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2008 > August > 21 > Entry
Happy birthday, Classie Ballou
By Carl Hoover
| Thursday, August 21, 2008, 03:21 PM
Waco musician Classie Ballou called me last week to give me a heads-up on a birthday gig he and his Family Band are doing tonight, Aug. 21, at Rosati’s Authentic Chicago Pizza on Hewitt Drive. It’s his 71st birthday, he says.
I’ve met or talked to my share of musicians who are egotistical, selfish, clueless or mean-spirited (and combinations of those), but not Classie. Upbeat, polite to a fault, gracious, a faithful Catholic and a down-to-earth family man (that’s his grandson Cam’Ron in this photo) - that’s been my experience of him and I know I’m not alone. Pop culture tends to make us (unfairly) equate fame with talent, which means we often don’t acknowledge those talented entertainers who stay at home and not sacrifice their lives or families for stardom.
Here’s a blast from his past, an instrumental from the ’50s with Classie on guitar, from a Waterfront Blues Fest blog post. Classie and the Family Band played at that Portland, OR, festival last July.
As he told me, “71 and still No. 1. Thank God! Yeah, baby!”
Yeah! - Happy birthday, Classie.
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By Sarah
August 21, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Classie and his band are great!! Love them. Happy Birthday Classie!
By Aubreyona
August 21, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
I’ve known Classie since I was old enought to walk & talk he is like a grandfather to me he is a very kind man & his family are the greatest they are like my family I just want to say HAPPY B-DAY Classie may God be w/ you & your family. ♥ Aubreyona
By Curious
August 22, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Happy “Birfday” Classie - you are indeed a class act and such a caring family man. Yeah Baby! you are truly a great role model to your children and the rest of the community. thanks for all the good times
By Stephanie Lambring
August 22, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Happy Birthday Classie! You and your family bring so much joy to the world that words cannot convey. God bless you and yours as you celebrate 71 wonderful years! Stephanie Lambrin
By Mike
August 22, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Classie, you are truly a class act and a good man. God bless you and happy birthday!