WILLIAM J BALL died 12th April 2000

[thereallyniceman]

 

As many members and visitors may be aware William J Ball, one of the greatest exponents of the Classic Style of banjo playing died 12 years ago, on 12th April 2000.

I have added a recording of the 1983 BBC Radio interview “Banjo Man” about Bill:

Interview Part 1:

Interview Part 2:

Interview Part 3:

Please visit www.williamjball.co.uk  for much more information about Bill and his life.

Also CDs of his superb playing are available on site.

[Ray Jones]

That was history.  A great joy to listen to.    Many thanks for making it available.

[Mike Moss]

Brilliant interview, thanks for posting it. It was great to be able to listen to this brilliant musician -- he really embodied the spirit of Classic Banjo. It was really interesting to see how he -- like many of us nowadays -- resorted to separately recorded piano accompaniments to play along; but his brilliantly arranged accompaniment to Pompadour far surpasses the published piano part in quality and finesse.

I'm still working on the Twilight Caprice score and performance; both will be made available in due course, when the moment is ripe, at the appropriate juncture, in the fullness of time. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know. It will be my belated tribute to the great Bill Ball.

[Trevor Boyd]

This was a really interesting programme.  Somebody should, write a book about the history of classic banjo - or perhaps someone already has? (I know there are dedicated web-sites around ...).

It was interesting to hear what an accomplished pianist William Ball also was.

[Sylvia]

Thank you Ian for posting the " Banjo Man " interviews.   I enjoyed listening.

[Alan Sims]

thanks Ian .this is just wonderful to listen to

[Russ Chandler]

That was lovely - thank you so much for sharing it.

[David Wade]

Nicely done Ian, I carry a small selection of Bill's CDs on the stall - always sell well.