Brian was born and raised in Flowood, Mississippi. His family has always been around music. Brian even has the support of his two brothers Brandon, and Blair Ballou. Brian’s grandparents were musicians too, and music teachers. Brian’s father’s dad was a piano teacher, and his mom’s mother played piano for her church. Growing up Brian and his three brothers enjoyed Motown, Soul and R&B.
Many musicians inspired Brian including Luther Vandross, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King and many more. When Brian’s mom would take him and his brothers to school growing up, she always listened to Kixie 107.5. Sam Cooke was also a huge artist that influenced Brian’s musical taste. Especially, his widely known hit “A Change is Gonna Come”.
The first guitar Brian picked up was a Blue and White Fender that he got for Christmas. It was one he always wanted because Brian wanted to play like Jimi Hendrix. As soon as he became better, Brian started going to the Thursday night Blues Challenge at Frank Jones Corner in Jackson, Mississippi. The number of talented Blues Musicians that passed through just pushed Brian to be better. As a matter of fact, Brian and his younger brother even got to play a few songs with Grammy Award winner Bobby Rush.
Over the years, Brian started becoming more and more involved in the music scene in Jackson, Mississippi. Brian even got the opportunity to play in the Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi. Brian now owns nine guitars and he has a single out called “Broken City”, and currently wrapping up the next one.
Brian is on the C-spire commercial advertising the Blues Trail here in Mississippi.
Letha's Real Talk 