David Ball (country musician)
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| David Ball | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | July 9, 1953 |
| 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 |
| Website | Official website |
David Ball (born July 9, 1953 in Rock Hill, South Carolina[1]) is an American country musician known for his neotraditional style. Active since 1988, he has recorded a total of seven studio albums on several different labels. Fourteen of Ball's singles have entered the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts; his highest-peaking chart entries to date are 1994's "Thinkin' Problem" and 2002's "Riding With Private Malone", both of which peaked at #2.
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[edit] Biography
David Ball was born into a musical family headed by his father, a Baptist preacher, and his mother, a musician. Later, he moved with his family to Spartanburg, South Carolina, and 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. Freewheeler followed in 2004, and Heartaches by the Number in 2007.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Label | Chart Positions | RIAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US 200 | ||||
| 1994 | Thinkin' Problem | Warner Bros. | 6 | 53 | Platinum |
| David BallA | RCA | ||||
| 1996 | Starlite Lounge | Warner Bros. | 44 | ||
| 1999 | Play | 60 | |||
| 2000 | Super Hits | ||||
| 2001 | Amigo | Dualtone | 11 | 120 | |
| 2004 | Freewheeler | Wildcatter | |||
| 2007 | Heartaches By the Number | Shanachie | |||
- ADavid Ball was recorded in 1989 and remained unreleased until 1994.
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Hot 100 | |||
| 1988 | "You Go, You're Gone" | 55 | David Ball | |
| "Steppin' Out'" | 46 | |||
| 1989 | "Gift of Love" | 64 | ||
| 1994 | "Thinkin' Problem" | 2 | 40 | Thinkin' Problem |
| "When the Thought of You Catches up with Me" | 7 | 107 | ||
| 1995 | "Look What Followed Me Home" | 11 | ||
| "What Do You Want with His Love" | 48 | |||
| "Honky Tonk Healin'" | 50 | |||
| 1996 | "Hangin' in and Hangin' On" | 67 | Starlite Lounge | |
| "Circle of Friends" | 49 | |||
| 1999 | "Watching My Baby Not Coming Back" | 47 | Play | |
| "I Want to with You" | 67 | |||
| 2001 | "Riding with Private Malone" | 2 | 36 | Amigo |
| 2004 | "Louisiana Melody" | 60 | Freewheeler | |
| 2005 | "Too Much Blood in My Alcohol Level"A | |||
- AFailed to chart.
[edit] References
- ^ Loftus, Johnny. David Ball biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
