Russ Ballard is an English singer, guitarist and songwriter who has had a remarkably successful career both as a solo artist and behind the scenes as a songwriter.
Before going solo, he was a member of Argent, and he wrote major hits recorded by artists including Rainbow, Santana and Ace Frehley. His 1984 solo album Russ Ballard produced “Voices,” a sleek, atmospheric rock song with a distinctly early-’80s sound.
- Born: 1945, Waltham Cross, England
- Former band: Argent
- “Voices”: Released in 1984
- Album: Russ Ballard
- Style: Rock / pop-rock
- Rock chart: Reached No. 15 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart
- Interesting connection: “Voices” appeared in Miami Vice in 1984.
“Voices” has that wonderfully recognizable mid-’80s atmosphere—moody keyboards, crisp drums, guitar and Ballard’s slightly mysterious vocal delivery. Its appearance on Miami Vice was a particularly good fit: the show’s stylish, nighttime world practically seemed made for songs like this. Ballard himself recalled performing the song to a crowd of about 20,000 in Verona in 1984, when it was a major hit in Italy.
Russ Ballard may be one of rock’s great “you know the song, but maybe not the name” songwriters.