You can call Butch Ballard
a drum major

By Diane Villano-Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Every renowned bandleader typically surrounds himself with incredible musicians who make him look good.
And some of the best turned to Frankford’s own George "Butch" Ballard, a longtime drummer who laid down the beat for a who’s who of jazz — "a veritable Mount Rushmore of jazz stars and big band greats," as the All Music Guide to Jazz has described it.
In fact, his reputation back in the day was so high that Count Basie and Duke Ellington called Ballard personally to ask him to work with their bands. He also has worked with jazz songstresses Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Pearl Bailey.
Louis Armstrong, old Satchmo himself, referred to Ballard as "young man" and told the jazz drummer to just call him "pops."
"I’ve been in some pretty serious company," Ballard, now 88, acknowledged during a recent interview.
The public is invited to enjoy the local legend’s company on Saturday, when the Butch Ballard Trio headlines the eighth annual Frankford Festival. They’ll play from noon to 2 p.m. Later on, folks can put on their "slick clothes" and check him out from 7 to 11 that night at mozaic, 4524 Frankford Ave., where he packs them in on the first and third Saturdays of the month.
George Ballard was born in Camden, N.J., on Dec. 26, 1918, but Frankford has long claimed this well-known resident as its own. After all, he grew up on Hawthorne Street, and when not playing on the road, Ballard has hung his hat on Plum Street since 1950.
His nickname "Butch" came during his younger days from trying to imitate Machine Gun Butch, a character played by Wallace Beery in the 1930 film The Big House.
Ballard is a graduate of neighborhood schools, having attended Wilmot, Stearne and Harding, and he played in the school band while at Northeast High.
The budding musician also landed his first professional gig in Frankford — he sat in with the Herb Thornton Band at the Frankford Boys Club when he was just 16.
His contributions to the Frankford community and around the world, however, go far beyond sharing his infectious smile and sense of musical rhythm. The World War II veteran served in the Navy’s 29th Special Construction Battalion in the South Pacific and the Mariana Islands near Guam.
On the home front these days, Ballard is the block captain of his street, has been a Democratic committeeman for more than 30 years, and a party chairman for close to 25 years.
Three weeks ago, City Councilman Dan Savage (D-7th dist.), whose region includes Frankford, lauded Ballard’s long career and accomplishments while presenting him with a proclamation and also a small Liberty Bell from Mayor John Street during a ceremony in City Council chambers.
The Liberty Bell replica now sits on Ballard’s coffee table next to his 2006 Mellon Jazz Community Award, two of many honors that are displayed in the living and dining rooms alongside cherished family photos, including those of his late wife of 67 years, Jessie, his son and granddaughters.
The awards include honors from the Lincoln Center in New York; the Unity Community Center and the Historical Society of Frankford; and a Living Legend Award and proclamations from the mayor and state Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-2nd dist).
The Mellon Jazz Community Award, which salutes recipients for their contributions to jazz in southeastern Pennsylvania, included a check for $5,000 that Ballard donated to the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts Inc. The organization plans to honor him with a June 17 dinner that is open to the public.
Wearing a T-shirt promoting the West Oak Lane Arts and Jazz Festival, Ballard relaxed in his favorite chair, a "No. 1 Dad" pillow wedged behind his back, and reflected on his lengthy career and good fortune.
"I’ve been playing the drums since I was seven or eight years old. It’s the one job I’ve had all my life," Ballard said.
Two portraits of a much younger Butch Ballard and his drumsticks adorn a wall above a French Provincial sofa in the room. This one job has taken him around the world with some of the greatest musicians, including his first professional job in 1938, with Louis Armstrong’s The Dukes, and into countless studios to play on hundreds of recordings.
Ballard pulled out an old photo album. He pointed out legendary musicians, some pictured with him in Paris, in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
"You know where this is," he said happily.
In another photo he pointed out Cootie Williams, whose band he played with in the 1940s. Flip a page and there’s singer Billie Holiday’s husband. Flip again and it’s jazz trumpeter Clark Terry — "one of my best buddies" — who has been in the business for about as long as Butch.
"I worked with Duke, Basie, Clark Terry. I got to rub elbows with some very important people," Ballard said.
His work with these fine musicians and bandleaders of the 1940s and ’50s is chronicled in the Encyclopedia of Jazz. Ballard once brought the hefty book on a job interview instead of his resume.
Before entering the Navy, Ballard played with the Cootie Williams sextet in 1941-42 and then again in 1946. He started his own group — Butch Ballard and the Balladeers— in 1947, but when it folded the following year, he joined a band led by Mercer Ellington, who soon told his famous father, Duke, about the talented and buoyant drummer.
"I was always showing off on the drums, laughing and grinning," Ballard recalled.
He played for Duke Ellington in 1950, and again during 1952-53. Ballard also recorded with alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges in 1950.
They are memories that Ballard cherishes to this day.
"I worked with him one time — funny man," Ballard said, pointing to a picture of late jazz pianist Fats Waller. "He used to say, ‘You can’t make money because your feets too big!’
"With Basie, I just loved the band — Freddie Green, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, Clark Terry, Emmitt "Rev" Berry, Willie Cook, Kat Anderson . . . it don’t get no better than that," he said.
Ballard talked about a time Count Basie had started off a performance with Corner Pocket, his all-time favorite song, and then One O’Clock Jump.
Ballard bebopped and scatted the beginning, which would have been played by Basie on the piano, and then he suddenly laughed while telling the story, remembering when he thought he’d pick up the tempo a little.
"Lord have mercy. Freddie Green, a wonderful guitar player, kicked me. ‘Leave it where he (Basie) put it,’ he told me."
Also in Butch Ballard’s scrapbook is an autographed photo of Louis Armstrong and a special inscription: To a grand musician. Was a pleasure working with you, young man.
"He was very kind to me," Ballard said. "He liked me because he knew I was trying to please him."
Ballard also has been a teacher for years, and his students — he sees about 12 a week — similarly try to please him. He has cut back his schedule some in recent years but is still going strong, even though a stroke he suffered 30 years ago caused some paralysis on his right side.
Ballard credits his longevity to loving what he does and taking care of himself.
"I never smoked a day in my life. No drugs and I’m not much of a drinker," he said, adding that he has taken vitamins for 40 years.
"I get on my knees every night," Butch Ballard said. "God’s been good to me." ••
Reporter Diane Villano-Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dvillano@phillynews.com

Time for the
Frankford Festival ...

Folks will flock to Frankford on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m for the eighth annual Frankford Festival.
Performances will take place on Frankford Avenue, at the corner of Orthodox Street.
Scheduled performers:
• 11 a.m. to noon — Juke Dogg
• Noon to 2 p.m. — Butch Ballard Trio
• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Sparrow
Cousin Millie the Storyteller will perform at the Frankford Library, Frankford Avenue and Overington Street, at 2 p.m. as part of the library’s Family Fun Day celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Frankford Garden Club will host a plant sale and gardening demonstrations, also at the library, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be crafts for the kids all day, and staff from Radio Disney AM 640 will be on hand with music for the whole family.
Other activities around the neighborhood include the Overington House Flea Market, 1528-30 Overington St., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the Frankford Friends School Spring Fair, 1500 Orthodox St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m; and an Armed Forces Day Celebration at the Historical Society of Frankford, 1507 Orthodox St.