Ballin' Jack
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Luther Rabb, Ronnie Hammon |
| Defunct | 1975 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Ballin' Jack (also presented as Ballin'jack) was a horn-driven rock ensemble originating from Seattle, Washington in 1969, founded by Luther Rabb (bass and vocals) alongside drummer Ronnie Hammon. They secured moderate chart success in 1970 with their single "Super Highway," which attained the #93 spot on the Billboard Top 100.
Career
Motivated by their childhood acquaintance Jimi Hendrix, Rabb and Hammon expanded their lineup by bringing in guitarist Glenn Thomas and horn players Jim Coile and Tim McFarland. The group then moved to Los Angeles, settling in a mansion that doubled as a home studio near the Sunset Strip. Hendrix extended an invitation for them to participate in his 1970 "Cry Of Love" tour.
Between 1969 and 1974, Ballin' Jack was a prominent act on the West Coast circuit and embarked on tours across the United States, supporting leading performers at renowned venues such as the Fillmore East and Fillmore West. Their appearances included numerous major music festivals, and in 1972 they played at the Troubadour, where Billy Joel was an opening act. The band also toured Japan, where they were met with favorable acclaim.
By 1975, the group had dissolved. Subsequently, Luther Rabb joined Santana on tour, while both Rabb and Ronnie Hammon became members of War.
Jim Coile, born January 22, 1948, in Kirkland, Washington, passed away on June 20, 2019, aged 71.
Legacy
The track "Found a Child" from their initial album featured on the Columbia Records compilation Together!.
Multiple artists have either covered or sampled their songs, notably:
- "Found a Child" – incorporated into the Grammy-winning 1989 rap track "Bust a Move" by Young MC.
- "Found a Child" – interpreted by Funktuation on their 2005 EP Talk.
- "Found a Child" – performed by Cane And Able on their self-titled 1970 release Cane And Able.
- "Never Let 'Em Say" – sampled by The Beastie Boys in "Shadrach," featured on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique.
- "Never Let 'Em Say" – used in the 1991 song "Step in the Arena" by Gang Starr.
- "Never Let 'em Say" – sampled by Double X Posse in their 1992 single "Not Gonna Be Able To Do It".
Personnel
- Luther Rabb (bass, vocals) (1942–2006)
- Ronnie Hammon (drums)
- Glenn Thomas (guitar, mandolin)
- Jim Coile (saxophone, flute, clarinet) (deceased 2019)
- Tim McFarland (trombone, piano, backing vocals) (1945–2011)
- Jim Walters (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals) (deceased)
- Billy McPherson (saxophone) (died 2011)
- King Errison (percussion, keyboards)
Albums
- Ballin' Jack (Columbia, 1970) – reached No. 180 on the Billboard Top LPs chart over an eight-week period.
- Buzzard Luck (Columbia, 1972)
- Special Pride (Mercury, 1973)
- Live And In Color (Mercury, 1974)
Singles
- 1970 Found A Child / Never Let 'Em Say (Columbia, 4-45348)
- 1970 Super Highway / Only a Tear (Columbia 4-45312) (#93 Billboard, #102 Cash Box)
- 1970 Hold On / Ballin' The Jack (Columbia, 4-45464)
- 1972 (Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need / Playin' The Game (Columbia, 4-45698)
- 1973 Try To Relax / Thunder (Mercury, 73401)
- 1973 This Song / Sunday Morning (Mercury, 73429-Promo)