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Already, Ball was polishing her Professor Longhair and working the boogie-woogie sound she'd always loved into her songwriting.
The harmonious weave of both country and Bayou boogie in Ball's repertoire was natural given her "dual citizenship. Marcia Mouton was born Texan by circumstance and grew up Louisianan by luck. The Moutons were musical by heritage. Her grandfather founded the Breaux Bridge town band, her grandmother played piano, and her father played baritone sax in the Vinton town band. Marcia's fascination with ivory 88s came naturally at an early age. Playing to best my cousin, playing for fun.
As far back as I can remember hearing boogie-woogie, I liked it. It was a quiet childhood; even with the uneasy rumblings of the civil rights movement, Ball recalls a coexistence not understood by those outside the South. Summer brought freedom in the form of a job as a lifeguard at the local pool.
The friend was a folksinger from Houston, who also taught kindergarten. Without her guitar handy, she played tunes on the Mouton's piano that were nothing like the 78s Ball grew up hearing or the 45s her older brother wouldn't let her touch. When she heard "Puff the Magic Dragon," that was it. A hip college roommate and the youth movement of the times expanded her world experience, as did joining a band. A broken heart inspired her first songwriting.
One player moved to San Francisco, another to Austin. Marcia married her sweetheart Bob Ball in the spring of , traveled the country in a VW camper, and in relocated to Austin. Then I would have been there for the rebirth of French and Louisiana culture. In my dream, I'd still be playing music, but I'd be singing in French and playing accordion. I moved here after Janis was here and gone.
Moved to Texas during the Louisiana renaissance and Professor Longhair's career was being revived. She also became serious about community: Ball continues to be a featured performer at countless benefits and fundraisers between Texas and Louisiana. This time, she was singing with another formidable voice, Tracy Nelson, as well as Irma Thomas. Around this time, Ball upped her professional profile another notch by becoming a featured performer on Delbert McClinton's annual blues cruise in the Caribbean.
He's a contemporary who speaks from five decades of experience on the same honky-tonk circuit and with the same long climb to career success. People get to hang out with the musicians and discover that they're regular people. Marcia's one they all wanna meet and talk with. She aims for the back wall, every night, tries her very best all the time, and there's not a person in the world that can't take their hat off to that. It's a hard life, and to stay with it, you've got to be committed.
You don't just say you're committed; you are committed. That's the world where Marcia lives. Despite playing opposite Los Lobos there are four different stages at this festival , Marcia had a great crowd. There were loads of people dancin' in the dirt to the great tunes. Marcia played a few new songs we had not heard of..
Thanks again for the great show. First time live for me Saw you at Frog Island Festival in Ypsilanti last week.
Thought I was in St. Gabriel's for a minute there. That was my first hearing of you and the band, and I couldn't believe that with that much talent and energy that you guys aren't a household name already. Just a matter of a short time, I'm sure! In addition to the excellent tunes, Marcia, you connected with the audience as if you were playing at a family reunion. Just ordered Blue House and can't wait to get it! Hope to see more of y'all in the future!
My first exposure to the group. All five members are obviously extremely talented. I was floored by the energy and excellent music that Marcia and Co. No one noticed the downpour that soaked the field because everybody was rockin' right along with the band. Keep it up Marcia! I find your site easy to navigate and easy to read. I live in Louisiana and have seen you play many times; your shows are always excellent. But one night I was in the Bayou, a bar in Baton Rouge playing pool, and you put your quarters on the table.
Portrait of Marcia Ball - Kindle edition by Marian McPartland. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like. Digital Sheet Music for Portrait of Marcia Ball by Marian McPartland, scored for Piano Solo, id
I won and was given the privilege of playing Marcia Ball in pool. I won the game and she bought me a beer. Marcia, if you read this, I want you and your fans to know that you are a most unpretentious person, you seemed very down to earth, and it was an excellent experience. USA - Monday, June 26, at I really enjoyed your singing.
