Glen Ballard - Details

Biography

Five-time Grammy-winning songwriter and record producer GLEN BALLARD has seen his songs rise to the top of the pop, alternative, R&B, adult contemporary, jazz and country charts. In the process, he has scored 14 #1 Billboard singles and amassed more than 100 million record sales.

Although he has worked with the most revered names in the industry - including Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, George Strait and Barbara Streisand - he is also credited with launching spectacular debuts by Curtis Stigers, Jack Wagner, Paula Abdul, Wilson Phillips and the critically acclaimed, multi-Grammy-winner Alanis Morissette.

Jagged Little Pill, the chart-topping, multi platinum album Ballard co-wrote and produced for Morissette, was named Billboard's Top Pop Album of the 90s. The album resulted in five Grammy nominations and four wins of his own, and it is the #3 selling album of all time. Among the prestigious awards Ballard garnered at the 38th annual Grammy Awards are Best Rock Song ("You Oughta Know"), Best Rock Album and the prestigious Album of the Year. Ballard's latest collaboration with Morissette, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, garnered outstanding reviews and is triple platinum in the U.S. alone.

Ballard most recently produced No Doubt's highly anticipated sophomore album, Return of Saturn. His other recent collaborations include Van Halen's Greatest Hits album and Aerosmith's Grammy-nominated album, Nine Lives.

Born in Natchez, Mississippi in 1953, Ballard started playing the piano as a child and later studied English, political science and journalism at the University of Mississippi, where he graduated with honors. Migrating to Los Angeles, Ballard immediately joined Elton John's organization. When Kee Kee Dee recorded his song, "One Step" in 1978, Ballard had his first chart single, which led to a professional songwriting job at MCA Music Publishing.

In the late '70s and '80s, Ballard composed dozens of hits, including "What's On Your Mind," a chart-topper for George Benson; "Dance Electric," by the Pointer Sisters; Jack Wagner's "All I Need," George Strait's #1 country hit, "You Look So Good In Love" (also named 1986's Country Song of the Year); Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" and "Keep the Faith," as well as "The Places You Find Love," for Barbra Streisand. He has penned hundreds of hit songs for a wide range of artists such as Al Jarreau, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sheena Easton, Celine Dion, Philip Bailey and K.T. Oslin, among others.

Ballard has captured numerous awards, including Songwriter Of The Year 1997 from the National Academy of Songwriters, ASCAP Songwriter of 1997 and received the prestigious Governor's Award from NARAS.