Descriptive Summary
Creator
Marcia Ball
Dates:
1970-2018
Abstract:
The papers of singer, songwriter, and performer, Marcia Ball, span 1970 to 2018 and document her long and celebrated career in music. The material is arranged into the following series: Publicity, Photographs, Posters, Personal Papers, and Published Material.
Extent:
13 boxes, 10 linear feet
Biographical Sketch
Marcia Ball is a widely-renowned blues, Americana and boogie-woogie piano player and singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas. She was born in Orange, Texas (March 20, 1949), raised in Vinton, Louisiana, and first started playing in public while attending Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, but didn’t begin her music career in earnest until moving to Austin in 1970. Stylistically, her music has always been equally rooted in Texas and Louisiana, as reflected by her induction into both the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, as well as her being named 2018’s Official State Musician of Texas.
Raised in a musical family, Ball began playing piano at age 5, and seven years later discovered her lifelong passion for soul and rhythm & blues after attending an Irma Thomas concert at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans. She studied English in college but dropped out to play in a local blues rock band called Gum. At 21, she left Louisiana with plans to move out to San Francisco, but her car broke down in Austin and she ended up staying, falling in right away with the city’s burgeoning music scene. Together with guitarist John X Reed, bassist Bobby Earl Smith, steel and rhythm guitar player David Cook, and drummer Steve McDaniels, she formed the progressive country band Freda and the Firedogs. The group caught the attention of legendary Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler, who invited them to record some demos at a studio in Tyler, Texas, in August 1972. Atlantic liked the results enough to want to release the tracks as an album, but the offer was rescinded after the band contested the financial details of the label’s contract. Decades later, after the original tapes were lost in a fire in Atlantic’s vaults, Wexler provided the band (long since broken up) with a copy from his own collection so that that they could release it independently in 2002. A subsequent reissue in 2021 also featured three bonus tracks from another previously unreleased session, with Texas producer Huey Meaux at Houston’s Sugar Hill Studios in 1974.
After Freda and the Firedogs disbanded in 1974, Ball embarked on a successful solo career that netted her a deal of her own with Capitol Records in 1977. Her solo debut, Circuit Queen, released the following year, would be her only record for the major label, but she soon after found a new home on the independent Rounder Records. Beginning with 1984’s Soulful Dress, she would record half a dozen albums for the label before moving to another independent, Alligator Records, for 2001’s Presumed Innocent. As of 2022, she has released nine albums on Alligator, the most recent being 2018’s Shine Bright. In 1990, while still signed to Rounder as a solo artist, Ball recorded a trio album with fellow Texas blues singers Lou Ann Barton and Angela Strehli; titled Dreams Come True, it was released on the Austin-based blues label, Antone’s Records. Ball’s last album for Rounder, 1998’s Sing It!, was another trio project, this time with her teenage hero, Irma Thomas, and Tracy Nelson.
Ball has received considerable critical acclaim throughout her entire career, and also been honored with several notable awards and nominations. These include five Grammy nominations, for Sing It!, 2003’s So Many Rivers, 2005’s Live! Down the Road, 2008’s Peace, Love & BBQ, and 2010’s Roadside Attractions, as well as 11 wins from the Blues Music Awards and 10 from the Living Blues Awards. In 2018, the same year that she was designated Official State Musician of Texas, Ball was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. In addition to Austin City Limits, she has also appeared on PBS’s In Performance at the White House, HBO’s Treme, and CBS’s The Late Show with David Letterman, and been featured in Martin Scorsese’s PBS series The Blues and the independent film Angels Sing (with Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Harry Connick Jr.). In 2020, during the COVID lockdown, Ball co-founded HOME — Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that helps older musicians in the Austin area pay their rent and utilities. She serves as the charity’s vice-president.
Bio provided by Richard Skanse, 2022
Scope and Content Note
The papers of singer, songwriter, and performer, Marcia Ball, span 1970 to 2018 and document her long career in music. It is arranged into the following series: 1) Publicity, 2) Photographs, 3) Posters, 4) Oversized Material, 5) Personal Papers, and 6) Published Material. Series descriptions follow:
Series I: Publicity, 1970-2018
Boxes 1-4
Publicity is divided into Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, and Flyers and Promotional Materials. Newspaper and magazine clippings about Marcia Ball were collected and distributed through promotional packets, press kits, album release announcements, and more, and they span nearly fifty years. Flyers and promotional materials include a variety of items relating to shows, benefits, and festivals, as well as business cards, bumper stickers, and other ephemera.
Series II: Photographs, 1978-2006
Boxes 4, 6
Photographs include over 100 images of Marcia Ball, including promotional photographs as well as candid performance shots. Also include are some early passport or photobooth photos of Ball, and a contact sheets of her in a 1960s bowling outfit, possibly for a film.
Series III: Posters, 1984-2018
Box 5
This series includes over 60 posters for concerts, benefits, and other appearances. Most feature Marcia Ball, but some include other artists, particularly a number of posters for the Austin venue, La Zona Rosa, owned by Ball and her husband, Jim Fowler.
