Marcia Ball

It seems more and more fitting with time that Marcia Ball’s 1978 debut was titled Circuit Queen: Her masterful, bluesy N’awlins R&B has earned her a dignified position, but she still has the unpretentiousness of the frequently touring, biz-smart musician she is. Ball’s spirited piano-pounding and good-time showmanship make her a captivating performer; 2005’s Grammy-nominated Live! Down The Road offers a primer of what to expect, though it doesn’t quite capture the experience. Her 2011 album Roadside Attractions, out on Ball’s longtime label Alligator Records, draws from her time on the road, and her first of fully original tunes.

Updated 07/03/2012