Jump to content

Glen Ballard: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer}}
{{Short description|American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
Line 10: Line 10:
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|5|1}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|5|1}}
| birth_place = [[Natchez, Mississippi]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Natchez, Mississippi]], U.S.
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[pop music|pop]]
| genre = [[pop music|Pop]], [[Rock music|rock]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
| occupation = [[Songwriter]], [[lyricist]], [[record producer]]
| occupation = [[Songwriter]], [[lyricist]], [[record producer]]
| instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[synthesizer]], [[guitar]]
| instrument = [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[synthesizer]], [[guitar]]
Line 16: Line 16:
}}
}}


'''Basil Glen Ballard Jr.'''<ref name=CalmHand>{{cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |title=A Calm Hand at the Controls |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/05/entertainment/ca-30685/3 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=August 5, 2001 |date=August 5, 2001 }} {{Dead link|date=November 2022}}</ref> (born May 1, 1953) is an American [[songwriter]], [[lyricist]], and [[record producer]]. He is best known for co-writing and producing [[Alanis Morissette]]'s 1995 album ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]'',<ref>{{cite news |date=November 1, 1998 |first=Jon |last=Pareles |title=Alanis Morissette Explores The Healing Power of Song|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/01/arts/alanis-morissette-explores-the-healing-power-of-song.html |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 10, 2000 |first=Josh |last=Tyrangiel |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Music: Two-Hit Wonders |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,996572,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225132902/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C996572%2C00.html |archive-date=February 25, 2007 }}</ref> which won [[Grammy Award]]s for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], and was ranked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as one of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]. He is also well known for his collaborations with composer [[Alan Silvestri]]. He was involved in the recording and writing of [[Michael Jackson]]'s albums ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'', ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]'' and ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]''.<ref name="ms">{{cite web|title=Michael Jackson's lyrics tell a hard story|url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31614225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916232817/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31614225|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 16, 2010|date=June 29, 2009|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref> As a writer, he co-wrote songs including "[[Man in the Mirror]]" (1987) <ref name=ms/> and "[[Hand in My Pocket]]" (1995). He is the founder of Java Records. He won the [[48th Grammy Awards|2006]] [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]] for "[[Believe (The Polar Express song)|Believe]]" (''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'').
'''Basil Glen Ballard Jr.''' (born May 1, 1953) is an American [[songwriter]], [[lyricist]], and [[record producer]].<ref name="HilburnR">{{cite web|last=Hilburn|first=Robert|title=A Calm Hand at the Controls|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-aug-05-ca-30685-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=August 5, 2001|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref> He is best known for co-writing and producing [[Alanis Morissette]]'s 1995 album ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]''<ref>{{cite news |date=November 1, 1998 |first=Jon |last=Pareles |title=Alanis Morissette Explores The Healing Power of Song|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/01/arts/alanis-morissette-explores-the-healing-power-of-song.html |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> and [[Dave Matthews Band]]'s 2001 album ''[[Everyday (Dave Matthews Band album)|Everyday]]''. As a songwriter, he co-wrote songs including "[[All I Need (Jack Wagner song)|All I Need]]",<ref name="SOSMar2003">{{cite web|last=Senior|first=Mike|title=Glen Ballard - Songwriter & Producer: Alanis Morisette|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/glen-ballard|website=Sound On Sound|date=March 2003|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> "[[Man in the Mirror]]",<ref name="MSNBC">{{cite web|title=Michael Jackson's lyrics tell a hard story|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31614225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916232817/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31614225|url-status=live|archive-date=September 16, 2010|date=June 29, 2009|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref> "[[Hold On (Wilson Phillips song)|Hold On]]",<ref name="MandM">{{cite web|last=Galiant|first=Michael|title=Glen Ballard|url=https://mmusicmag.com/m/2014/06/glen-ballard/|website=Music & Musicians|date=June 2014|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> "[[Hand in My Pocket]]", and Josh Groban's "[[Believe (Josh Groban song)|Believe]]". As a producer, he has worked with [[No Doubt]], [[Shelby Lynne]], [[Goo Goo Dolls]], [[P.O.D.]], [[Annie Lennox]] and others.