Series IV: Oversized Materials
Box 6
Oversized Materials includes LPs with Marcia Ball Albums 1978-1989, a Marcia Ball portrait; signed photos including one of Jim Hightower, magazine articles, and “Flag Songs of Texas” sheet music.
Series V: Personal Papers, 1977-2005
Box 7-8
Personal Papers includes correspondence, including notes from political leaders Lloyd Doggett, Jim Hightower, and Jim Doyle. Also includes is material documenting the business side of Ball’s performing career including tour itineraries, contracts, and invoices. There is a small amount of fan club material, and a number of envelopes of clippings that Dee Hunskier sent to Ball’s parents, Hope and Millard Mouton. Finally, in this series is some material relating to Hurricane Katrina benefits that Ball supported or organized.
Series VI: Published Materials, 1970-2008
Boxes 9-12
Published material includes numerous magazines and newspapers with articles about Marcia Ball’s career, concerts, lifestyle. Also featured are stories about her and her husband, Jim Fowler, and their Austin restaurant / music venue, La Zona Rosa.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Open for research
Preferred Citation
Marcia Ball Papers, The Wittliff Collections, Texas State University
Acquisition Information
Donated by Marcia Ball, 2019
Processing Information
Processed by Lauren Sollohub, Stephanie Forsythe, and Katie Salzmann, 2022
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I: Publicity, 1970-2018
Newspaper and Magazine Clippings, 1970s-2018
Box Folder
1970s
1 1 Newspaper clippings. 1970-January 17, 1979.; Typed article draft of “Caught in
the Act: Marcia Ball, Wise Fools Pub, Chicago” by Ben Sandmel, 1977.
1 2 Capitol Records Official Press Kit for 1976-1977, “Circuit Queen” album
1980s
1 3 Press Clippings 1980-May 14, 1989
1 4 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival program book, May 1-10, 1981
1 5 Rounder Records press kit, album Release “Soulful Dress” 1981-1984
1 6 Rounder Records press clippings; Toronto Star Newspaper Article, May-October 1986
1 7 News Clippings: Rounder Records printed press clippings including Nashville
Banner Lifestyles; The Washington Post; People Weekly article
“Gatorhythms”; Jazz Fest Heritage Fair artist passes. Printed facsimile
from Rick Barrett, article draft concert review.1989.
1990s
1 8 Press clippings, 1990-May 27, 1991.
1 9 News clippings including 1990 Naird Indie Award, “Dreams Come True”.
The Birmingham News “City Stages: A Birmingham Festival”. June 1990.;
Wichita Society Newsletter; Austin American-Statesman, January-
October 1990
1 10 Rounder Records press kit, 1991
1 11 Rounder Records printed press clippings including The Denver Post;
Austin American-Statesman Ad; Beale Street Music Festival Pass; JazzFest; Houston Press Kit. January-October 1991
1 12 Miller Genuine Draft band network press kit with memorandum, October
15, 1992
1 13 Rounder Records printed press clippings Including Birmingham Post
Harold; Globe-Gazette; St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January-December 1992.
1 14 Press clippings including Austin American-Statesman; Kansas City Star;
Blueprint Magazine; Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival; KUT 90.5 FM. Typed Letter from Las Vegas Blues Society, Blues News Including Blues Magazine (three copies), January-December 1993
2 1 Rounder Records printed press clippings including Northwest Airlines
World Traveler International Edition; Austin American-Statesman Onward Issues; Chicago Sun-Times. January-November 1994. Printed facsimile article draft from The Wichita Eagle, January - December 13, 1994
2 2 Press clippings Including Austin American-Statesman; Blues House
Reviews; Los Angeles Times; San Antonio Express News. January-November 1995
2 3 Press clippings including Fax with Original unedited Southern Living
Story; Southern Living Magazine; New Country magazine; Houston Chronical. January-October 1996
2 4 1997 Rounder Records printed press clippings Including promotion for “Let Me
Pet Your Poodle”; The Washington Post; Music City Blues newsletter; Bluesrag newsletter; Rounder Records press kit. May-November 1997.
2 5 1998 Press clippings including Blues Connection; JazzTimes; Big City Blues
magazine; Blues Revue; Boston Globe music review; music reviews for “Sing It!”, February-November 1998
2 6 1998 “Sing It!” press kit, 1998
2 7 1998 Alligator Records official press kit with folder, 1998
2 8 1999 printed press clippings including Chicago Tribune rock review
FitzGerald’s American Music Festival; Grammy Award final nomination folder and ticket, including newspaper article featuring Marcia Ball, May-July 1999
2 9 2000s press clippings, 2000-November 2, 2008
2 10 2000 press clippings including The Texas Musician calendar (Signed); Buddy
magazine; Blues Print magazine; printed and annotated Draft of Louisiana
Cooking Magazine article featuring Marcia Ball, December 4, 2000.
