![]() ![]() There were two singers in the UK who were really big. RB: Yeah it was Adam Faith and the Roulettes. What memories stand out to you from that era? It was incredible, incredible excitement with Elvis.Ĭome the 1960s, you’d have the British Invasion, during which you played with The Roulettes. And then Chuck Berry was playing electric blues. Normally you heard the acoustic blues by black Chicago guys, which was great. Then there was suddenly this blues music, although it didn’t sound like the normal blues. ![]() And (Vaughn Monroe song) “The Railroad Runs Through the Middle of the House”. ![]() There was Guy Mitchell and people like that singing the blues *whistles*. Before Elvis and “Heartbreak Hotel”, there were things like Rosemary Clooney. It was like hearing something from another planet. I remember being at a birthday party and hearing Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel”. I wanted to play guitar more than piano, but today I play piano as much as I play guitar.Ĭould you tell us a bit about those early days when rock n’ roll first came onto the scene? My brother was already going to piano lessons, so I went to piano lessons from age 8 to 12 and a half. They sent me to piano lessons when I was 8. And then rock n’ roll happened and I was turned on by rock more so. My dad used to play traditional jazz records. She used to play things like Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”. The first music I remember was light classical music. I could remember my mother playing when she was very young. My brother was a pianist, so I was surrounded by music. One was a professional trumpeter and the other was semi-pro. She had two brothers who played trumpets. RB: Well, I pursued music from the moment I was born, or the moment I could hear and register music, I was into it. So what we’re going to attempt to do in this interview is touch on all of the major facets in your career, starting from the beginning. Here in Chicago, usually the sun is out around now, but there’s a torrential downpour going on outside. The sun is out and that’s unusual for this area *laughs*. Russ Ballard: I’m great thanks! I’m feeling really good. Greetings Russ and welcome to Defenders of the Faith! How are you doing this morning? Ballard was kind enough to sit down with us for an in depth discussion looking back upon his remarkable 60 year career. Did we mention he was the guitarist and lead singer for Argent too? Mr. When we expand our reach to the world of mainstream rock and pop music, the list grows even longer, including the likes of Santana, America, Three Dog Night, Ringo Starr, Roger Daltrey, The Shadows, and more. Among the acts who have recorded his songs are Rainbow, KISS, Ace Frehley, Uriah Heep, Night Ranger, Samson, A II Z, Tokyo Blade, Chevy, Magnum, Girl, Doro…and that’s just within the hard and heavy realm. His songs have dominated both AM and FM radio for decades. Russ Ballard is living, breathing rock history. ![]()
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