In 2011, Ballard founded his own production company known as Augury, focused on developing music-driven projects in film, television, and theater.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2015 |author=Dale Kawashima |url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/glen-ballard-interview-2015.htm |title=Renowned Writer/Producer Glen Ballard Talks About His Hits With Alanis Morissette And Michael Jackson, And His New Projects |website=Songwriter Universe |access-date=January 1, 2022 }}</ref> He was involved in the development of the eight-part TV series ''[[The Eddy]]'', centering around a jazz club in Paris, which aired on [[Netflix]] in May 2020.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52506143 | title = The Eddy: Will Gompertz reviews Netflix drama directed by Oscar-winning Damien Chazelle | last = Gompertz |first= Will | date = May 2, 2020 | access-date = May 2, 2020 | website = [[BBC News]] }}</ref>
Ballard founded the production company Augury in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2015 |author=Dale Kawashima |url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/glen-ballard-interview-2015.htm |title=Renowned Writer/Producer Glen Ballard Talks About His Hits With Alanis Morissette And Michael Jackson, And His New Projects |website=Songwriter Universe |access-date=January 1, 2022 }}</ref> In collaboration with [[Alan Silvestri]], he wrote the score for [[Back to the Future: The Musical|musical adaptation of ''Back to the Future'']]. He was inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in 2023.<ref name="SHOF">{{cite web|title=Songwriters Hall Of Fame: Glen Ballard|url=https://www.songhall.org/profile/glen_ballard|website=Songwriters Hall Of Fame|date=2023|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Early life==
Ballard grew up in [[Natchez, Mississippi]], where he began playing the piano and writing songs at an early age.<ref name="Sodajerker">{{cite web|title=Sodajerker presents... Glen Ballard|url=https://www.songwritingmagazine.co.uk/interviews/sodajerker-presents-glen-ballard|website=Songwriting Magazine|date=10 September 2015|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> He began playing guitar and playing in a band called the Unknowns beginning in the fourth grade.<ref name="BBJun2001G3">{{cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Melinda|title=Glen Ballard: The Billboard Interview|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-06-30.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=June 30, 2001|access-date=June 7, 2024}}</ref><ref name="BBJun2001G2">{{cite magazine|last=Walsh|first=Christopher|title=The Producer/Songwriter Continues To Direct Debuts And Helm Hits|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-06-30.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=June 30, 2001|access-date=June 7, 2024}}</ref> While attending the [[University of Mississippi]] he released a solo album. He earned a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, and political science, graduating in 1975.<ref name=MandM/><ref name="OleMiss">{{cite web|title=Grammy Winner Glen Ballard Inducted into UM Hall of Fame|url=https://libarts.olemiss.edu/grammy-winner-glen-ballard-inducted-into-um-hall-of-fame/|website=The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref>
He has performed on or produced the following:
* [[Michael Jackson]] — ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]] '' (1982)
* [[Pointer Sisters]] — ''[[Break Out (Pointer Sisters album)|Break Out]]'' (1983)
* [[Patti Austin]] — ''[[Patti Austin (album)|Patti Austin]]'' (1984)
* [[Evelyn King (singer)|Evelyn King]] — ''[[So Romantic]]'' (1984)
* [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]] — ''[[All I Need (Jack Wagner song)|All I Need]]'' (1984)
* [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]] — ''Lighting Up the Night'' (1985)
* [[Teddy Pendergrass]] — ''[[Workin' It Back]]'' (1985)
* [[The Pointer Sisters]] - ''[[Hot Together]]'' (1986)
* [[Michael Jackson]] — ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]'' (1987)
* [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]] — ''Don't Give Up Your Day Job'' (1987)
* [[Paula Abdul]] — ''[[Forever Your Girl]]'' (1988)
* [[Jon Butcher]] — ''[[Pictures from the Front]]'' (1989)
* [[Paula Abdul]]'' — [[Shut Up and Dance: Mixes|Shut Up and Dance]]'' (1990)
* [[Wilson Phillips]] — ''[[Wilson Phillips (album)|Wilson Phillips]]'' (1990)
* [[Curtis Stigers]] — ''[[Curtis Stigers (album)|Curtis Stigers]] '' (1991)
* [[Michael Jackson]] — ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'' (1991)
* [[Wilson Phillips]] — ''[[Shadows and Light (Wilson Phillips album)|Shadows and Light]]'' (1992)
* [[Trey Lorenz]] — ''[[Trey Lorenz (album)|Trey Lorenz]]'' (1992)
* [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]] — ''Alone in the Crowd'' (1993)
* [[K. T. Oslin]] — ''[[Greatest Hits: Songs from an Aging Sex Bomb]]'' (1993)
* [[Lea Salonga]] — ''[[Lea Salonga (album)|Lea Salonga]]'' (1993)
* [[Evelyn King (singer)|Evelyn King]] — ''Love Come Down: The Best of Evelyn "Champagne" King'' (1993)
* [[Alanis Morissette]] — ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]'' (1995)
* [[Sheena Easton]] — ''[[My Cherie (Sheena Easton album)|My Cherie]]'' (1995)
* [[Chynna Phillips]] — ''[[Naked And Sacred]]'' (1995)
* [[Toto (band)|Toto]] — ''[[Tambu (album)|Tambu]]'' (1995)
* [[Curtis Stigers]] — ''Time Was'' (1995)
* [[Van Halen]] — ''[[Best Of – Volume I (Van Halen album)|Best Of – Volume I]]'' ("[[Me Wise Magic]]" and "[[Can't Get This Stuff No More]]") (1996)
* [[Aerosmith]] — ''[[Nine Lives (Aerosmith album)|Nine Lives]]'' (1997)
* [[The Corrs]] — ''[[Talk On Corners]]'' (1997)
* [[Brendan Lynch (music producer)|Brendan Lynch]] — ''Brendan Lynch'' (1997)
* [[Alanis Morissette]] — ''[[Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie]]'' (1998)
* [[Block (musician)|Block]] — ''Timing Is Everything'' (1998)
* [[The Moffatts]] — ''[[Chapter I: A New Beginning]]'' (1999)
* [[Lara Fabian]] — ''[[Lara Fabian (2000 album)|Lara Fabian]]'' (2000)
* [[No Doubt]] — ''[[Return of Saturn]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Titan A.E.]]'' — ''Music From The Motion Picture'' (2000)
* [[Judith Owen]] — ''Limited Edition'' (2000)
* [[Bliss 66]] — ''Trip to the 13th'' (2001)
* [[Shakira]] — "[[The One (Shakira song)|The One]]" (2001)
* [[Dave Matthews Band]] — ''[[Everyday (Dave Matthews Band album)|Everyday]]'' (2001)
* ''Crashed.....'' (2001)
* [[Lit (band)|Lit]] — ''[[Atomic (Lit album)|Atomic]]'' (2001)
* [[Live (band)|Live]] — "Forever Might Not Be Long Enough" (2001)
* [[Shelby Lynne]] — ''[[Love, Shelby]]'' (2001)
* [[Terence Trent D'arby]] — ''[[Wildcard (Terence Trent D'Arby album)|Wildcard]]'' (2001)
* [[Sheila Nicholls]] — Wake (2002)
* [[Christina Aguilera]] — ''[[Stripped (Christina Aguilera album)|Stripped]]'' (2002) (co-wrote "[[The Voice Within]]")
* [[Lisa Marie Presley]] — ''[[To Whom It May Concern (Lisa Marie Presley album)|To Whom It May Concern]]'' (2003)
* [[Anastacia]] — ''[[Anastacia (album)|Anastacia]]'' (2004)
* [[Elisa (Italian singer)|Elisa]] — ''[[Pearl Days]]'' (2004)
* [[Van Halen]] — ''[[The Best of Both Worlds (Van Halen album)|The Best Of Both Worlds]]'' (2004)
* Fragile System — ''Atomic Tiger'' (2004)
* [[Katy Perry]] — Unreleased album, reworked into [[One of the Boys]] (2004 - Album shelved)
* [[Alanis Morissette]] — ''[[Jagged Little Pill Acoustic]]'' (2005)
* [[O.A.R. (band)|O.A.R.]] — ''[[Stories of a Stranger]]'' (2005)
* [[Hayley Westenra]] - ''[[The New World (2005 film)|The New World]]'' Soundtrack (2005)
* [[Goo Goo Dolls]] — ''[[Let Love In (Goo Goo Dolls album)|Let Love In]]'' (2006)
* [[P.O.D.]] — ''[[Testify (P.O.D. album)|Testify]]'' (2006)
* [[Annie Lennox]] — ''[[Dark Road (song)|Dark Road]]'' (2007)
* [[Carina Round]] — ''[[Slow Motion Addict]]'' (2007)
* [[Emmy Rossum]] — ''[[Inside Out (Emmy Rossum album)|Inside Out]]'' (2007)
* [[Annie Lennox]] — ''[[Songs of Mass Destruction]]'' (2007)
* [[Anouk (singer)|Anouk]] — ''[[Who's Your Momma]]'' (2007)
* ''A Hero Comes Home'' (2007)
* [[Katy Perry]] — ''[[One of the Boys (Katy Perry album)|One of the Boys]]'' (2008)
* [[Idina Menzel]] — ''[[I Stand (album)|I Stand]]'' (2008)
* [[Anna Vissi]] — ''[[Apagorevmeno]]'' (2008)
* [[Miley Cyrus]] — ''[[Hannah Montana: The Movie (soundtrack)|Hannah Montana: The Movie]]'' (2009)
* [[Wilson Phillips]] — ''[[Christmas in Harmony]]'' (2010)
* [[Stevie Nicks]] — ''[[In Your Dreams (Stevie Nicks album)|In Your Dreams]]'' (2011) (produced tracks with [[David A. Stewart]])
* [[Anastacia]] — ''[[It's a Man's World (Anastacia album)|It's a Man's World]]'' (2012)
* [[Ringo Starr]] — ''[[Ringo 2012]]'' (2012)
* [[SNH48]] TOP 16 — ''那不勒斯的黎明 (Dawn in Naples)'' (2017)
* [[Ringo Starr]] — ''[[Give More Love]]'' (2017)
* [[B*Witched]] — ''Hold On'' (2019)