2 11 2000 manilla folder: “2000 Press” including Blues Society newsletter; OffBeat
Magazine; printed correspondence; news clippings, June-September 2000
3 1 2001 Alligator Records official press kit with folder, 2001
3 2-3 2001 Alligator Records press clippings including reviews for Presumed
Innocent; Louisiana Cooking; Texas Music Magazine; Blues Beat, January-December 2001
3 4 2002-2005 press clippings. Music magazine Jefferson article in Swedish
magazine with letter from Jake Roussel and English translation, May 2003
3 5 2002-2018 Alligator Records official press kit, 2018 Alligator Records publicity
letter for Shine Bright, signed “Bruce Iglaur”; Austin City Limits induction
and celebration inductee to the “Hall of Fame” ticket event with article
and published book, 2002-2018
Flyers and Promotional Material, 1979-1997
3 6 1979-1997 Various promotional flyers for shows, benefits, and festivals,
including a table tent for Miller Genuine Draft; Marcia Ball Alligator Records business cards; The Marcia Ball Band merch mailers; assorted bumper stickers including Freda and the Firedogs; Southwest Texas State University annual student art exhibit flyer
4 1 1997 flyers and promotional material
Series II: Photographs, 1978-2006
4 2 Capitol Records promotional photo (3 copies), 1978
Freda and the Firedogs performing, contact sheet. Photographer: Michele Wright
[LaConis], Lafayette, Louisiana
Passport or photobooth pictures (2)
Austin Tejas Sounds promotional photo for Marcia Ball Band (3)
Freda and the Firedogs business card design for Bobby Earl Smith and Steve
McDaniels. By Jerry Harper and Micael Priest
4 3 Band photo, undated
Antones postcards featuring Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Burton, and Angela Strehli,
1990 (18 Copies)
Marcia Ball playing piano at Tramps, New Orleans (7)
Rounder Records promotional photo (2 copies; 1 signed “Thanks & Love,
Marcia”) Photograph by Randal Alhadeff
1991 promotional photo by Randall Alhadeff
Promotional photo with piano. Photographer: Brenda Ladd (12 copies)
Promotional photo leaning on piano. Photographer: Mark A. Guerra (6 copies)
Promotional photo in sweater. Photographer: Mark A. Guerra
Promotional photo in polka dot dress. Photographer: Mark A. Guerra
Promotional photo singing with microphone. Photographer: Tim Johnson (4)
4 4 Promotional photo smiling with microphone. Photographer: Tim Johnson (6
copies)
Marcia Ball Band promotional photo. Photographer: Scott Val Osdol (7 copies)
Promotional photo seated on piano. Photographer: Brenda Ladd
Contact sheet featuring Marcia Ball in 1960s outfit in bowling lane
Marcia Ball in 1960s outfit
Marcia Ball performing, July 1990. Photographer: John T. Greenwood
Color photo of Marcia Ball and band performing on outdoor stage
Black and white photo of Marcia Ball performing on stage with men holding
Dixie beer umbrellas over her
Marcia Ball performing wearing a “It’s a Boogie Thang” ballcap. Photographer:
Rita Weigand
Color print out of Marcia Ball performing, Birmingham, Alabama. Photographer:
Russell W. Chambliss
Marcia Ball with two others, 1998
Marcia Ball performing, undated
Marcia Ball performing with two other women, undated (3)
Marcia Ball with another woman from VH1’s Rock n. Roll Cities, includes note
from Janice Hilscher, 1991
Marcia Ball with Congressman, Lloyd Doggett. Includes note from Doggett, 1996
4 5 Digital Printed Picture of Marcia Ball on canvas
Publicity photo in red chair. Photographer: Mary Keating Bruton
Collage, Telluride, Co., Blues and Brews Festival. August 2004
Marcia Ball performing with band (4 photos)
Marcia Ball posing with Austin American Statesman newspaper (3 copies)
Marcia Ball with band and luggage in San Jose, California
Snapshots of Marcia Ball and band setting up on outdoor stage (4)
Snapshots of Marcia Ball and band performing, Manhattan (3)
