David Ball

David Ball was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, growing up in a family where everyone played an instrument. Starting out on guitar, he eventually gravitated to bass fiddle. David joined childhood friends Walter Hyatt and Champ Hood in Uncle Walt's band and subsequently relocated to another fertile landscape, Austin, Texas. "All kinds of great music were being made in Texas." In the mid 1980's, a publishing deal brought David to Nashville.

In 1993, David recorded his now multi platinum debut album and single Thinkin' Problem for Warner Brothers, which to date has sold 3 million copies. Thinkin' Problem garnered him a Grammy nomination as Male Vocalist of the Year. David wrote or co-wrote all but one song on the album and has received the BMI Millionaire Award (for over one million air plays) for "Thinkin' Problem," "When the Thought of You Catches Up With Me" and "Look What Followed Me Home." He was soon touring with some of the biggest acts in Country Music: Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakum, and Toby Keith.

David's work caught the attention of Bob Dylan who invited him to join artists like Jerry Garcia, Bono, and Willie Nelson on The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute in 1997. Later that same year, David joined Bruce Springsteen as they performed at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception, celebrating Dylan's impact on American music.

David Ball was one of the first artists to take an independent record to the Country top 5 as his 2002 smash "Riding With Private Malone," from the album Amigo hit 2. USA Today called it "a country-music ghost story with both tragic and hopeful elements, an allegory for freedom and sacrifice."

In 2005 David won a Grammy for the song "Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)" from the album Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster. That same year, Freewheeler featured the hit single and video "Too Much Blood In My Alcohol Level. "Honoring his influences, David's 2006 disc, Heartaches By The Number, contained renditions of David's favorite classic recordings. Calling it a 'Critic's Choice,' People magazine wrote: "While flashier, less talented singers have risen to prominence in Nashville since his 1994 debut... David gets right to the heart of it."

In 2009, David's music came full circle: Lyle Lovett reached back into Uncle Walt's Band repertoire to include one of David's early songs, "Don't You Think I Feel It Too" on his latest disc, Natural Forces.

David begins 2010 with the release Sparkle City, his first new album in three years. The album is scheduled for an April 20 release on E1 Entertainment's Red Dirt E1 Records. The first single from Sparkle City, "Hot Water Pipe," shipped to radio stations in February. David's three year break from recording was spent writing songs and putting together the backing band he always envisioned for his music. David's band, The Pioneer Playboys, features Troy Cook Jr. on guitar, Billy Pierce on bass, and Scott Metko on drums. The Playboys played on all Sparkle City tracks. The band toured throughout 2009, playing night clubs, theaters, and festivals, refining the songs which have been included on the new album. David and the Playboys will be touring throughout 2010 in support of Sparkle City.

David Ball gets right to the Heart of what makes Country Music Great! Entertainment Weekly

David Ball is the Honky Tonk Stylist Supreme! USA Today

A convincingly wise interpreter of Country Music. People Magazine