Artist Information
Thinkin’ Problem, the platinum selling debut album by legendary artist & songwriter David Ball, has been re-issued and released by Omnivore Recordings. Originally debuted in 1994 on Warner Brothers, Thinkin’ Problem spawned 5 hit singles to country radio from 1994-1995, including the chart-topping title cut. The deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition contains seven additional songs from that period, a previously unreleased alternate title cut, and never before seen images from the original photo session, kept in the Warner Brothers vault for twenty-five years. A first time available issue of the album is distributed for streaming and download on all digital platforms, with a physical CD available at independent record stores and online at David’s website.
Ball grew up in Spartanburg, SC where he learned to play guitar but later honed his skills on the upright bass, which led to a gig playing bass in Uncle Walt’s Band, credited as the first Americana act. The legendary trio was headed by Walter Hyatt and also included Champ Hood. A solo career led Ball to Nashville where he signed a publishing deal and later, a recording contract. His music came full circle when Lyle Lovett reached back into Uncle Walt’s Band repertoire to include one of Ball’s early songs, “Don’t You Think I Feel It Too” on his 2009 disc, Natural Forces. A first-ever compilation, titled Anthology: Those Boys From Carolina, They Sure Enough Could Sing, was released by Omnivore Recordings, March 2018.
Fall 2018, Ball released his tenth studio album, Come See Me, on Public Records. Recorded at his home in Franklin, TN, this may be his most personal record yet; he wrote and produced every song. He describes the music this way: “This is melodic, hooky country music, the kind I grew up on. It’s fun to listen to. This is under-produced, non-corporate country music.” Fans of Willie’s Red Headed Stranger or Cash’s American Recordings will appreciate this approach.
“He has been consistently good for more years than I care to remember…but I wasn’t prepared for just how wonderful a piece of work this is.”
Duncan Warwick, Country Music People
Fourteen of Ball’s singles have entered the Billboard charts, including “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Riding With Private Malone,” which made him one of the first artists to take an indie single (not on a major record label) into the Country Top 5. He has recorded a total of ten studio albums, including his platinum certified Thinkin’ Problem. The title track was the top selling country song of 1994. Ball won a Grammy Award for the song “Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)” from the album Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs of Stephen Foster. (2005)
In 2011, he released his first ever collection of Christmas music, The Greatest Christmas. In addition to a few holiday favorites, 6 compositions are brand new David Ball classics! As a special Christmas present to his fans, he’s also included previously unreleased versions of two of his biggest hits.
Ball became one of the first living members to be inducted into the Historic Spartanburg Music Trail in his hometown of Spartanburg SC in 2013, joining other notables such as Hank Garland, Don Reno, Buck Trent and the Marshall Tucker Band.
In 1997 Bob Dylan invited Ball to join artists like Jerry Garcia, Bono, and Willie Nelson to celebrate The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute (1997). Later that same year, Dylan became the first rock star ever to receive Kennedy Center Honors, considered the nation’s highest award for artistic excellence. Ball joined Bruce Springsteen that evening, as they sang in tribute. Exactly twenty years later, The Kennedy Center invited him back to perform at the JFK Centennial Celebration in May of 2017.
“...he glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues, and even a touch of Tex-Mex with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material.”
Austin Chronicle
Ball continues to honor our military by participating in fundraisers for veterans’ charities around the country, and playing tribute shows for veterans and active duty service members. On Dec 16 2016, he was honored with the Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award.
