MARCIA BALL RECEIVES GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball has received a 2011 Grammy Award nomination in the Best Blues Album category for her critically acclaimed CD, ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS.This is Ball's fifth release for Alligator Records and the fourth to receive a Grammy Award nomination.

And Ball is absolutely thrilled. "Wow! This time I'm blown away. Thanks and congratulations really go to my great band and all the musicians who played on ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS, to producer/co-writer Gary Nicholson, engineers Ray Kennedy and Sam Seifert, and to the great crews at Alligator Records and The Rosebud Agency. Fingers crossed!"

NPR Music writer Marc Silver says, "America should create a Roots Music Hall of Fame and make Ball a charter member. Since her first recording in 1978 -- and most likely since she began playing piano at age five -- she's sung soulful, New Orleans-tinged music that's great fun to hear."

The winners of the 54th Grammy Awards will be announced on February 12, 2012. The other nominees in the Best Blues Album category are Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo and The Tedeschi Trucks Band.

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