==Career==
==Film and television==
===1970s===
Ballard wrote the screenplay for ''[[Clubland (1999 film)|Clubland]]'', a music-driven film about an aspiring musician in Los Angeles. He has written songs in half a dozen films, including ''[[The Slugger's Wife]]'', ''[[Navy SEALs (film)|Navy Seals]]'', ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'', and ''[[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]''.
After college, Ballard moved to Los Angeles with $400 and the phone number of the only person his uncle knew in L.A., a golf pro at the [[Bel-Air Country Club]], whom Ballard called and asked if they knew anyone in the music business. The only person they knew was [[Tutti Camarata]], the owner of [[Sunset Sound Recorders]], who invited Ballard to a recording session. Camerata offered Ballard some studio time, which Ballard used to develop his songwriting, [[Arrangement|arranging]], and production skills. He began working for a division of [[Rocket Records]] and continued learning about the music business. In 1978 Ballard wrote a song for Rocket artist Kiki Dee, which led to his being signed as a [[Songwriter#Staff writers|staff songwriter]] for [[MCA Inc.|MCA Music Publishing]].<ref name=HilburnR/><ref name=Sodajerker/>


===1980s===
Ballard was involved in the development of the TV series ''[[The Eddy]]'', broadcast by Netflix in May 2020. Ballard also co-wrote the music for the series and served as an executive producer.<ref name="bbc" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-eddy/critic-reviews | title = The Eddy, critics' reviews | date = April 28, 2020| website = [[Metacritic]] | access-date = May 2, 2020 }}</ref> He wrote new songs with [[Alan Silvestri]] for the 2022 live-action film adaptation of Disney's ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]''.<ref>{{cite web |date=Nov 26, 2021 |last1=Scott |first1=Fiona |title=GLEN BALLARD Discusses THE ROSE Musical and PINOCCHIO Live-Action Remake on the Eleven Podcast |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/GLEN-BALLARD-Discusses-THE-ROSE-Musical-and-PINOCCHIO-Live-Action-Remake-on-the-Eleven-Podcast-20211126 |website=BroadwayWorld.com }}</ref>
Ballard wrote, played, and produced an increasing number of songs and projects in the 1980s, contributing to albums by the [[Pointer Sisters]], [[Paula Abdul]], [[Camilo Sesto]], and others. He co-wrote and produced the title track "[[All I Need (Jack Wagner song)|All I Need]]" on [[Jack Wagner (actor)|Jack Wagner]]'s 1984 debut album [[All I Need (Jack Wagner album)|All I Need]].<ref name=SOSMar2003/> He also co-wrote the song "[[You Look So Good in Love]]", a hit for [[George Strait]] in 1983 and one of Strait's biggest hits.<ref name=BBJun2001G3/>


When a song Ballard co-wrote was included on [[George Benson]]'s 1980 album ''[[Give Me the Night (album)|Give Me the Night]]'', [[Quincy Jones]] took notice of his abilities, and in 1985 Jones hired Ballard as a songwriter and producer for his [[Qwest Records]] label.<ref name=SOSMar2003/> In 1987, when Jones invited a group of songwriters to his home to write hit songs for [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[Bad (album)|upcoming album]], [[Siedah Garrett]] and Ballard co-wrote "[[Man in the Mirror]]".<ref name=Sodajerker/><ref name=BBJun2001G3/> The song topped the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] for two weeks, and was certified [[RIAA certification|3× Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/|title=Gold & Platinum|website=RIAA|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-05}}</ref> It was nominated for [[Record of the Year]] at the [[31st Annual Grammy Awards]].
==Musical theatre==
Ballard co-wrote the music and lyrics for ''[[Ghost the Musical]]'' with [[David A. Stewart]] and [[Bruce Joel Rubin]], which opened in London's West End on July 19, 2011, and opened on Broadway in the spring of 2012.


