Russ Ballard

Ballard was born in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England.[1]

Ballard was initially a guitarist, joining Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961 together with his older brother Roy and their friend the drummer Bob Henrit. After a stint with The Roulettes, backing Adam Faith, he then went on to join Unit 4 + 2 in 1967, before becoming the lead singer and guitarist of Argent (along with Henrit, who joined as drummer), writing their hit "God Gave Rock and Roll to You",[1] which would later be covered by both Petra and KISS. Ballard is most well known as the vocalist on Argent's smash "Hold Your Head Up". In 1972, Ballard performed on Colin Blunstone's album Ennismore, which was produced by Chris White. Ballard also wrote the hit single "I Don't Believe in Miracles", which featured on that album.

Solo recordings

Ballard performing in 2017

As a solo artist, Ballard charted once on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, when "On the Rebound" reached No. 58 in 1980.[1] The song was featured on his solo album for Epic, entitled Barnet Dogs, which reached number 187 on the Billboard 200.[6] English rock band Uriah Heep covered "On the Rebound" in 1982 on their album Abominog.

Another notable solo hit, "Voices" – from his second self-titled album (1984) – was featured in the Miami Vice episode "Calderone's Return: Part 2 – Calderone's Demise", which aired on 26 October 1984. The song was a brief hit on rock radio stations, peaking at No. 15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. However, "Voices" stalled below the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 110. Another song from the same album, "In the Night" was featured in the episode "Calderone's Return: Part 1 – The Hit List". The show also featured "Your Time Is Gonna Come" by Ballard later in its run.

"The Fire Still Burns", the title track of his 1985 album matched the placement of the previous year's "Voices", peaking at No. 15 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.[7]

In addition to Kiss covering "God Gave Rock and Roll to You", retitled as "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II":[8]

• Kiss drummer Peter Criss recorded Ballard's "Let Me Rock You" and "Some Kinda Hurricane" on his 1982 Let Me Rock You album.[9]
• Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley covered "New York Groove" on his self-titled solo album in 1978.[10] Frehley's version reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has been a regular staple of Kiss live performances, during tours in which Frehley has taken part.
• During his non-Kiss years, Frehley also recorded a cover of the Ballard song "Into the Night", for his 1987 Frehley's Comet album.[11]

• "Can't Shake Loose", recorded by Agnetha Fältskog.
• "Cast The Spirit", recorded by America (1983)
• "Can't We Talk It Over", recorded by Leslie McKeown (1981/1982)
• "Cuckoo" (As "Are You Cuckoo?"), recorded by Bay City Rollers.
• "Dancer", recorded by Rare Earth (A Brand New World - 2008)
• "Dream On", recorded by King Kobra (Thrill of a Lifetime - 1986).
• "Feels Like the Real Thing", recorded by Stormbringer (Stormbringer - 1983).
• "First Heartbreak", recorded by Ian Lloyd (Love Stealer - 1979).
• "Free Me", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980).
• "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You", recorded by Argent, Petra, and Kiss.
• "Heartbreaker", recorded by Olivia Newton-John (‘’Let Me Be There (Non-American Pressing)’’ - 1973).
• "Hearts of Fire", recorded by Roger Daltrey (on his album Can't Wait to See the Movie).
• "I Did It For Love", recorded by Night Ranger (Man In Motion - 1988).
• "I Don't Believe in Miracles", recorded by Colin Blunstone.
• "I Know There's Something Going On", recorded by Frida.
• "I Surrender", recorded by Head East, Rainbow, Cherie & Marie Currie, At Vance, and Stratovarius.
• "I Will Be There", recorded by Gogmagog.
• "I'm Confessing", recorded by Alan Longmuir (Single A-side, 1977).
• "I'm the One Who Loves You", recorded by A II Z (Single A-side, 1981).
• "Into the Night", recorded by Frehley's Comet. (Frehley's Comet - 1987)
• "Is Anybody There", recorded by E. F. Band (Deep Cut – 1982).
• "Is My Love In Vain", recorded by Nick Simper's Fandango(Future Times - 1980).
• "Jody", recorded by America.
• "Juliet", recorded by Girl (Killing Time – 1997).
• "Just a Dream Away", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980).
• "Just Another Day", recorded by Phoenix, Nick Simper's Fandango(Slipstreaming - 1979).
• "Let It Rock", recorded by Hello (1977).
• "Let Me Rock You", recorded by Peter Criss (Let Me Rock You - 1982).
• "Liar", recorded by Argent, Three Dog Night, Graham Bonnet and Rick Medlocke & Blackfoot.
• "Livin' in Suspicion", recorded by the Graham Bonnet Band (Meanwhile, Back in the Garage – 2018)
• "Lost City", recorded by The Shadows (Sound of the Shadows – 1965)
• "Love Is a Game", recorded by Girl and E. F. Band.
• "My Time Is Gonna Come", recorded by Roger Daltrey (Soundtrack album of McVicar – 1980).
• "New York Groove", recorded by Hello, Ace Frehley and Sweet.
• "No More the Fool", recorded by Elkie Brooks.
• "Nowhere to Run", recorded by Santana
• "On the Rebound", recorded by Uriah Heep (Abominog – 1982).
• "Panic Attack", recorded by Bert Heerink (Better Yet – 2009).
• "Prove It", recorded by Rare Earth (A Brand New World - 2008)
• "Riding with the Angels", recorded by Samson, Heretic, and Bruce Dickinson.
• "S.O.S.", recorded by Graham Bonnet (Line-Up - 1981).
• "Since You Been Gone", recorded by Clout, Cherie & Marie Currie, Head East, Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri, Crash Kelly, and Brian May.
• "So You Win Again", recorded by Hot Chocolate and South African band Copperfield.
• "Some Kinda Hurricane", recorded by Peter Criss (Let Me Rock You - 1982).
• "Someday We'll Be Together", recorded by The Pointer Sisters (1981)
• "Star Studded Sham", recorded by Hello (1976)
• "The Mirror Lies", recorded by Graham Bonnet (My Kingdom Come double single - 2015)
• "Tonight", recorded by Tokyo Blade (Tokyo Blade - 1983)
• "Voices", recorded by Karen Kamon (1987)
• "Winning", recorded by Nona Hendryx and later Santana.
• "You Can Do Magic", recorded by America.[12][13]

In 1984, Mary Turner produced a 15-minute portrait of Russ Ballard as a record with the title "A Portrait Of An Artist By Mary Turner".[18]

• List of songs recorded written and produced by Russ Ballard
• List of lead vocalists

• Media related to Russ Ballard at Wikimedia Commons