Kenny Ball

370 fans

Essex boy Kenny Ball was in the vanguard of the trad jazz revival which swept the UK in sixties. Along with contemporaries Chris Barber and Acker Bilk, Ball became a household name making regular appearances on UK TV light entertainment programmes such as the BBC's popular Morecambe And Wise Show and the Black And White Minstrel Show. Ball and his band, Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen rose to fame when their rendition of Cole Porter's song Samantha reached number two in the UK Charts. The single's follow up, the 1962 release Midnight In Moscow, sold over a million copies and set the scene for a long successful career in the UK with 14 top 50 singles. Ball And His Jazzmen also enjoyed a brief period of success across the Atlantic with three consecutive chart entries in the US Charts. An honorary citizen of America's jazz capital New Orleans, Ball and his band were invited to to appear with Louis Armstrong during his final European tour. A measure of his popularity in the UK can be gauged by the fact he was booked to play at the wedding reception of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. He continued to tour along with his Jazzmen until shortly before his death in 2013. He died from pneumonia aged 82.

Top tracks

15	Caterina (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			01:59
	Writer: Earl S Shuman / Bugs Bower / Composers: Gunther Manuel Salinger Ehrenfried

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Discography

Albums

Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen

2025 Intermezzo: 31-01-2025

Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen

01	Casablanca	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:20
	Composers: Sakelardis - Sakelariou
02	Acapulco 1922	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:13
	Composers: Allan - Talmy
03	So Do I	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:38
	Composers: Grant - Mackenben
04	Hand Me Down My Walking Shoes	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:46
	Composers: Trad
05	My Mother's Eyes	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:38
	Composers: Baer - Gilbert
06	Swanee River	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			02:38
	Composers: Trad
07	The Pay Off	Kenny Ball	Brit Trad Jazz - the Legend of Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen			03:00
	Composers: Bechet

Access the complete album info (10 songs)

Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen

℗ 2024 Intersound by Sonoton Music: 23-05-2024

Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen

01	Aura Lee (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			02:52
	Composers: George F Poulton
02	Stepping Along to the Beat (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			03:06
	Composers: Benny Sky
03	Sunshine Time (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			03:30
	Composers: Bert Petri
04	Nicole (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			03:06
	Composers: Kenny Ball - Barry Ryder - Tony Tape
05	Lighting up the Town (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			02:39
	Composers: Traditional
06	Sophie's Rag (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			03:35
	Composers: Kenny Ball - Barry Ryder - Tony Tape
07	My Home Town (Remastered)	Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen	Lighting up the Town - Kenny Ball & the Jazzmen			02:54
	Composers: Kenny Ball - Barry Ryder - Tony Tape

Access the complete album info (12 songs)

Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)

Master Tape Records: 19-03-2021

Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)

01	Midnight in Moscow (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:59
	Writer: Mikhail Lvovich Matusovskij / Vasilij Pavlovich Solovev-Sedoj / Composers: Kenny Ball
02	I Wanna Be Like You (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:11
	Writer: Richard M Sherman / Robert B Sherman / Composers: Edmundo Santos
03	The Green Leaves of Summer (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:49
	Writer: Dimitri Tiomkin / Composers: Paul Francis Webster
04	Sukiyaki (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:58
	Writer: Hachidai Nakamura / Composers: Rokusuke Ei
05	So Do I (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:39
	Writer: Theo Mackeben / Composers: Hans Fritz Beckmann / Augusto Alguero Alguero
06	When I'm Sixty Four (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:43
	Writer: John Winston Lennon / Composers: Paul James McCartney
07	Samantha (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Anthology: His Early Hits (Remastered)			02:22
	Writer: Cole Porter / Composers: Cole Porter

Access the complete album info (20 songs)