In 1989, producer [[Richard Perry]] introduced Ballard to [[Wilson Phillips]], and they collaborated in his [[Encino, Los Angeles|Encino]] [[home studio]] to produce a four-song [[Demo (music)|demo]] that included the song "[[Hold On (Wilson Phillips song)|Hold On]]", co-written by Ballard. The demo earned the group a record deal, and Ballard produced the trio's commercially successful [[Wilson Phillips (album)|debut album]], released in 1990.<ref name=SOSMar2003/><ref name=MandM/><ref name="HodgeW">{{cite web|last=Hodge|first=Will|title=California Girls, California Dreamin': Wilson Phillips Reminisce On 30 Years Of "Hold On" And Their Multi-Platinum Debut Smash|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/california-girls-california-dreamin-wilson-phillips-reminisce-30-years-hold-and-their|website=Grammy.com|date=8 May 2020|access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> "Hold On" was the album's lead single and won the [[Billboard Music Award]] for Hot 100 Single of the Year for 1990. It became a worldwide hit, earning two nominations at the [[33rd Annual Grammy Awards]]. In 2017, ''Billboard'' ranked the song 15th on its list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".<ref name="100greatestgirlgroupsongs">{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7857816/100-greatest-girl-group-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref>.
On January 31, 2014, it was announced that a [[Back to the Future (musical)|stage musical]] of the film ''[[Back to the Future]]'' was in production.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25976383 | work=BBC News | title=Back to the Future musical announced | date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> The show, which is being co-written by original writers Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, premiered in Manchester, on February 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/jan/31/back-to-the-future-musical | title=Back to the Future: 80s movie gets musical makeover | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=January 31, 2014 | access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref> Ballard will team with Alan Silvestri to compose a new score, with the addition of original songs from the film, including "[[The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News song)|The Power of Love]]", "[[Johnny B. Goode]]" and "[[Earth Angel]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/01-2014/back-to-the-future-musical-set-for-west-end-in-201_33351.html | title=Back to the Future musical set for West End in 2015 | work=[[WhatsOnStage.com]] | date=January 31, 2014 | access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

===1990s===
Ballard and Garrett collaborated with Jackson to write the song "Keep the Faith" from his 1991 album, ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'', and the song "I Never Even Told You", included on [[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] for the 1993 animated film ''[[Batman: Mask of the Phantasm]]''. In 1992, Ballard worked with Wilson Phillips on their second studio album, ''[[Shadows and Light (Wilson Phillips album)|Shadows and Light]]''.

In March 1994, Ballard's publishing company introduced him to [[Alanis Morissette]], and the two worked together at Ballard's home studio to write and record demos of the songs that became ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]''. Ballard and Morissette took the demos to various record labels that passed. In January 1995, they approached [[Guy Oseary]] at [[Maverick Records]], who signed Morissette.<ref name="Kawashima">{{cite web|last=Kawashima|first=Dale|title=Renowned Writer/Producer Glen Ballard Talks About His Hits With Alanis Morissette And Michael Jackson, And His New Projects|url=http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/glen-ballard-interview-2015.htm|website=Songwriter Universe|date=27 August 2015|access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref> Released in June 1995, the album was the best-selling album of 1996, and won [[Grammy Award]]s for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]. It is one of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]], and ranked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as one of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]. Morissette again collaborated with Ballard on her 1998 follow-up, ''[[Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie]]''.<ref name="BTG1">{{cite book|last=Massey|first=Howard|title=Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft The Hits|publisher=Backbeat Books|location=San Francisco, California, US|date=2000|isbn=0879306149|pages=18–26}}</ref>

Other artists with whom Ballard co-wrote and/or co-produced projects in the 1990s include [[Curtis Stigers]], [[Lea Salonga]], [[Van Halen]], [[Aerosmith]], and [[The Corrs]]. In 1997, he launched Java Records as a joint venture with Capitol Records.<ref name=BBJun2001G3/> He wrote the screenplay for the 1999 film ''[[Clubland (1999 film)|Clubland]]'', a music-driven film about an aspiring musician in Los Angeles.

===2000s===
In 2000, [[Dave Matthews]] flew to Los Angeles to meet with Ballard with the intention of finishing material for an upcoming [[Dave Matthews Band]] album, and ended up co-writing 12 new songs with Ballard in 10 days. Ballard produced the album, ''[[Everyday (Dave Matthews Band album)|Everyday]]'', which was released the next year.<ref name="BBJun2001G3">{{cite magazine|last=Newman|first=Melinda|title=Glen Ballard: The Billboard Interview|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-06-30.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=June 30, 2001|access-date=June 7, 2024}}</ref> In 2001, Ballard's Java label moved from Capitol to the Island/Def Jam family of labels.<ref name=HilburnR/>

In 2001 a 17 year-old [[Katy Perry]], then known as Katy Hudson, moved to Los Angeles to work with Ballard due to his past work with Morissette, one of her major inspirations.<ref name=WMag>{{cite magazine|last=Hirschberg|first=Lynn|title=Katy Perry|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2013/10/katy-perry-prism-interview/|magazine=[[W (magazine)|W]]|date=October 22, 2013|access-date=November 1, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025215605/http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2013/10/katy-perry-prism-interview/|archive-date=October 25, 2013}}</ref> In 2004 she signed to Ballard's Java Records label and began work on a solo record to be released in 2005, but the record was shelved after the label was dropped.<ref name="glen ballard billboard">{{cite magazine|last1=Conniff|first1=Tamara|title=I've Stopped Asking for Permission. I'd Rather Ask for Forgiveness|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&q=java+katy+perry&pg=RA1-PA76|access-date=April 25, 2015|magazine=Billboard|date=December 25, 2004|archive-date=May 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513043259/https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&q=java+katy+perry&pg=RA1-PA76#v=snippet&q=java%20katy%20perry&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Ballard introduced her to [[Tim Devine]] at [[Columbia Records]], where she was signed as a solo artist.

Ballard worked with [[Lisa Marie Presley]] to develop her debut 2003 album''[[To Whom It May Concern (Lisa Marie Presley album)|To Whom It May Concern]]'', co-writing five of its tracks. He also produced or co-produced albums by [[No Doubt]],<ref>{{cite magazine |date=April 10, 2000 |first=Josh |last=Tyrangiel |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Music: Two-Hit Wonders |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,996572,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225132902/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C996572%2C00.html |archive-date=February 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=BBJun2001G3/> [[Shelby Lynne]], [[Goo Goo Dolls]], [[P.O.D.]], [[Annie Lennox]], [[Anouk (singer)|Anouk]], and [[Idina Menzel]]. Together with [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]] he established Sly-Fi, a production partnership.<ref name="SOSJan2008">{{cite web|first=Mr|last=Bonzai|title=Glen Ballard: Songwriter/Producer|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/glen-ballard-songwriterproducer|website=Sound On Sound|date=January 2008|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

Ballard co-wrote several songs for film with [[Alan Silvestri]], including "[[Believe (The Polar Express song)|Believe]]", performed by [[Josh Groban]] in ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'' (2004), which won the [[48th Grammy Awards|2006]] [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]].<ref name=Kawashima/> Ballard and Silvestri again collaborated on "Gently as She Goes" and "A Hero Comes Home", performed by [[Robin Wright]] and [[Idina Menzel]]) in ''[[Beowulf (2007 film)|Beowulf]]'' (2007); "[[Butterfly Fly Away]]", performed by [[Miley Cyrus]] and [[Billy Ray Cyrus]] in ''[[Hannah Montana: The Movie]]'' (2009); and "God Bless Us Everyone", performed by [[Andrea Bocelli]] in ''[[A Christmas Carol (2009 film)|A Christmas Carol]]'' (2009).

