Clint Ballard, Jr.

Clint Ballard, Jr. (born May 24, 1931 in El Paso, Texas; died December 23, 2008 in Denton, Texas^[1]) was an American songwriter. He wrote two Billboard Hot 100 number one hits. The first was "Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders in 1965.^[2] The second was the 1975 hit, "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt.^[3]

He also wrote "I'm Alive" for The Hollies, which was number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1965; and also "Good Timin'" for Jimmy Jones which reached number one in the UK five years earlier in 1960.

Other songs include "Gingerbread" for Frankie Avalon, and "There's Not a Minute" for Ricky Nelson and "Gotta Get a Hold of Myself" for The Zombies - see fuller list below.

Earlier in his career in 1957, Ballard 'discovered' the Kalin Twins and became their manager.^[4]

He is not to be confused with fellow music industry notaries; Russ Ballard, Glen Ballard or Hank Ballard.

Songwriting credits

• "A Cold, Cold Winter" - Walter Jackson
• "A Miracle" - Gene McDaniels
• "A Very Good Year for Girls" - Johnny Tillotson, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
• "Come Back Little Sheba" - Original cast of Little Sheba
• "Come Out Dancin'" - Ricky Nelson
• "Don't You Even Care (What's Gonna Happen to Me) - The Hollies
• "Fiddle Around" - Jan and Dean
• "Game of Love" - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
• "Gingerbread" - Frankie Avalon
• "Good Timin'" - Jimmy Jones
• "Gotta Get a Hold of Myself" - Michael Haslam, Dee Dee Warwick, The Zombies
• "Hey Lulu" - Shane Fenton
• "I'm Alive" - The Hollies
• "In The Rain" - Billy Eckstine
• "It Isn't There" - The Swinging Blue Jeans, Johnny Burnette
• "It's Better Than Nothing At All" - Louis Prima
• "It's Just a Little Bit Too Late" - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, The Druids
• "It Would Still Be Worth It" - Connie Francis
• "Je Revis" - Frank Alamo
• "Journey's End" - Frankie Laine
• "My Brother's a Basehead" - De La Soul
• "My Precious Angel" - Jimmy Jones
• "Now That You've Got Me (You Don't Seem to Want Me)" - The Swinging Blue Jeans
• "Oh Julie" - Jan and Dean
• "Oh No!" - The Browns
• "One of Us (Will Weep Tonight)" - Patti Page
• "She Needs Love" - Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
• "Speak Her Name" - David and Jonathan, Walter Jackson
• "Stop Crying, Little Girl" - Arthur Prysock
• "Sufferer" - Patti Drew
• "There's Not a Minute" - Ricky Nelson
• "You Ain't Right" - The Frost
• "You're No Good" - Dee Dee Warwick, Betty Everett, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Linda Ronstadt, Wild Orchid, Van Halen, Michael Bolton

^[5]

Growing up

When Ballard was 3 years old, he played the piano for KTSM, an El Paso radio station. When he was 11, he attended a musical program for gifted students at the University of North Texas. After serving in the U.S. Army, he moved to New York and became a song writer and a composer of musicals, including Come Back Little Sheba. His song, Hey, Little Baby, was recorded by band leader Mitch Miller and became the theme of the 1958 World's Fair in Belgium.^[6][7][8]

References

External links

• Songwriting creditation at Allmusic.com