6 Piano Night House of Blues, NOLA, May 1, 2006.
Series III: Posters, 1984-2018, undated
5 The 12th Annual Red Lady Salvation Ball, March 10, 1984
5 The 4th Annual T-Bird River Fest, June 2, 1986
5 Fitzgerald’s American Music Weekend, July 5, 1986
5 Marcia Ball Hot Tamale Baby album release poster, 1985 (3 copies)
5 Antone’s Thirteenth Anniversary, July 11, 1988 (3 copies)
5 Belgium Rhythm ‘N’ Blues, July 16, 1988
5 Marcia Ball Gatorythms album release poster, 1988
5 Baltimore’s Best Fest 92, September 3, 1992
5 La Zona Rosa Taj Mahal, June 5, 1993
5 Mardi Gras Jimmy’s Music Club, February 1993
5 Threadgill’s Restaurant & Dreyer Grand Ice Cream Present The 1rst Annual
Armadillo World Headquarters Homecoming Concert, September 1994
5 La Zona Rosa Robert Earl Keen, Jr. poster, July 4
5 La Zona Rosa New Year’s Eve Marcia Ball poster, December 31, 1993.
5 La Zona Rosa Joe Ely poster, July 1, 1994
5 La Zona Rosa Mayall Poster, September 24, 1994
5 La Zona Rosa Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Tish Hinojosa New Year’s Eve,
December 31, 1994
5 La Zona Rosa Terry Allen poster, August 15
5 La Zona Rosa Mose Allison poster, February 4
5 La Zona Rosa Kelly Willis, September 23, 1994
5 Cibolo Creek Country Club Marcia Ball poster, April 7, 1995
5 Texas Boogie-Woogie & Blues, December 9, 1995 (2 Copies)
5 Louisiana Red Hot Music Tour, May 26
5 Marcia Ball Let Me Play with Your Poodle album release poster, 1997 (4 copies)
5 Bayou Blues and Zydeco Festival, September 14, 1997 (2 Copies)
5 Queen of the Boogie Woogie, July 16, 1997
5 Marcia Ball So Many Rivers album release poster, 2003
5 Sunset Concert Series Mountain Village, July 12, 2000
5 2001 Summer Concert Series, July 8, 2001
5 Rio Theatre, February 21, 2002
5 Johnny Nichols Presents the 5th Annual Big Band Bash, November 9, 2002
5 St. Joseph Foundation Brazos Bash VII, signed by Johnny Lyon, April 19, 2002
5 Puistoblues 2003, June 25, 2003. (2 copies) and bumper sticker
5 18th Annual Portsmouth Blues Festival, 2003 Year of the Blues, 2003.
5 An Evening with Marcia Ball, December 17, 2004
5 Marcia Ball Tipitinas poster, December 15, 2006
5 Wow Hall, January 17, 2006 (2 copies)
5 6th Annual Art in the Park, March 29, 2008
5 Vinton Heritage Festival, October 9, 2010
5 Big Fine Daddy Music Productions, May 26, 2011
5 Tipitina’s Presents Marcia Ball, May 20, 2011
5 A Night of Boogie Boards signed by Marcia Ball, March 19, 2011
5 In the Name of the Dame, January 22, 2012
5 Jimmy’s 2011 Reunion Concert, May 1, 2011 (3 copies)
5 Doug Sahm All About the Groove, 2013
5 Marcia Ball poster, October 17, 2013
5 Sir Doug Sahm Night, March 21, 2015
5 Marcia Ball 3rd Annual Jazz Fest Appearance, May 2, 2017
5 Cindy’s Send Off Party, February 19, 2018
5 Marcia Ball Shine Bright album release, 2018
5 Big Daddy’s House of Blues, undated
5 Mojo Nixon Poster (2 copies) undated
5 St. Valentine’s Mardi Gras Ball with Marcia Ball, February 14
5 12th Annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, May 20
5 Mississippi Nights Presents Marcia Ball an Evening of Delta Blues, June 4
5 Marcia Ball album promotional poster, undated (2 copies)
5 The Red State Blues, signed, numbered 29/100, October 26
5 Tipitina’s, February 15
5 Bronco Brother’s Solid Country Music, undated
5 Marcia Ball Miller Genuine Draft poster, undated (2 copies)
5 Boulder Blues Festival
5 Original Poster Artboard for Lonestar Café
Series IV: Oversized Materials
6 LPs Including Circuit Queen, 1978.; Marcia Ball Soulful Dress, 1983.; Marcia
Ball Hot Tamale Baby, 1985.; Marcia Ball Gatorythems, 1989.