Christmas Favourites

2020 Bringins Music: 20-11-2020

Christmas Favourites

01	Wonderful Christmas Time	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			02:10
	Writer: Paul James McCartney / Composers: Paul James McCartney
02	Deck the Halls	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			02:38
	Writer: Trad. - Kenny Ball / Composers: Trad. - Kenny Ball
03	Jingle Bells	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			03:39
	Writer: KENNETH DANIEL BALL - James Pierpont (J S) / Composers: KENNETH DANIEL BALL - James Pierpont (J S)
04	Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			03:39
	Writer: John D Marks / Composers: John D Marks
05	Santa Claus Is Coming to Town	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			02:57
	Writer: Fred J Coots - Haven Gillespie / Composers: Fred J Coots - Haven Gillespie
06	Ding Dong Merrily on High	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			03:41
	Writer: Trad. - KENNETH DANIEL BALL / Composers: Trad. - KENNETH DANIEL BALL
07	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	Kenny Ball	Christmas Favourites			02:15
	Writer: Trad. - KENNETH DANIEL BALL / Composers: Trad. - KENNETH DANIEL BALL

Access the complete album info (19 songs)

Now 3

: 02-01-2014

Now 3

01	Bourbon St. Parade	Kenny Ball	Now 3			04:26
02	Georgia Swing	Kenny Ball	Now 3			03:39
03	My Mother's Eyes	Kenny Ball	Now 3			03:25
04	Rhapsody in Blue	Kenny Ball	Now 3			05:13
05	Ace in the Hole	Kenny Ball	Now 3			04:07
06	The Man I Love	Kenny Ball	Now 3			05:54
07	Write Myself a Letter	Kenny Ball	Now 3			06:02

Access the complete album info (16 songs)

American Patrol (Live)

2013 Marylebone Records: 14-08-2013

American Patrol (Live)

01	Someday You'll Be Sorry (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			02:25
	Writer: Kenny Ball / Composers: Kenny Ball
02	Original Dixieland One Step (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			05:00
	Writer: Kenny Ball / Composers: Kenny Ball
03	Ostrich Walk (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			04:04
	Writer: Kenny Ball / Composers: Kenny Ball
04	You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			03:43
	Writer: Irving Kahal - Peter Norman - Sammy Fain / Composers: Irving Kahal - Peter Norman - Sammy Fain
05	That's My Weakness Now (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			03:18
	Writer: Kenny Ball / Composers: Kenny Ball
06	Riverside Blues (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			04:55
	Writer: Williams Clarence / Composers: Williams Clarence
07	Clarinet Marmalade (Live)	Kenny Ball	American Patrol (Live)			03:52
	Writer: Harry De Costa - Nick LaRocca - Sbarbaro Anthony - Shields Larry / Composers: De Costa Harry - La Rocca Nick - Harry De Costa - Nick LaRocca - Sbarbaro Anthony - Shields Larry

Access the complete album info (17 songs)

Tune your spirit Volume 2

Sonoton: 01-05-2010

Tune your spirit Volume 2

01	Sophie's Rag	Kenny Ball	Tune your spirit Volume 2			03:35
	Composers: Kenny Ball - Barry Ryder - Tony Tape
02	It's For Ever	Dona Clavito	Tune your spirit Volume 2			03:13
	Composers: Dona Clavito
03	Peanut Girl	Allan Brennes	Tune your spirit Volume 2			03:12
	Composers: Allan Brennes
04	Go For Fun	Peter Harling	Tune your spirit Volume 2			02:58
	Composers: Peter Harling
05	Charlie's Charleston	Ki Bombo	Tune your spirit Volume 2			02:10
	Composers: Ki Bombo
06	Suisse Hello	Traditional	Tune your spirit Volume 2			02:16
	Composers: Traditional - Arr. Peter Harling
07	Great Time	Gunther Birner	Tune your spirit Volume 2			02:06
	Composers: Gunther Birner

Access the complete album info (15 songs)

Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots

: 21-07-2008

Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots

01	Nobody's Sweetheart	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:01
02	You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:42
03	That's A Plenty	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			04:01
04	That's My Weakness Now	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:18
05	High Society	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:46
06	Nuages	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:03
07	South Rampart Street Parade	Kenny Ball	Kenny Ball at the BBC 1957-1962 The Airshots			03:39

Access the complete album info (17 songs)