===2010s===
In 2010, Ballard reunited with Wilson Phillips for [[Christmas in Harmony|the trio's first Christmas album]]. Other artists with whom Ballard co-wrote and/or co-produced projects in the 2010s include [[Stevie Nicks]] and [[Anastacia]]. He co-wrote songs on albums by [[Ringo Starr]], as well as "Shine Your Way", performed by [[Owl City]] and [[Yuna (singer)|Yuna]]) in the 2013 film ''[[The Croods]]''.

In 2011 Ballard founded his own production company, Augury, focused on developing music-driven projects in film, television, and theater.

Ballard co-wrote the music and lyrics for ''[[Ghost the Musical]]'' with [[David A. Stewart]] and [[Bruce Joel Rubin]]. The stage musical adaptation of the [[Ghost (1990 film)|1990 film of the same name]] opened in London's West End in 2011 and on Broadway in 2012.<ref name=Kawashima/>

On January 31, 2014, it was announced that ''[[Back to the Future: The Musical]]'', a stage musical adaptation of the [[Back to the Future|1985 film]], was in production.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25976383 | work=BBC News | title=Back to the Future musical announced | date=January 31, 2014}}</ref> Ballard and Silvestri co-wrote the musical's original music and lyrics, which were combined with songs from the film. The musical premiered in Manchester on February 20, 2020, ahead of a 2021 West End transfer,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/jan/31/back-to-the-future-musical | title=Back to the Future: 80s movie gets musical makeover | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=January 31, 2014 | access-date=February 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/01-2014/back-to-the-future-musical-set-for-west-end-in-201_33351.html | title=Back to the Future musical set for West End in 2015 | work=[[WhatsOnStage.com]] | date=January 31, 2014 | access-date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> and won the [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical]] in 2022. It opened on Broadway in 2023.

In 2019, ''[[Jagged Little Pill (musical)|Jagged Little Pill]]'', a [[jukebox musical]] inspired by the [[Jagged Little Pill|1995 album of the same name]] opened on Broadway after a successful limited engagement in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The show included not only songs from ''Jagged Little Pill'' but also other songs co-written by Ballard and Morissette, including "[[Thank U]]", "[[That I Would Be Good]]", and "[[So Pure]]" from 1998's ''[[Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie]]''. At the rescheduled [[74th Tony Awards|Tony Awards]] for 2020, the show garnered 15 nominations and two awards, in addition to winning the [[Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album]].

===2020s===
Ballard was involved in the development of the 2020 [[Netflix]] TV series ''[[The Eddy]]'', co-writing the music and serving as an executive producer.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52506143 | title = The Eddy: Will Gompertz reviews Netflix drama directed by Oscar-winning Damien Chazelle | last = Gompertz |first= Will | date = May 2, 2020 | access-date = May 2, 2020 | website = [[BBC News]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-eddy/critic-reviews | title = The Eddy, critics' reviews | date = April 28, 2020| website = [[Metacritic]] | access-date = May 2, 2020 }}</ref>

He again collaborated with Silvestri to co-write four new songs for [[Pinocchio (2022 live-action film soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] of Disney's [[Pinocchio (2022 live-action film)|2022 live-action film adaptation of Pinocchio]].<ref>{{cite web |date=Nov 26, 2021 |last1=Scott |first1=Fiona |title=Glen Ballard Discusses The Rose Musical and Pinocchio Live-Action Remake on the Eleven Podcast |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/GLEN-BALLARD-Discusses-THE-ROSE-Musical-and-PINOCCHIO-Live-Action-Remake-on-the-Eleven-Podcast-20211126 |website=BroadwayWorld.com }}</ref>

==Legacy==
Ballard established the Glen Ballard Music Composition and Production Scholarship with the [[Los Angeles College of Music]] to support music education.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gallant|first=Michael|title=Glen Ballard|website=Music & Musicians|url=https://mmusicmag.com/m/2014/06/glen-ballard/|date=June 2014|access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>

==Recording studios==
Ballard established recording studios, named Aerowave Studios, in Hollywood and Encino.<ref name=HilburnR/> Additionally, Ballard and David Stewart had a joint creative studio in Los Angeles named High Window.<ref name=SOSJan2008/>

