Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949 in Orange , Texas ) is an American blues singer and pianist.
Ball grew up in Vinton , Louisiana , where she grew up in a musical family. All female family members played the piano. She began playing the piano at the age of five, but she did not come into contact with the blues until the age of 13, when she heard more modern music from her aunt than what she had previously heard from her grandmother's collection. In 1970 she wanted to go to San Francisco, but a car breakdown in Austin, Texas, after getting to know the city, made her stay there. There she founded her first band ( Freda and the Firedogs ), in 1974 she started her solo career. She first recorded critically acclaimed albums with Rounder Records, and in 2001 she signed a recording deal with Alligator Records .
Her piano playing is rooted in the New Orleans Blues, as represented by James Booker and Professor Longhair , and contains elements of Zydeco and Boogie-Woogie . She described Irma Thomas as the main influence on her singing style . She is one of the most famous representatives of the Louisiana Blues .
Marcia Ball has established itself as an important part of the club scene in both New Orleans and Austin , performing at festivals and concerts in Europe alongside her concerts in North America.
Awards
- 1998 Blues Music Award as “Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year” and as “Best Blues Instrumentalist – Keyboards.”
- 1999 Appearance at the White House alongside BB King
- 2002 Blues Music Award for Presumed Innocent as "Blues Album of the Year."
- 2004 Blues Music Award for So Many Rivers as “Contemporary Blues Album of the Year” and as “Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year”, album nominated for a Grammy
- 2005–2007 Blues Music Award as “Piano Player of the Year.”
- 2009 Blues Music Award as “Piano Player of the Year.”
- 2010 Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame
Discography
- 1972: Freda and the Firedogs
- 1978: Circuit Queen
- 1979: Freda & The Firedogs "Live From The Old Soap Creek Saloon, Austin / Texas, special guest: Doug Sahm (Big Wheel Records No. 10876)
- 1984: Soulful Dress
- 1985: Hot Tamale Baby
- 1989: Gatorhythms
- 1990: Dreams Come True
- 1994: Blue House
- 1997: Let Me Play With Your Poodle
- 1998: Sing It! ( nominated for the Grammy and Blues Music Award together with Tracy Nelson and Irma Thomas )
- 2001: Presumed Innocent
- 2003: So Many Rivers
- 2004: Live at Waterloo Records
- 2005: Live! Down the Road (Grammy nomination)
- 2009: Peace, Love and BBQ
- 2011: Roadside Attractions
- 2014: The Tattooed Lady & The Alligator Man
- 2018: Shine Bright
- Guest appearances
- 2000: Don Wise - In the verge of survival , with Delbert McClinton
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Ball, Marcia |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American blues singer and pianist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 20, 1949 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Orange , Texas |