6 Third Coast: The Magazine of Austin feature on page. 132, November, 1983
6 Third Coast: The Magazine of Austin mention on page 134 Under Carlyne Majer
and featured on page 154 with Gordon Fowler, August, 1984
6 Wavelength front cover and feature on pg. 18 with Irma Thomas, February 1984
6 Flag Songs of Texas Words by Lee C. Hardy, Music by Aldridge B. Kidd
6 The Marcia Ball Band photo, undated
6 The Marcia Ball Band “Taste of Texas Tour”
6 Jim Hightower campaign signed matted photo
6 Concert photos with signed thank you note, 1984
6 Marcia Ball portrait, 1989
Series V: Personal Papers, 1977-2005
7 1 Correspondence, 1977-2004. Includes letters from Bob Bullock, Lloyd Doggett,
Jim Doyle, Jim Hightower, and Jerry Wexler
7 2 Tour itineraries, 1988-2008
7 3 Contracts, 1987-1988, 1993
7 4 Invoices, 1989-1997
7 5 Lists, 1988-2001
7 6 Marcia Ball fan club material, other musician newsletters, and fan art
7 7 Travel souvenirs, 1986-1987
7 8 Hurricane Katrina and post hurricane fundraiser materials, 2005
Newspaper clippings, 1964-2003
8 Envelopes of newspaper clippings sent to Hope and Millard Mouton, 1964-2003
Series VI: Published Material, 1970-2008
Magazines, 1973-2008
1970s
9 1 A.P.T: Austin People Today, Vol. 3, No. 3, feature on page. 8, September 1973
Country Music, feature on page 19, October, 1977 (Two Copies)
Country Music “Circuit Queen” review, page 46, May, 1978
Country Music “Bullet Awards Runner-Up” feature on page 36, January, 1978
(2 copies)
Country Music, mention page 50, April, 1978
Playboy feature on page 34, November, 1978 (Cover and article)
1980s
9 2 Country Music review of Freda and the Firedogs, page 45, March, 1980
Wavelength feature on page 10, June, 1981 (2 copies)
Wavelength “Hope, From Cousin Herbert” mention on page 20, May, 1981
A Women in Music Production “From Bessie to Billie to Now: A Festival of
Women Jazz Artists”, feature page 13, April 1981
Texas Highways mention on page. 9, August, 1981
Block (Netherlands), 1992
Wavelength mention on page 33, April, 1982
Louisiana Life: Magazine of the Bayou State feature on page 92, May/June, 1983
9 3 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Program mention on page 59, 1984
Musician feature on page 28, July, 1984
Record mention on page 58, August, 1984
Country Music review for “Soulful Dress” Pg. 62, May/June 1984
The Muse Magazine feature page 3, March 26, 1985
Easyriders, feature on page 27, March, 1985
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Program, mention on page 43, 1986
The New Yorker copy of article featuring Irma Thomas, Pg. 19. July 11, 1988
1990s
9 4 Cultural Vistas: Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities feature page 15,
Winter 1991.
Texas Highways mention page 23, February 1991
Off Beat mention page 51, May 1991
Experience Austin feature page 18m October 1992
Piano and Keyboard feature page 76, September 1994
Onward cover story, August 18, 1994
9 5 Offbeat feature on page 72, May 1996
Jazz Aspen Snowmass 1996
Roundup front page, 1997
Off Beat mention page 33, May 1997
Blues Connection front page feature page 5, March 1998
Where: Fort Worth mention page 16, October 1999
2000s
10 1 HILLVIEWS, Vol.30, No. 4 mention page 10, 2000
Austin Magazine feature page 46., Winter 2001
Saveur: Savor a World of Authentic Cuisine feature page 50, March 2002
(3 Copies)
10 2 Blues Revue: The Blues Authority cover feature page 8, June 2003 (2 copies)
Blues Revue: The Blues Authority mention, August 2003
Texas Highways mention page 47, June 2004
Louisiana Crossroads feature page 17, 2006
Big Easy Magazine: Pocket Guide to Jazz Fest feature page 16, 2007
Blue Suede News cover feature page 23, Summer 2008
Series VII: Published Material
Newspapers, 1970-2008
1970s
Box
11 Austin Sun “Austin’s Top Bands: Best Female Vocalist: Marcia Ball,” February
24-March 11, 1970. (2 copies)
11 “Doug Sahm and Freda and the Firedogs,” February 27, 1974.
11 Austin Sun “Austin’s Favorite Honkey-Tonk Songstress”,
March 11-March 24, 1974. (2 copies)
11 The Austin American-Statesman (photo), October 5, 1975
11 NITE Times (photo), undated
11 Lonestar “Last Year’s Winners: Best Female Vocalist,” 1976
11 Lake Charles American Press “Singer Finds Her Niche,” September 18, 1976
11 Austin American-Statesman “Country Music Favorites” March 17, 1977
11 Austin American-Stateman “Patsy Montana to Appear with Marcia Ball Tonight,”
May 26, 1977
11 Texas Sun “Queen of the Honkey-Tonks” (cover article) May 27, 1977 (2 copies)
11 Sun Reader’s Poll: “Music Awards 1977: Best Female Vocalist”, 1977
11 Weekend Insider Austin “Split Rail Club,” March 3, 1978
11 Austin American-Statesman “Ball Just Does What Suits Her,” March 10, 1978
11 Rumors Vol. 2, No. 11, (cover article), March 29, 1978
11 Gris Gris (cover),. April 17-23, 1978
11 Houston Chronicle “Two Singers” September 9, 1978
11 Austin American-Statesman “Keeping in Tune with ‘Austin City Limits’” (Photo),
October 1, 1978
11 Lake Charles American Press “Singer is Widening Crawfish Territory”
November 18, 1978
11 Corpus Christie Paper 1979” “Why is She Not a Hit?”, Article. 1979
11 “Lagniappe Section of New Orleans’ States Item News, January 6, 1979. With
note: Mom- Is this Marcia Mouton? Is ‘Ball’ her musical name? ‘T’.”
