Butch Ballard

George Edward "Butch" Ballard (December 26, 1918 – October 1, 2011) was an American jazz drummer who played with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington.

Biography Ballard was born in Camden, New Jersey and grew up in the Frankford section of Philadelphia. As a child, he followed American Legion parades near his home, focusing particularly on the drummer. He played with musicians including Harry Carney, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton, Billy Strayhorn, Kay Davis and Chubby Kemp and Wendell Marshall.

In the 1960s, Ballard began leading his own band in Philadelphia. Ballard played with many musicians during his career, including John Coltrane, Freddie Green, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Clark Terry, Emmett "Rev" Berry, Bardu Ali, Willie Cook, Cat Anderson, Arnett Cobb, Lucky Millinder, Bootsie Barnes, Bob Dorsey, Eddy Vincent and Mercer Ellington.

Ballard became a music teacher in the mid-1980s and saw about 12 students a week. In his later years, he also played with the Philadelphia Legends of Jazz Orchestra.

Awards and honors On December 1, 2006, Ballard received the Mellon Jazz Community Award for his musical career and his continued education of young jazz musicians.

Discography As sideman Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman (Roulette, 1958) Duke Ellington, Ellington '55 (Capitol, 1954) Duke Ellington, Ellington Showcase (Capitol, 1955) Johnny Hodges, A Memory of Johnny Hodges (Master Jazz, 1970) Johnny Hodges, Ellingtonia! (Onyx, 1974) Lee Lovett, Lee + 3 (Wynne, 1959) Lee Lovett, Misty (Strand, 1962) Clark Terry, Squeeze Me! (Chiaroscuro, 1989)