==Awards and honors==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 99%;"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! scope="col" | Association
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Work
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Academy Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[77th Academy Awards|2005]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Believe|"[[Believe (Josh Groban song)|Believe]]"}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2005|title=The 77th Academy Awards {{pipe}} 2005|publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] (AMPAS)|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[62nd Golden Globe Awards|2005]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://goldenglobes.com/person/glen-ballard/|title=Glen Ballard {{pipe}} Golden Globes|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] (HFPA)|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="12"| [[Grammy Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| [[33rd Annual Grammy Awards|1991]]
| [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]
| ''[[Wilson Phillips (album)|Wilson Phillips]]''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="12"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/glen-ballard/590|title=Glen Ballard {{pipe}} Grammy Awards|publisher=[[The Recording Academy]]|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| {{sort|Hold|"[[Hold On (Wilson Phillips song)|Hold On]]"}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals|Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s)]]
| {{sort|Places|"The Places You Find Love"}}
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year, Non-Classical]]
| {{sdash}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5"| [[38th Annual Grammy Awards|1996]]
| [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]]
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Jagged Little Pill]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|You|"[[You Oughta Know]]"}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical|Producer of the Year, Non-Classical]]
| {{sdash}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[39th Annual Grammy Awards|1997]]
| [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]]
| {{sort|Ironic|"[[Ironic (song)|Ironic]]"}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[40th Annual Grammy Awards|1998]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Long Form Music Video]]
| ''[[Jagged Little Pill, Live]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[48th Annual Grammy Awards|2006]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media|Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]]
| {{sort|Believe|"[[Believe (Josh Groban song)|Believe]]"}}
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[Hollywood Music in Media Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[11th Hollywood Music in Media Awards|2021]]
| [[Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series|Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series]]
| {{sort|Eddy|"The Eddy"}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/hollywood-music-media-awards-nominations-songs-score-1234886663/|title=Hollywood Music in Media Awards Announces 2021 Nominees; Kenny Loggins Set for Lifetime Honor (EXCLUSIVE)|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 15, 2021|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| [[13th Hollywood Music in Media Awards|2022]]
| Best Original Song in a Streamed Film (No Theatrical Release)
| {{sort|I|"I Will Always Dance"}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmmawards.com/2022-hmma-nominations-and-winners/|title=2022 HMMA Nominations and Winners|publisher=[[Hollywood Music in Media Awards]] (HMMA)|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Laurence Olivier Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[2022 Laurence Olivier Awards|2022]]
| [[Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Contribution|Best Original Score or New Orchestrations]]
| ''[[Back to the Future: The Musical]]''
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Moynihan|first=Caitlin|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/202060/cabaret-life-of-pi-back-to-the-future-win-2022-olivier-awards/|title=''Cabaret'', ''Life of Pi'', ''Back to The Future'' Win 2022 Olivier Awards|work=[[John Gore Organization|Broadway.com]]|date=April 11, 2022|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Satellite Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[9th Golden Satellite Awards|2005]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]
| rowspan="2"| {{sort|Believe|"[[Believe (Josh Groban song)|Believe]]"}}
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml|title=9th Annual Satellite™ Awards {{pipe}} 2005|publisher=[[International Press Academy]] (IPA)|access-date=October 8, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221072610/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml|archive-date=December 21, 2009}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2"| [[World Soundtrack Awards]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[World Soundtrack Awards 2005|2005]]
| rowspan="2"| [[World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film|Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/awards/winners-and-nominees|title=Winners & Nominees|publisher=[[World Soundtrack Awards|World Soundtrack Academy]]|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008
| {{sort|Hero|"A Hero Comes Home"}}
| {{nom}}
|}

In 1997, Ballard was named [[ASCAP]] Songwriter of the Year for co-writing "Hand In My Pocket", "Ironic", "You Learn", and "You Oughta Know" with Morissette.<ref name="ASCAPPop">{{cite magazine|last=Van Der Vliet|first=Gina|title=Ballard, Taupin, And Clinton Shine At ASCAP Pop Awards|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=billboard+%22glen+ballard%22+morissette&pg=PA12|magazine=Billboard|date=May 31, 1997|access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref> The same year, he was also named Songwriter of the Year by the [[National Academy of Songwriters]].<ref name=ASCAPPop/>

In 2008, Ballard's alma mater, the University of Mississippi, inducted him into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2023, the university awarded him the 2023 Medal for the Arts.<ref name="UMMarch2023">{{cite web|last=Hahn|first=Tina H.|title=Music Industry Icon to Receive Medal for the Arts|url=https://libarts.olemiss.edu/music-industry-icon-to-receive-medal-for-the-arts/|website=The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts|date=March 13, 2023|access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

In 2023, Ballard was inducted into the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]]. The same year, he was selected as a [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] class of 2024 honoree in the category of recording.<ref>{{cite web|title=Walk of Fame welcomes new group of stars|url=https://beverlypress.com/2023/06/walk-of-fame-welcomes-new-group-of-stars/|website=Beverly Press ParkLabrea News|date=June 29, 2023|access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref> His honoree star was unveiled during a ceremony held on July 11, 2024 in the presence of [[Wilson Phillips]] who each honoured his contribution to their career and considering him band's unofficial fourth member.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Wilson Phillips' Chynna Phillips brings Glen Ballard to tears with poignant speech at Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/wilson-phillips-chynna-phillips-glen-ballard-tears-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-1235729557/website=Billboard.com|date=July 11, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Glen Ballard production discography}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 121: Line 207:
==External links==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190801121452/http://glenballard.com/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190801121452/http://glenballard.com/ Official website]
* {{Allmusic|id=p53855|label=Glen Ballard}}
* {{AllMusic|id=p53855|label=Glen Ballard}}
* {{IMDb name|4722}}
* {{IMDb name|4722}}


Line 137: Line 223:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Natchez, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Musicians from Natchez, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members]]
[[Category:University of Mississippi alumni]]

Latest revision as of 11:41, 8 October 2024

Glen Ballard
Birth nameBasil Glen Ballard Jr.
Born (1953-05-01) May 1, 1953 (age 71)
Natchez, Mississippi, U.S.
GenresPop, rock, R&B
Occupation(s)Songwriter, lyricist, record producer
Instrument(s)Keyboards, synthesizer, guitar
Years active1971–present

Basil Glen Ballard Jr. (born May 1, 1953) is an American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer.[1] He is best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's 1995 album Jagged Little Pill[2] and Dave Matthews Band's 2001 album Everyday. As a songwriter, he co-wrote songs including "All I Need",[3] "Man in the Mirror",[4] "Hold On",[5] "Hand in My Pocket", and Josh Groban's "Believe". As a producer, he has worked with No Doubt, Shelby Lynne, Goo Goo Dolls, P.O.D., Annie Lennox and others.

