Kenneth Daniel Ball (22 May 1930[1] – 7 March 2013) was an English jazz musician, best known as the bandleader, lead trumpet player and vocalist in Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen.[2]
Career
Ball was born in Ilford, Essex. At the age of 14 he left school to work as a clerk in an advertising agency, but also started taking trumpet lessons.[2] He began his career as a semi-professional sideman in bands, whilst also working as a salesman and for the advertising agency. He turned professional in 1953 and played the trumpet in bands led by Sid Phillips, Charlie Galbraith, Eric Delaney and Terry Lightfoot before forming his own trad jazz band – Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen – in 1958.[1][2] His Dixieland band was at the forefront of the early 1960s UK jazz revival.[3]
In 1961 their recording of Cole Porter's "Samantha" (Pye 7NJ.2040 – released February 1961) became a hit,[1] and they reached No. 2 at the end of 1961 on the UK Singles Chart, and in March 1962 on the Hot 100, with "Midnight in Moscow" (Pye 7NJ.2049 – released November 1961).[3] The record sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status.[4]
Their next single "March of the Siamese Children" (Pye 7NJ.2051 – released February 1962), from The King and I, topped the pop music magazine New Musical Express'schart on 9 March 1962,[1] further hits followed and such was their popularity in the UK that Ball was featured, along with Cliff Richard, Brenda Lee, Joe Brown, Craig Douglas and Frank Ifield, on the cover of the New Musical Express in July 1962, although in the United States they remained a "one-hit wonder". Ball appeared with his jazz band in the 1962 British musical movie It's Trad, Dad!, directed by Richard Lester.
In 1968 the band appeared with Louis Armstrong during his last European tour.[1] Ball later appeared on BBC Television's highly rated review of the 1960s music scene Pop Go The Sixties, performing "Midnight in Moscow" with his Jazzmen on the show's broadcast on BBC 1 on 31 December 1969.[6] His continued success was aided by guest appearances on every edition of the first six series of the BBC's Morecambe and Wise Show. He later said that the peak of his career was when Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen played at the reception for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.[1]
Ball continued to tour until shortly before his death, his last scheduled concert being with Acker Bilk and Chris Barber at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on 21 February 2013.[10] He died at Basildon Hospital, Essex, where he was being treated for pneumonia.[11]
Since 2018, the band has continued in the form of a show titled "Kenny Ball's Greatest Hits" which is produced by trombonist Ian Bateman, who played many times with the band in its later years as deputy for John Bennett and then under the leadership of Kenny's son, Keith. The show features musicians who were either in Kenny's band or were involved in the 3B's shows.
Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen – The Golden Collection – 2007
Kenny Ball and the Jive Aces: Happy Happy Christmas – 2009
Kenny Ball's Golden Hits- Mode Disques – (unknown)
Hello Dolly – Golden Hour – (unknown)
King of the Swingers – Contour – (unknown)
Compilation albums
Kenny Ball's Golden Hits – Marble Arch Records – 1966
The Sound Of Kenny Ball – Marble Arch Records – 1968
Golden Hour of Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen – Golden Hour – 1970
Motoring Melodies of Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen – Pye tape-only compilation – 1973
Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, Chris Barber and His Jazz Band, Mr. Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band – The Best of Ball, Barber and Bilk – Pye Golden Guinea Records – 1975