11 “Marcia Ball, Queen of the Crawfish Circuit,” January 6, 1979
11 Austin American-Statesman “Soap Creek Hurdles Worth the Ride”
January 27, 1979
11 The Houston Post “’City Limits’ Going Thirsty” (Photo), April 12, 1979
11 Austin American-Statesman “Redford, Fonda Shine in ‘Electric Horseman’”
December 6, 1979
11 Austin American-Stateman “Willie and Friends Put Austin on Music Map”,
December 21, 1979
Series VII: Published Material
Newspapers – 1980s
Box
11 Austin American-Statesman “Marcia Ball Back Home with New Band,”
January 12, 1980
11 Country Style Magazine “1980 1st Annual Country Style Music Awards: Female
Vocalists,” Feb/March 1980
11 Austin American-Statesman “Favored Singers are Put in Tune for a Year,”
March 13, 1980. (2 Copies)
11 Elgin Courier “Scenes from Thursday’s Elgin Hospital Benefit” (Photo),
April 17, 1980
11 Chicago Sun-Times “Bayou Boogie to New Wave, it’ll be a Busy Weekend,”
March 27, 1981
11 The Daily Texan “Austinites Put in Hot Licks for Charity Politics: Anti-Nuke
Artists Set Crowd on Fire,” October 6, 1981
11 The Houston Post “Music: Marcia Ball,” December 12, 1981
11 The Houston Post “Marcia Ball’s Classy Blues Ready for ‘Right’ Album,”
July 9, 1982
11 Onward (Missing Front Page Story), August 10, 1982
11 Chicago Tribune “Blisters, Big Bellies Mementos of Fest” ChicagoFest Article
August 10, 1982. (2 copies)
11 Onward (cover story) August 10, 1982. (2 copies)
11 Chicago Tribune “Cajun Queen’s Crossover” August 29, 1982 (2 copies)
11 Music (cover article), July 7, 1983. (2 copies)
11 The Houston Post “Marcia Ball Band will Finally Make its Debut on an Album,”
August 5, 1983. (2 copies)
11 Austin American-Statesman “Marcia Ball Colors Next Album Blues,”
August 13, 1983. (2 copies)
11 New Times “High Notes” October 1983
Times Picks (Photo), November 3, 1983
11 “’Soulful Dress’ Becoming to Marcia Ball” 1983
11 The Austin Chronicle Vol. III, No. 12, (cover article) February 10, 1984
11 The Fitz Herald “Marcia Ball Record Release Party a Great Success!”
March 1984 (2 copies)
11 L.A Weekly “Scoring the Clubs” April 6-12, 1984
11 Express “A Down-Home Ball,” April 13, 1984
11 Daily News “She’s Singing the Blues” May 23, 1984. (2 copies)
11 The New York Times “Music: Marcia Ball Sings at Lonestar” May 28, 1984
11 The San Antonio Light “San Antonio Light, Friday, June 8, 1984” “Butler, Ball
Jazzing Up, Mellowing Out Weekend,” June 8, 1984
11 Advertiser “Lafayette Billboard” November 2,1984
11 Newsmakers “Golden Gate Blues” (Photo), October 20, 1984
11 The Times “Downtown Alive!” (Photo), November 1, 1984
11 Houston Chronicle “From Classic Rock to Country, Take Your Pick”
February 7, 1985
11 The Times “Mardi Gras Day: The Place to Be” (Photo), February 14, 1985
11 The Daily Advertiser (cover article), February 15, 1985
11 Rocky Mountain News “Marcia Ball Turns to Her Musical Roots” (cover),
March 22, 1985
11 Lagniappe “Jazz Festival ’85: The Final Weekend” (Photo), May 3, 1985.
(2 copies)
11 Austin American-Statesman “Marcia Ball Accents Jazz Fest with Spicy Music,”
May 10, 1985
11 Austin Woman Extra “Austin’s Musical Women Singing Their Songs” (cover)
May/June 1985
11 Austin American-Stateman, June 1, 1985
11 “2 Ladies Sing the Blues at Nightstage This Week,” 1986
11 The Daily Advertiser “Carnival Hits Town Saturday” (Photo) February 7, 1986
11 Austin American-Stateman “Marcia Ball, Gordon Fowler Harmonize in Shared
Studio,” April 27, 1986.
