David Ball

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (January 2009)

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2007) (Find sources: David Ball (country singer) – news, books, scholar)

David Ball
Background information
Born	July 9, 1953 (1953-07-09) (age 55)
Origin	Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States
Genre(s)	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, rhythm guitar
Years active	1988-present
Label(s)	RCA Nashville Warner Bros. Nashville Dualtone Wildcatter Shanachie
Associated acts	Uncle Walt's Band
Website	Official website

David Ball (born July 9, 1953 in Rock Hill, South Carolina^[1]) is an American country music artist. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several different 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 2002's "Riding With Private Malone", both of which peaked at #2.

Biography

David Ball was born into a large musical family headed by his father, a Baptist preacher, and his mother, Bessie Ball, a pianist. Later, he moved with his family to Spartanburg, South Carolina where his father was heading Fernwood Baptist church. David lived in a ranch-style brick-wood house at 104 Emory Road. 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 Records in the late 1980s failed to provide a solo breakthrough, however, and a projected album was shelved. The experience did at least serve to introduce him to producer Blake Chancey, son of legendary 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 #2 on the Billboard country music charts and #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 these 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, he had a smash hit with "Riding with Private Malone", from the 2001 album Amigo on the Dualtone label. This album failed to produce any other hits, however, and Ball exited Dualtone in 2002. Freewheeler followed in 2004, and Heartaches by the Number in 2007, although neither of these produced any significant singles.

Discography

Albums

• ^ADavid Ball was recorded in 1989 and remained unreleased until 1994.

Singles

References

External links

• David Ball's official website