Grammy Award-winning country singer David Ball will bring his Pioneer Playboys band to Crosby Saturday night at the 33 Roadhouse.
The special show will benefit Ball’s charity, Operation Troop Aid, and will begin at 8 p.m.
Ball sold 3 million copies of his debut record, “Thinkin’ Problem,” and he collaborated with Bob Dylan on “The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute.” He won a Grammy for his contribution to the 2005 collection, “Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster,” where he sang “Old Folks at Home (Swannee River).”
Ball was one of the first artists to take an independent release to the country top 5 charts with 2002’s “Riding With Private Malone.”
In 2011, Ball became an honorary board member of Operation Troop Aid, which raises money for care packages delivered at mail call to U.S. military service men and women around the world. The program also offers bill assistance when veterans return home. OTA merchandise will be available at the show, with 100 percent of proceeds going back to the charity.
Ball is touring behind his ninth studio album, “Sparkle City.” The Austin Chronicle said the album “glides between swing, honky-tonk, blues and even a touch of Tex-Mex, with the ease of George Strait, the difference being Ball composes his own material.”
Ball grew up in Spartanburg, S.C., where he learned to play guitar but later honed his skills on the upright bass. That led to a gig playing bass in Uncle Walt’s Band, credited as a seminal Americana act. The trio was headed by Walter Hyatt and also included Champ Hood. A solo career led Ball to Nashville, where he signed a publishing deal and a recording contract.
Ball’s music came full circle when Lyle Lovett covered one of Uncle Walt’s songs, “Don’t You Think I Feel it Too” on his 2009 disc, “Natural Forces.”
Ball released “The Greatest Christmas” song collection in 2012.
Ball’s publicist said though the singer has been on the biggest stages around the world, he genuinely likes coming back to what he calls the “backwoods.”
In an interview in the Peoria, Ill., area last week, Ball talked about how much more fun he has in small towns — “better attitudes, more beautiful country” — and he prefers two-lane roads to interstates when he travels.
For more information on Ball, visit online at www.davidball.com.
For ticket information on Saturday’s show, call 639-4031. The 33 Roadhouse is located at 1976 Highway 33 North in Crosby.
For informationon Operation Troop Aid or to donate, visit online at www.davidball.com/operationtroopaid.