11 The New York Times “Bayou Boogie Gets a Day in the Sun” May 11, 1986
11 Austin American-Statesman, May 31- June 6, 1986
11 The Providence Journal-Bulletin “Marcia Ball,” September 26, 1986
11 The Globe and Mail “R&B Fresh from the Crawfish Circuit,” October 8, 1986
11 Now, October 9-15, 1986
11 The Fitz Herald Vol. 4, No. 2, (cover), December 1986. (2 copies)
11 Beaumont Enterprise “Music” January 2, 1987
11 Lagniappe (Photo), February 27, 1987
11 Austin American-Statesman (Photo), May 28, 1987
11 Corriere Del Ticino “Chiamalo Feeling, Karma, Emozione, e Musica del Cuore”
July 1987
11 Weekend Magazine (cover), October 2, 1987
11 The Toronto Sun “Follow the Bouncing Ball,” October 21, 1987
11 The Sunday Oklahoman “Performances Scheduled During New Year’s Eve,”
December 20, 1987
11 Datebook “Critic’s Choice,” February 14, 1988
11 Corpus Christie, Texas “Marcia Ball Will Bring Energetic Style to Coop’s”,
February 19, 1988
11 The Times-Picaynne “Music Weather, Both Hot for Fest” (cover) April 24, 1988.
11 Beaumont Express (Photo), May 6, 1988
11 Austin Weekly “Austin Spirit Still Lives in Opry House” December 21/27, 1988
11 Lagniappe “Marcia Wouldn’t Miss a Mardi Gras,” January 27, 1989
11 ESP Vol. I, Issue 34, (cover) April 19-26, 1989
11 Kitchener-Waterloo Records “Blues Dynamo” June 22, 1989
11 Weekender Express News “Marcia Ball to Show Her Musical Talents During
Friday Show,” July 28, 1989
11 Orange Metro “Festivals Planned for Mauriceville, Vinton” September 9, 1989
11 The Vinton News (cover) “Vinton Cajun Festival Slated September 15-17”
September 13, 1989
11 Houston Chronicle (Photo), Pg. 4. October 8, 1989
1990s
12 Gambit, (Photo), May 1, 1990
12 The Times-Picayune Jazz Fest, May 5, 1990
12 Austin America- Statesman “Mama’s Cooking” May 10, 1990. (3 copies)
12 Gambit “Woman Most Deserving to Play Piano Under Fess’ Photo”
May 15, 1990. (2 copies)
12 Lake Charles American Press, May 18,1990. (2 copies)
12 NAIRD BILLBOARD “Blues,” June 2, 1990
12 Austin American-Statesman “Visual Appetites,” August 4, 1990
12 Abilene Reporter News “Marcia Ball, Y’all,” August 24, 1990
12 Austin American-Statesman “So Long, Stevie Ray”. August 28,1990
12 The Austin Chronical Vol. X, No. 1, August 31, 1990. (2 copies)
12 The Vinton News “Vinton Residents Visit Zydeco Blues Festival”
September 16, 1990
12 Austin American-Statesman “‘Girl Group’ Collaboration Offers Old-Fashioned
R&B”, October 18, 1990
12 The Austin Chronicle “Ladies Sing the Blues”, October 19, 1990
12 Austin American-Statesman (Photo) “Dreams Come True,” February 24, 199
12 Austin Chronicle “Best Female Vocalist” March 22, 1991
12 Houston Chronicle “Conference Panelists Dance Around Subjects”
March 31, 1991
12 Los Angeles Times “Ball/Barton/Strehli” April 7, 1991
12 FUN/Baton Rouge, LA “Jazz and Heritage Festival” April 26, 1991
12 The Times-Picayune “The Sweet Sound of Music in Austin, Texas” May 5, 1991
12 The Times-Picayune “Making Music in Austin’s City Limits” May 5, 1991
12 Dayton Daily News (cover), “Dayton Catches Ball as She Bounces Coast to
Coast,” May 29-June 4, 1991
12 Austin American-Statesman “Kennedy Center’s Texas Festival” June 5, 1991
12 Milwaukee Sentinel “Marsha Ball: Killer Piano Player Rocks On,” July 4, 1991
12 Lake Charles American Press “Bluerunners Hoping to Join List of Louisiana’s
Greats,” August 9, 1991
12 Public News: Houston’s Alternative Newsweekly, Issue#490 September 25, 1991
2000s
13 Journal Sentinel “Marcia Ball”; Wow Hall Notes “Marcia Ball CD Release
Party” January 2000
13 The Chautauquan Front-Page Photo, “Grammy-Award Winner Marcia Ball
Brings Texas Music Class to School” February 2, 2000
13 The Vinton News March 30, 2000
13 The Aspen Times “Music is Life for Marcia Ball” March 3, 2000
13 The Austin Chronicle “Sea Cruise” February 4, 2000
13 The Times-Picayune, April 30, 2000
13 The New York Times “Music and Cooking the Louisiana Way” May 28, 2000
13 USA Today, June 2, 2000. (2 copies)
13 Austin American-Statesman “The Women of Texas Music” July 6, 2000
13 The Washington Post “Pop Music” June 1, 2000
13 The Blade (cover) “Taste of Louisiana Comes to Motor City” June 22, 2000
13 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (cover) “Granny Put Her on the Road to Rockin’