Famous Marches of Many Nations

Sonoton Music: 30-06-1991

Famous Marches of Many Nations

01	Washington Post	Oslo Concert Band	Famous Marches of Many Nations			02:40
	Composers: John Philip Sousa
02	Hands Across the Sea	Oslo Concert Band	Famous Marches of Many Nations			02:57
	Composers: John Philip Sousa
03	The Thunderer	Oslo Concert Band	Berühmte Märsche verschiedener Nationen			02:53
	Composers: John Philip Sousa
04	Maryland My Maryland	Kenny Ball	Famous Marches of Many Nations			04:38
	Composers: Traditional
05	1919 March	Kenny Ball	Famous Marches of Many Nations			03:21
	Composers: John Philip Sousa
06	Stars and Stripes	Kenny Ball	Famous Marches of Many Nations			03:18
	Composers: John Philip Sousa
07	Toreadors' March	Kenny Ball	Famous Marches of Many Nations			03:18
	Composers: Georges Bizet

Access the complete album info (24 songs)

Now

: 01-01-1991

Now

01	At the Jazz Band Ball	Kenny Ball	Now			03:52
02	Them There Eyes	Kenny Ball	Now			02:41
03	Chimes Blues	Kenny Ball	Now			04:40
04	I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'	Kenny Ball	Now			02:36
05	Ode to Ed	Kenny Ball	Now			04:11
06	Basin Street Blues	Kenny Ball	Now			03:53
07	Muskrat Ramble	Kenny Ball	Now			04:50

Access the complete album info (14 songs)

Lighting up the Town

℗ 1988 Intersound by Sonoton Music: 30-05-1988

Lighting up the Town

01	Swanee River (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			02:57
	Composers: Stephen Foster
02	Stepping Along to the Beat (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			03:05
	Composers: Benny Sky
03	Aura Lee (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			02:51
	Composers: Traditional
04	Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			03:18
	Composers: Traditional
05	Frankie and Johnny (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			03:15
	Composers: Traditional
06	Sunshine Time (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			03:30
	Composers: Bert Petri
07	Bounce Well (Remastered)	Kenny Ball	Lighting up the Town			02:43
	Composers: Bert Lindenthal

Access the complete album info (19 songs)

A Friend To You

1974 Blue Pie Publishing USA: 01-01-1974

A Friend To You

01	(I'd Like To Be) A Friend To You	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			03:54
	Composers: Normal Newell - Stelvio Cipriani
02	The Old Fashioned Way	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			03:57
	Composers: Charles Aznavour - Al Kasha
03	Poor Butterfly	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			03:22
	Composers: Raymond Hubbell - John Golden
04	Heartaches	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			02:34
	Composers: Al Hoffman - John Klenner
05	You're Everything	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			03:21
	Composers: Jackie Trent - Tony Hatch
06	My Mother's Eyes	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			02:46
	Composers: Abel Baer - L. Wolfe Gilbert
07	Smile Smile Smile	Kenny Ball	A Friend To You			03:02
	Composers: Hugo Peretti - Luigi Creatore - George David Weiss

Access the complete album info (12 songs)

EPs

Midnight in Moscow

℗ 2014 Cugate ltd.: 01-01-2012

Midnight in Moscow

01	Midnight in Moscow	Kenny Ball	Midnight in Moscow			02:54
	Composers: Kenny Ball
02	The Green Leaves of Summer	Kenny Ball	Midnight in Moscow			02:43
	Composers: Paul Francis Webster
03	March of the Siamese Children	Kenny Ball	Midnight in Moscow			02:43
	Composers: Richard Rodgers
04	Someday You'll Be Sorry	Kenny Ball	Midnight in Moscow			03:37
	Composers: Louis Armstrong

Midnight In Moscow

: 06-12-2010

Midnight In Moscow

01	Midnight in Moscow	Kenny Ball	Midnight In Moscow			02:54
02	The Green Leaves of Summer	Kenny Ball	Midnight In Moscow			02:43
03	March of the Siamese Children	Kenny Ball	Midnight In Moscow			02:43
04	Someday You'll Be Sorry	Kenny Ball	Midnight In Moscow			03:37

Singles

Midnight In Moscow

℗ 2026 NAPS: 13-02-2026

Midnight In Moscow

01	Midnight In Moscow	Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen	Midnight In Moscow			02:56
	Writer: Kenny Ball / Composers: Kenny Ball