Award-winning blues performer Marcia Ball still hard at work

Award-winning blues performer Marcia Ball still hard at work
August 31, 2010
Sean Spillane
newstimes.com

n an interview a few years ago, award-winning performer Marcia Ball stated her desire to cut back on her touring schedule. She was nearing 60 at the time and was looking forward to focusing on her role as a new grandmother.

But, for better or worse, the offers keep rolling in and Ball keeps accepting.

"So far, no," Ball said in a recent phone interview, when asked if she's curtailed her concert appearances. "As long as the work is there and I'm enjoying it and my band is enjoying it, I don't see any reason to change or slow down or anything.

"And the people are enjoying us. That's what keeps it all going."

Ball, 61, is a Texas-born, Louisiana-bred singer-songwriter and the influences of both states shows in her music. She can be pounding away at the piano singing Texas blues one minute, and the next it's a dirty boogie straight out of the bayous of Louisiana.

It was through years of constant touring that Ball has built up a loyal following, espcially in the Gulf Coast region.

Her records continuously rake in the awards, but, as any fan will tell you, it's her live shows that earn their dedication.

"That's probably still true," Ball said of her reputation. "We do songs that we like doing and people like to hear.

"We do a lot of the songs that we recorded, especially from the last two records, so it's not that the material's not right (on the albums). It's just that there's an energy when you're on stage that's hard to capture any other way. It's the energy you get from the audience. It's the energy the band gets from one another."

Her latest record, "Peace, Love and BBQ," was released in 2008 and was a success, as usual debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Blues Chart. It was her fourth album for Alligator Records and the third straight to garner a Grammy Award nomination. Overall, she has four Grammy Award nominations, eight Blues Music Awards, and four Living Blues magazine Readers' Poll Awards.

Ball has a pretty steady touring schedule through January, but she's planning on hitting the studio soon to record the follow-up to "Peace, Love and BBQ."

"I should have something out in the spring, March or April," she said. "We're working on it right now. I'm doing some writing and Gary Nicholson is going to produce.

"He's a friend of mine from Nashville and he's produced a record or two for Delbert (McClinton) and writes a lot of songs with him and with a lot of other people."

Belle of the Ball

Grammy Award nominations for her albums "Peace, Love and BBQ" (2008), "Live! Down the Road" (2005) and "So Many Rivers" (2003). A fourth Grammy nod for "Sing It!" (1998) with Irma Thomas and Tracy Nelson.

Eight Blues Music Awards, four piano player of the year honors, two best contemporary blues female artist of the year awards and a contemporary blues album of the year for "So Many Rivers," and blues album of the year for "Presumed Innocent" (2001).

Four Living Blues Readers' Poll Awards for blues female artist of the year in 2009 and three as most outstanding musician (keyboard) from 2007 to 2009.

Inducted to the Austin (Texas) Music Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame earlier this year.