Piano” July 5, 2000
13 The Daily Trail (cover), “Having a Ball” July 11, 2000
13 Weekly Alibi “Show Up” July 13-19, 2000
13 Venue “Singer Prepares to Throw a Party on El Ray Stage” July 14, 2000
13 Pasatiempo “She’s Long, She’s Tall, She’s…” July 14-20, 2000
13 Boston Herald “R&B Diva Ball Travels Between Austin and New Orleans
Styles” August 6, 2000
13 Lagniappe, September 6, 2000.
13 American Press, September 15, 2000
13 The Post Crescent. November 12, 2000
13 The City Paper “Not Just a Boy’s Club” May 2, 2001
13 The Independent Florida Sun “SpringFest Headliner Marcia Ball Swings with
Life’s Changes” May 18, 2001
13 Currents (cover) “Summer Gigs” June 22, 2001
13 Austin American Statesman (cover) “Adding to the Humor and History
Downtown” August 30, 2001
13 Metro Pulse “Marcia Ball” September 13, 2001
13 Style “Piggin’ Out” POP “Marcia Ball Rolls Through Sooner Theatre”
November 23, 2001
13 Austin American-Statesman “Songstress Marcia Ball Hits the Right Note with
Saveur” February 20, 2002. (2 copies)
13 American Press, April 7, 2002
13 The Times-Picayune April 28, 2002
13 The Times-Picayune “Great Getaways” April 29, 2001
13 Austin American-Statesman “Belle of the Blues” May 19, 2002. (2 copies)
13 Pioneer Press “Boogie-Woogie Gal” June 26, 2002
13 The Star “Ball Again to Drop on Fritz’ Fest” June 27, 2002
13 “Marcia Ball Heats Up Night with Louisiana-Style Music” August 12, 2002
13 Intelligence Journal “Finesse without the Flash: Marcia Ball Plays Long’s Park”
August 12, 2002
13 Edmonton Journal “Hot Southern Sounds on Tap” August 24, 2002
13 Edmonton Journal “Tasty Southern Sounds Hard to Resist” August 25, 2002
13 ESP “Marcia Ball Heats Up Bull Durham” September 10, 2002
13 American Press, October 21, 2002
13 American Press “Sweet Treats Meet” October 11, 2002
13 Austin Chronicle “Nowhere but Texas” December 13, 2002
13 St. Peterburg Times (cover) “Lady Swings the Blues” January 3, 2009
13 Seven Days “Good-Time Gumbo”
13 The Advocate (cover) “Blues Week” April 28, 2003
13 Lagniappe, May 2, 2003
13 RiverFest “Entertainment Highlights”, May 2, 2003
13 The Times-Picayune, May 4, 2003
13 The Austin Chronicle (cover) “Marcia Ball” June 20, 2003
13 The Beaumont Enterprise (cover) September 29, 2003
13 Austin American-Statesman December 5, 2003
13 Chicago Sun-Times “Year of the Blues Ends, and the Thrill is gone?”
December 28, 2003
13 The Vinton News (cover) “Marcia Ball Nominated for Grammy” January 2, 2004
(2 copies)
13 St. Peterburg Times January 8, 2004
13 Chicago Tribune February 8, 2004
13 Austin American-Statesman “Winning Handily” May 1, 2004
13 San Francisco Chronicle September 12, 2004
13 Austin American-Statesman September 17, 2004
13 The Bastrop Advertiser (cover). November 11-17, 2004
13 The San Diego Union-Tribune “Ball’s Still Having a Ball Playing Piano”
February 10, 2005
13 Times-Picayune “Sister Rosetta Tharpe Tribune” May 2, 2005
13 Times Union “Having a Ball” August 11-17, 2005
13 Austin American-Statesman “Singing the Blues with New Orleans”
September 2, 2005
13 New York Times. September 16, 2005
13 Charleston Daily Mail “Dressed to Thrill” October 13, 2005
13 American Press “Marcia Ball Heading to grant Street” October 28, 2005
13 The Washington Post December 12, 2005
13 Register-Guard (cover). January 13, 2006
13 Independent Weekly Photo “Ivory Queen” February 28, 2007
13 Times of Acadiana “Marcia Ball Comes Rolling into Lafayette”
February 28, 2007
13 American Press “Expect to Have a Ball” March 2, 2007
13 The Daily Advertiser (cover) April 27, 2007
13 The Vinton News “Marcia Ball Proudly Proclaiming Her Louisiana Roots” (cover)
May 31, 2007
13 American Press “Boogie with Marcia Ball at Orange’s Art in the Park”
March 28, 2008
13 “She Lets the Good Times Roll” February 13, 2008. (2 copies)
13 USA Today May 2, 2008
13 The Vinton News “Marcia Ball Celebrates New Release with Local Performance”
(cover) November 8, 2008
13 American Press “Going to the Ball for ‘Peace’, Love, and BBQ’”
December 19, 2008
13 Vail Daily “The Stories Behind the Songs” July 24, 2014
13 The New Orleans Advocate April 27, 2017
13 Austin American-Stateman “Two-State Two-Step” April 25, 2018. (2 copies)
13 The New Orleans Advocate April 27, 2008
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