Ballard founded the production company Augury in 2011.[6] In collaboration with Alan Silvestri, he wrote the score for musical adaptation of Back to the Future. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2023.[7]

Early life

[edit]

Ballard grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, where he began playing the piano and writing songs at an early age.[8] He began playing guitar and playing in a band called the Unknowns beginning in the fourth grade.[9][10] While attending the University of Mississippi he released a solo album. He earned a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, and political science, graduating in 1975.[5][11]

Career

[edit]

1970s

[edit]

After college, Ballard moved to Los Angeles with $400 and the phone number of the only person his uncle knew in L.A., a golf pro at the Bel-Air Country Club, whom Ballard called and asked if they knew anyone in the music business. The only person they knew was Tutti Camarata, the owner of Sunset Sound Recorders, who invited Ballard to a recording session. Camerata offered Ballard some studio time, which Ballard used to develop his songwriting, arranging, and production skills. He began working for a division of Rocket Records and continued learning about the music business. In 1978 Ballard wrote a song for Rocket artist Kiki Dee, which led to his being signed as a staff songwriter for MCA Music Publishing.[1][8]

1980s

[edit]

Ballard wrote, played, and produced an increasing number of songs and projects in the 1980s, contributing to albums by the Pointer Sisters, Paula Abdul, Camilo Sesto, and others. He co-wrote and produced the title track "All I Need" on Jack Wagner's 1984 debut album All I Need.[3] He also co-wrote the song "You Look So Good in Love", a hit for George Strait in 1983 and one of Strait's biggest hits.[9]

When a song Ballard co-wrote was included on George Benson's 1980 album Give Me the Night, Quincy Jones took notice of his abilities, and in 1985 Jones hired Ballard as a songwriter and producer for his Qwest Records label.[3] In 1987, when Jones invited a group of songwriters to his home to write hit songs for Michael Jackson's upcoming album, Siedah Garrett and Ballard co-wrote "Man in the Mirror".[8][9] The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[12] It was nominated for Record of the Year at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards.

In 1989, producer Richard Perry introduced Ballard to Wilson Phillips, and they collaborated in his Encino home studio to produce a four-song demo that included the song "Hold On", co-written by Ballard. The demo earned the group a record deal, and Ballard produced the trio's commercially successful debut album, released in 1990.[3][5][13] "Hold On" was the album's lead single and won the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year for 1990. It became a worldwide hit, earning two nominations at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song 15th on its list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[14].

1990s

[edit]

Ballard and Garrett collaborated with Jackson to write the song "Keep the Faith" from his 1991 album, Dangerous, and the song "I Never Even Told You", included on the soundtrack for the 1993 animated film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. In 1992, Ballard worked with Wilson Phillips on their second studio album, Shadows and Light.

In March 1994, Ballard's publishing company introduced him to Alanis Morissette, and the two worked together at Ballard's home studio to write and record demos of the songs that became Jagged Little Pill. Ballard and Morissette took the demos to various record labels that passed. In January 1995, they approached Guy Oseary at Maverick Records, who signed Morissette.[15] Released in June 1995, the album was the best-selling album of 1996, and won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Album of the Year. It is one of the best-selling albums of all time, and ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Morissette again collaborated with Ballard on her 1998 follow-up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.[16]

Other artists with whom Ballard co-wrote and/or co-produced projects in the 1990s include Curtis Stigers, Lea Salonga, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and The Corrs. In 1997, he launched Java Records as a joint venture with Capitol Records.[9] He wrote the screenplay for the 1999 film Clubland, a music-driven film about an aspiring musician in Los Angeles.

2000s

[edit]

In 2000, Dave Matthews flew to Los Angeles to meet with Ballard with the intention of finishing material for an upcoming Dave Matthews Band album, and ended up co-writing 12 new songs with Ballard in 10 days. Ballard produced the album, Everyday, which was released the next year.[9] In 2001, Ballard's Java label moved from Capitol to the Island/Def Jam family of labels.[1]

In 2001 a 17 year-old Katy Perry, then known as Katy Hudson, moved to Los Angeles to work with Ballard due to his past work with Morissette, one of her major inspirations.[17] In 2004 she signed to Ballard's Java Records label and began work on a solo record to be released in 2005, but the record was shelved after the label was dropped.[18] Ballard introduced her to Tim Devine at Columbia Records, where she was signed as a solo artist.

Ballard worked with Lisa Marie Presley to develop her debut 2003 albumTo Whom It May Concern, co-writing five of its tracks. He also produced or co-produced albums by No Doubt,[19][9] Shelby Lynne, Goo Goo Dolls, P.O.D., Annie Lennox, Anouk, and Idina Menzel. Together with Dave Stewart he established Sly-Fi, a production partnership.[20]

Ballard co-wrote several songs for film with Alan Silvestri, including "Believe", performed by Josh Groban in The Polar Express (2004), which won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.[15] Ballard and Silvestri again collaborated on "Gently as She Goes" and "A Hero Comes Home", performed by Robin Wright and Idina Menzel) in Beowulf (2007); "Butterfly Fly Away", performed by Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009); and "God Bless Us Everyone", performed by Andrea Bocelli in A Christmas Carol (2009).

2010s

[edit]

In 2010, Ballard reunited with Wilson Phillips for the trio's first Christmas album. Other artists with whom Ballard co-wrote and/or co-produced projects in the 2010s include Stevie Nicks and Anastacia. He co-wrote songs on albums by Ringo Starr, as well as "Shine Your Way", performed by Owl City and Yuna) in the 2013 film The Croods.

In 2011 Ballard founded his own production company, Augury, focused on developing music-driven projects in film, television, and theater.

Ballard co-wrote the music and lyrics for Ghost the Musical with David A. Stewart and Bruce Joel Rubin. The stage musical adaptation of the 1990 film of the same name opened in London's West End in 2011 and on Broadway in 2012.[15]

On January 31, 2014, it was announced that Back to the Future: The Musical, a stage musical adaptation of the 1985 film, was in production.[21] Ballard and Silvestri co-wrote the musical's original music and lyrics, which were combined with songs from the film. The musical premiered in Manchester on February 20, 2020, ahead of a 2021 West End transfer,[22][23] and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022. It opened on Broadway in 2023.

In 2019, Jagged Little Pill, a jukebox musical inspired by the 1995 album of the same name opened on Broadway after a successful limited engagement in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The show included not only songs from Jagged Little Pill but also other songs co-written by Ballard and Morissette, including "Thank U", "That I Would Be Good", and "So Pure" from 1998's Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. At the rescheduled Tony Awards for 2020, the show garnered 15 nominations and two awards, in addition to winning the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

2020s

[edit]

Ballard was involved in the development of the 2020 Netflix TV series The Eddy, co-writing the music and serving as an executive producer.[24][25]

He again collaborated with Silvestri to co-write four new songs for the soundtrack of Disney's 2022 live-action film adaptation of Pinocchio.[26]

Legacy

[edit]

Ballard established the Glen Ballard Music Composition and Production Scholarship with the Los Angeles College of Music to support music education.[27]

Recording studios

[edit]

