Michael Ballew

About Michael Ballew

MICHAEL BALLEW
(Pronounced like "Baloo The Bear" of Jungle Book, or "Cat Ballou")

Michael Ballew grew up in a trailer house traveling from one small West Texas town to another.. His father worked the oil fields, so it's not as unusual as it might seem.

At the age of 10, 'Mike' got his first guitar, and coming from a musical family it wasn't long before the vast Great Plains of the Texas Panhandle and a vivid imagination molded the beginnings of a true Texas troubadour.

After a few years of playing all the Honky Tonks within reasonable driving distance of his home town with his band "The Embers", He packed his amp, guitar and Beatle Boots, and caught the Grey Hound Bus for California, where Rock & Roll was exploding.. There he Became the full time Professional Musician he is today.

In Hollywood he had no trouble getting gigs with his 'all Texan' Blues Band "The Brothers", and in 1968 signed his first Recording contract with "White Whale Records", and later went on to record for "Columbia", "Warner Brothers", "Pentagram", "EMI", & "Liberty" Records.

After 10 years of nightclubs, concerts & opening shows for top acts such as "Loggins & Messina", "Eric Burton & The Animals" and others, he yearned to go back home to Texas.. Austin seemed like the best bet, and it was... The new Austin music scene opened its arms wide to Ballew, and it has remained his home base since.

Playing throughout Texas & Europe with his "DAMN GOOD TEXAS BAND", Michael has shared stages with "Willie Nelson", "Asleep At The Wheel", "John Conlee", "BW Stevenson", "Doc Watson" and "Alan Jackson" (to name a few).. His songs have been heard on TV in the "Dolly Parton" Christmas Special and on movie soundtracks including "Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure".

With some Top 40 success of his own in Country Music, Ballew is now what he always wanted to be.. A full time musician, writing, recording and performing his own brand of music all over Europe & his home state of Texas, where the grass is always greener.....
By: Jürgen Koop