 Marcia Ball
ARCHIVE: March 28
Marcia Ball’s prolific studio work is sandwiched between live appearances that keep her constantly in touch with her legion of fans throughout the U.S. and Europe. She received the 1998 W.C. Handy Blues Award for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year and was nominated again in 2000 as well, for Blues Instrumentalist-Keyboards. In 1999, Marcia and her band appeared In Performance At The White House along with B.B King and Della Reese which was broadcast nationally on WETA Public Television.
"Ball's one of the most flamboyant keyboardists in blues, as well as one of the most talented."—Mark Bialczak, The Post Standard, Syracuse, NY, July 1999
In early 2001, Marcia signed with Alligator Records, a much-respected blues label based in Chicago. Her first album for Alligator, Presumed Innocent, spent seven months on the Billboard Blues Charts, garnered a mountain of good press and won the 2002 W.C. Handy Blues Award for Blues Album of the Year.
"Singer/pianist Marcia Ball knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls. Presumed Innocent (is) without question one of the best of 2001."—Michael Wojoik, Bluesletter, September 2001
Full-tilt or subtle as the moment demands, this unabashed powerhouse is at home playing roadhouse rock, jump-blues, second line syncopation (a la Professor Longhair, one of Ball’s idols), R&B, deep soul, and ballads. What’s more, Ball’s great singing and songwriting are matched by superb piano playing that is eclectic and effective.
"Ball has long been a triple threat as formidable musician, singer and entertainer. She can shift from elegant to Little Richard in a heartbeat."—Mindy Giles, Pulse!, July 2001
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Background
Marcia Ball honed her musical chops while growing up in the small town of Vinton, Louisiana, on the Texas border. A hotbed of country, blues, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, rockabilly and Gulf Coast “swamp pop”, Marcia absorbed it all.
Marcia hit Austin in the early 1970's just as the progressive country movement was growing. Ball was a popular figure on the Austin scene— first as the leader of the beloved Freda & the Firedogs, then as a solo artist. Her 1978 debut Circuit Queen was critically acclaimed.
By the early '80s Ball was focusing on Gulf Coast rhythm & blues. In addition to her albums Soulful Dress, Hot Tamale Baby, Gatorhythms, Blue House, and Let Me Play with Your Poodle, Marcia also found time to collaborate with Angela Strehli and Lou Ann Barton on Dreams Come True.
At the end of 1997, Marcia finished work on Sing It!— this time in the distinguished company of Irma Thomas and Tracy Nelson. Released in January 1998, this album was nominated for both a Grammy and Handy as “Best Contemporary Blues Album”. Ball also appears as a featured singer with Cajun country legends the Hackberry Ramblers on their recent Deep Water album, where she makes her recording debut singing in Cajun French (“Les Blues de Bosco”).
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