Ballard established recording studios, named Aerowave Studios, in Hollywood and Encino.[1] Additionally, Ballard and David Stewart had a joint creative studio in Los Angeles named High Window.[20]

Awards and honors

[edit]
Association Year Category Work Result Ref(s)
Academy Awards 2005 Best Original Song "Believe" Nominated [28]
Golden Globe Awards 2005 Best Original Song Nominated [29]
Grammy Awards 1991 Album of the Year Wilson Phillips Nominated [30]
Song of the Year "Hold On" Nominated
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) "The Places You Find Love" Won
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical — Nominated
1996 Album of the Year Jagged Little Pill Won
Best Rock Album Won
Song of the Year "You Oughta Know" Nominated
Best Rock Song Won
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical — Nominated
1997 Record of the Year "Ironic" Nominated
1998 Best Long Form Music Video Jagged Little Pill, Live Won
2006 Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media "Believe" Won
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2021 Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series "The Eddy" Nominated [31]
2022 Best Original Song in a Streamed Film (No Theatrical Release) "I Will Always Dance" Nominated [32]
Laurence Olivier Awards 2022 Best Original Score or New Orchestrations Back to the Future: The Musical Nominated [33]
Satellite Awards 2005 Best Original Song "Believe" Nominated [34]
World Soundtrack Awards 2005 Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film Nominated [35]
2008 "A Hero Comes Home" Nominated

In 1997, Ballard was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for co-writing "Hand In My Pocket", "Ironic", "You Learn", and "You Oughta Know" with Morissette.[36] The same year, he was also named Songwriter of the Year by the National Academy of Songwriters.[36]

In 2008, Ballard's alma mater, the University of Mississippi, inducted him into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2023, the university awarded him the 2023 Medal for the Arts.[37]

In 2023, Ballard was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The same year, he was selected as a Hollywood Walk of Fame class of 2024 honoree in the category of recording.[38] His honoree star was unveiled during a ceremony held on July 11, 2024 in the presence of Wilson Phillips who each honoured his contribution to their career and considering him band's unofficial fourth member.[39]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Glen Ballard production discography

Further reading

[edit]
  • Glen Ballard songbook. Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., 2000. ISBN 0-7935-5254-0.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Hilburn, Robert (August 5, 2001). "A Calm Hand at the Controls". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  2. ^ Pareles, Jon (November 1, 1998). "Alanis Morissette Explores The Healing Power of Song". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c d Senior, Mike (March 2003). "Glen Ballard - Songwriter & Producer: Alanis Morisette". Sound On Sound. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Michael Jackson's lyrics tell a hard story". MSNBC. June 29, 2009. Archived from the original on September 16, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Galiant, Michael (June 2014). "Glen Ballard". Music & Musicians. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Dale Kawashima (August 27, 2015). "Renowned Writer/Producer Glen Ballard Talks About His Hits With Alanis Morissette And Michael Jackson, And His New Projects". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Songwriters Hall Of Fame: Glen Ballard". Songwriters Hall Of Fame. 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c "Sodajerker presents... Glen Ballard". Songwriting Magazine. September 10, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Newman, Melinda (June 30, 2001). "Glen Ballard: The Billboard Interview" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Walsh, Christopher (June 30, 2001). "The Producer/Songwriter Continues To Direct Debuts And Helm Hits" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "Grammy Winner Glen Ballard Inducted into UM Hall of Fame". The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  13. ^ Hodge, Will (May 8, 2020). "California Girls, California Dreamin': Wilson Phillips Reminisce On 30 Years Of "Hold On" And Their Multi-Platinum Debut Smash". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Kawashima, Dale (August 27, 2015). "Renowned Writer/Producer Glen Ballard Talks About His Hits With Alanis Morissette And Michael Jackson, And His New Projects". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Massey, Howard (2000). Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft The Hits. San Francisco, California, US: Backbeat Books. pp. 18–26. ISBN 0879306149.
  17. ^ Hirschberg, Lynn (October 22, 2013). "Katy Perry". W. Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  18. ^ Conniff, Tamara (December 25, 2004). "I've Stopped Asking for Permission. I'd Rather Ask for Forgiveness". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  19. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (April 10, 2000). "Music: Two-Hit Wonders". Time. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.
  20. ^ a b Bonzai, Mr (January 2008). "Glen Ballard: Songwriter/Producer". Sound On Sound. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Back to the Future musical announced". BBC News. January 31, 2014.
  22. ^ "Back to the Future: 80s movie gets musical makeover". The Guardian. January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  23. ^ "Back to the Future musical set for West End in 2015". WhatsOnStage.com. January 31, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  24. ^ Gompertz, Will (May 2, 2020). "The Eddy: Will Gompertz reviews Netflix drama directed by Oscar-winning Damien Chazelle". BBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  25. ^ "The Eddy, critics' reviews". Metacritic. April 28, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  26. ^ Scott, Fiona (November 26, 2021). "Glen Ballard Discusses The Rose Musical and Pinocchio Live-Action Remake on the Eleven Podcast". BroadwayWorld.com.
  27. ^ Gallant, Michael (June 2014). "Glen Ballard". Music & Musicians. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  28. ^ "The 77th Academy Awards | 2005". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  29. ^ "Glen Ballard | Golden Globes". Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  30. ^ "Glen Ballard | Grammy Awards". The Recording Academy. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  31. ^ Willman, Chris (January 15, 2021). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards Announces 2021 Nominees; Kenny Loggins Set for Lifetime Honor (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  32. ^ "2022 HMMA Nominations and Winners". Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  33. ^ Moynihan, Caitlin (April 11, 2022). "Cabaret, Life of Pi, Back to The Future Win 2022 Olivier Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  34. ^ "9th Annual Satellite™ Awards | 2005". International Press Academy (IPA). Archived from the original on December 21, 2009. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  35. ^ "Winners & Nominees". World Soundtrack Academy. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Van Der Vliet, Gina (May 31, 1997). "Ballard, Taupin, And Clinton Shine At ASCAP Pop Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  37. ^ Hahn, Tina H. (March 13, 2023). "Music Industry Icon to Receive Medal for the Arts". The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  38. ^ "Walk of Fame welcomes new group of stars". Beverly Press ParkLabrea News. June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  39. ^ "Wilson Phillips' Chynna Phillips brings Glen Ballard to tears with poignant speech at Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony". Billboard. July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Glen_Ballard&oldid=1250084720"