditionalist who had a couple of songs hit the charts. Locally, he's best remembered as a member of Uncle Walt's Band, the none-of-the-above band that also featured Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood. Sparkle City, his first disc in three years, finds him mingling the two with mixed results. With the help of some prime Nashville pickers dubbed the Pioneer Playboys, he glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues, and even a touch of Tex-Mex with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material. The Latin-tinged "Just Along for the Ride," sunny "On Top of the World," and romantic optimism of closer "So Long" are among the best songs he's ever written, nicely offsetting goofy penis joke "Hot Water Pipe" and the forced wordplay of "Tulsa." Even then, Ball's easygoing country is a smooth and welcome tonic, sure to satisfy those looking for the real thing.

http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-08-13/1068434/

http://media.post-gazette.com/podcasts/20100512bye.mp3

“He hooked me evenbefore he drawled his way into the hooky chorus of this smile-a-minute toetapper.  Demand its airplay.”

Having scored with major singles such as “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Riding With Private Malone,” David Ball is best known as a country hit-maker. But before his country success, he was part of heralded (but not heralded enough) trio Uncle Walt’s Band, a group that also included Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood. That acoustic band (Ball played upright bass and sang leads and high harmonies) began in Spartanburg, S.C., where all three members grew up. And one of Uncle Walt’s signature songs was “Don’t You Think I Feel It Too,” a plaintive rumination that Lyle Lovett just recorded (it’ll be on Lovett’s Natural Forces album, set for an Oct. 20 release on Lost Highway Records).

“I wrote that song in the early 1970s, when I was finishing up high school,” Ball said. “It wasn’t something I labored over. It was something that just came out.”

The song is now nearly 40 years old -- older than Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood combined -- but it seems to get covered with regularity. Jessi Colter, Shawn Colvin and Eric Weinberg have all done versions, and Ball heard about Lovett’s recording while riding on a shuttle bus to get his car at the Nashville airport.

“My cell phone rang, and it was Lyle, and we went through this conversation where he read the lyrics to me to make sure he had it all correct,” Ball said. “This is a song he heard when he was just a kid in Texas. I hung up at the end of the call, and some guy next to me goes, ‘So, you’ve got a Lyle Lovett cut!’”

The Lovett album also includes “Loretta,” a song penned by the late, great Townes Van Zandt.

Ball’s next local gig with his Pioneer Playboys band is Sept. 18 at Puckett’s Grocery in Franklin. Check www.myspace.com/davidball for details.

http://blogs.tennessean.com/tunein/2009/09/04/lyle-lovett-has-a-ball-song/

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