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David Ball
David Ball – 2004
Background information
Born	(1953-07-09) July 9, 1953 (age 71) Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Origin	Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active	1988–present
Labels	RCA Nashville Warner Bros. Nashville Dualtone Wildcatter Shanachie
Website	davidball.com

David Ball (born July 9, 1953) is an American country music singer-songwriter and musician. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several labels, including his platinum certified debut Thinkin' Problem. Fourteen of Ball's singles have entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-peaking chart entries are 1994's "Thinkin' Problem" and 2001's "Riding With Private Malone", both of which peaked at No. 2.

Biography

David Ball was born into a large musical family headed by his father, William "Billy" Ball, a Baptist minister, and his mother, Bessie Ball, a pianist. Later, he moved with his family to Spartanburg, South Carolina, where his father was pastor of Fernwood Baptist church. He eventually learned to play guitar after persuading his parents to buy him one. Having written his first song in seventh grade, he played it in a school talent show with a band he had formed, the Strangers. Afterwards, he played upright bass in various local youth groups and also the school orchestra. Together with friends, he took part in various bluegrass and country festivals in the Carolinas.

By the time Ball had left high school, he had a gig playing bass in Uncle Walt's Band, a trio headed by Walter Hyatt, who relocated to Austin, Texas, in the mid-1970s, in an attempt to make a mainstream breakthrough.

Ball subsequently focused on a solo career, moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where he was signed to a publishing contract. Three singles for RCA Nashville in the late 1980s failed to provide a solo breakthrough, however, and a projected album was shelved and was not released until 1994. The experience did at least serve to introduce him to producer Blake Chancey, son of country producer Ron Chancey. In the spring of 1993, Chancey called Warner Bros. Records director Doug Grau on Ball's behalf.

A new recording contract followed. Thinkin' Problem, his debut album, was released on Warner Bros. Its title track served as the lead-off single, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard country music charts and No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album, which received a platinum certification in the U.S., also produced the singles "When the Thought of You Catches Up with Me", "Look What Followed Me Home", "What Do You Want with His Love", and "Honky Tonk Healin'", although the latter two singles failed to make Top 40 on the country charts.

Ball recorded two more albums for the label – Starlite Lounge and Play – without much chart success. However, "Riding with Private Malone", from the 2001 album Amigo on the Dualtone label, reached a peak of No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts (now Hot Country Songs) chart, and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. This album failed to produce any other hits, however, and Ball exited Dualtone in 2002. Freewheeler followed in 2004, Heartaches by the Number in 2007 and Sparkle City in 2010.

In the 1995 album "Come Together: America Salutes The Beatles" David Ball's version of "I'll Follow The Sun" starts off the collection of Beatles songs by other artists.

Ball's "Thinkin' Problem" was parodied by Cledus T. Judd. Ball then appears in Judd's Shania Twain parody "If Shania Was Mine", standing behind the cameras and saying, "At least he's not picking on me this time."

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

TNN/Music City News Country Awards & CMT Flameworthy Awards

Academy of Country Music Awards

Country Music Association Awards

References

1. Loftus, Johnny. "David Ball biography". Allmusic. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
2. "David Ball Album & Song Chart History – Country Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
3. "David Ball Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
4. Peak chart positions for albums charting on the Canadian Country Albums/CDs Chart:
   • "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Country Albums/CDs". RPM. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
5. Peak chart positions for albums charting on the Canadian Top Albums/CDs Chart:
   • "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Top Albums/CDs". RPM. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
6. The album was recorded in 1989 and was originally titled "Steppin' Out", but it was shelved and wasn't released until 1994 and was retitled as "David Ball"
7. "David Ball Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
8. "David Ball Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
9. "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada – Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
10. Although this song is featured on the 1994 RCA album, the album version was re-recorded by Ball and was retitled "We're Steppin' Out Tonight"
11. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. September 27, 2002.

External links

• David Ball's official website

• 1953 births
• Living people
• People from Rock Hill, South Carolina
• American country singer-songwriters
• Country musicians from South Carolina
• Dualtone Records artists
• Warner Records artists
• American male singer-songwriters
• Uncle Walt's Band members
• Singer-songwriters from South Carolina
• Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members