Marcia Ball

Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949) is an American blues singer and pianist born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. This same region spawned other American blues greats, including

Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949) is an American blues singer and pianist born in Orange, Texas but who grew up in Vinton, Louisiana. This same region spawned other American blues greats, including Clifton Chenier, Janis Joplin, Lonnie Brooks, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Kenny Neal.

Born into a musical family, Ball began playing piano at age 5, and showed an early interest in New Orleans style piano playing, as exemplified by Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, and James Booker. In 1970 at age 21, she started a progressive country band called Freda and the Firedogs in Austin, Texas; in 1974 she began her solo career.