By the way, I am from Shreveport. You are a super great singer and entertainer. As it was a traditional country station, they passed on the music but I grabbed it. I have been a fan ever since and got to see her and her band live at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans about 2 years later. I was blown away by the live shows. I have been hoping to see her in Central PA ever since, however, the closest I know she has been is Philadelphia.
One of these times, I will get there to see her again. I have also introduced her music to several blues fans in the area and they are now fans too. Thanks for the great music. The only disappointment was that Irma Thomas couldn't continue the tradition of crashing your sets. Not that we really expected it to happen, but hope springs eternal! Please keep the RamsHead as one of your stops when you tour! Thought you better than ever in 12 years as your ultimate cheerleader!! Sitting here still buzzin' from the show at the Bottom Line last night.
Thanks for another killer show. It was really a treat to see ya again so soon after Jimmy's at Jazzfest this year. A little different here in NYC but just as hot! Look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thanx again for having your picture taken with me. USA - Sunday, May 28, at As a guy and bassist who spent many years in New Orleans, and listened to a lot of Mac and Fess, I am happy that you have taken that piano style and incorporated your own ideas into it. Your songs are deceptively simple, infectious and memorable, not to mention groovalicious. The band was exellent, and your playing that night was everything that style should be and more, and you sang from the heart. I think ol' Fess would be proud of you. Third year in succession and worth the distance, worth the effort.
Three hours plus of pure magic. My son and future daughter in law are to be married on June 2, They have searched all over for the sheet music to your "The Power of Love" from your Gatorhythms album. We are down to the deadline here.
We have searched for weeks and weeks for the sheet music so that your song can be sung at their wedding. She has her heart set on this and I have come up with an empty hand at all avenues. We have called Rounder Records and have gotten nowhere. Is there any way that you can help us to get the sheet music for this? Is there anywhere that you could direct us at this point? Please email me with anything that could help.
We are always missing you. Over 6 feet tall in heels, "Her Tallness," as Ball is affectionately called on her Web site www. It may help the "funk" I'll be in And yeah you're right, you got your "Soulful Dress", bro Your music was better than ever I live in Louisiana and have seen you play many times; your shows are always excellent.
My future daughter-in-law loves your music. Anything you can do to help us here would be appreciated. I've seen you play there. I have yet to see another act that seems to mesmerize people like you do. And Don Bennett on bass has got to be the finest earth specimen I know of. He can take a bass line and make it sound interesting all day!
Hope to catch you in Atlanta. I have enjoyed being your "pen pel" very much. Please continue to write back to me. Great site, great band, great state! Or hope to catch a show in Texas, will be in the fall mid-september,so you can sign the CD covers. Great rousin' rollickin' music last night at the Paramount Theater in Ashland Brought a lot of warmth to a cold rainy Tuesday!! Bein' one lonely blues fan here in country music heaven, this was a treat! Your musicians in the band were superb!
Don't get to hear that baritone sax done so well very often and the guitarist I bought every CD except the 2 I already owned. You are singing now as I work on a portrait in my studio. As one artist to another, please come back to these parts again and again. Venue was a little "different", but the performance was wonderful. Sorry it's late, but better late than never. From your friends in Baton Rouge. Come visit us at http: Any plans of the River Fest this year?
That was my first Marcia experience years ago and have been a fan ever since! Ybor City in November was great. I was the one dancing all across the floor while people were looking at me like I was insane What a great show. Too bad everybody missed it. What's up with that? What a great singer and piano player. Good luck, and thanks for that mega-jolt to the boogie nerve. The show was great, and at almost two hours we got a real earfull. We can attest that there were a LOT of new Marcia converts all around us; we made sure to enlighten those who wanted to know more!
Also, the fistfights and arrests right in front of the stage was a real downer.
But, even though there were numerous rough spots, the band, with its new members, seemed to be really trying to get it together, and overall a good time was had by all! Can't wait to see you at Jazz Fest. Shine Bright is the kind of record that makes one want to reach out to others, to take off one's headphones and listen to the people in the street, look at what's happening on the flyers on the kiosks, try that restaurant that always has a line of smiling people waiting outside the door, and just do something one has been putting off for too long.
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