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Slick Ballinger

Written by Bruce Moore

In a business known for pretentious rock stars and prima-donna musicians it is refreshing to find a humble, unassuming, extraordinarily talented musician such as Slick Ballinger. Slick does not just play the Blues he embodies them. Leaving behind the entrapments of the typical musicians’ life he has instead installed himself right smack in the middle the backwoods of Mississippi where he hones his craft and lives an authentic Blues life.

You have worked with some of the all time Blues legends such as BB King, Pinetop Perkins, and Hubert Sumlin. What has that been like?

Well, I am gonna tell you. Really playing and working with those types of musicians is a learning experience more than anything. I mean of course it’s an honor to work with those types of people and all I enjoyed it. You know when you listening to them play and tell a story it is a great learning experience.

Do you find it intimidating?

Well to tell you the truth, no not really. I mean, I am not playing at their level but everybody has got some kind of gift, you know? And when the Good Lord made me he gave me a gift, just like when the Good Lord made them he gave them a gift. So how in the world could they be intimidating when the same Lord who created me created them and gave us different gift .I do look up to them though I do not feel intimidated.

You spent the summer of 2002 in Gravel Springs, Mississippi living and learning your craft from ninety-four year old Othar Turner. What was that like?

I tell you what, staying with Mr. Other was a learning experience as well but it was also a spiritual experience to. Because I learned the roots of the Blues and the way country folks used to have to live back in the old days, you know. It was just like living back in time and living a country type life. I learned so much about life and about everything.

How do you think moving to Mississippi has affected your playing and songwriting?

Well coming to Mississippi I learned the style of music that the old Black people play down here. Really by going down into the country and studying with the older people, some of whom didn’t even make records I learned a lot because that’s the style I want to play.

How do you think you have grown as a songwriter and musician over the years?

Well I tell you, it’s like this. The more you live the more experiences you are gonna have and you really can’t write no Blues or any other music period unless you lived and have some experiences. You gotta have some kind of feeling or something to write about. I mean I ain’t had no hard life or nothing like that but everybody goes through something and that’s what makes it real. You can always grow musically the more you play the more you grow.

Are there any tracks on your record that are personal favorites or have good stories behind them?

My three favorite songs on that record are Slow Down, Jukeout Blues, and then most important song on there to me is the last song. It is a gospel song about Jesus that talks about the real story behind the Blues and what it is really al about and how the Lord fits into the picture because he is in there and I really wouldn’t be nothing without him.

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

Lord have Mercy….that’s a hard one really don’t have just one. I guess one of them would sitting back and watching Pine Top Perkins play the Piano or watching Mr. Othar kick up dust while dancing or the way he plays the fife…I mean man there are so many I couldn’t even name them all.

Speaking dancing, I hear you learned how to dance from an 87 year woman, Rainie Burnette’s sister. Tell me about that experience.

When I went over there they was always moving. They could see that I wanted to move but I was a little ashamed to move. So I would go over there with my CD player and play some John Lee Hooker records and man they would get to jumping, the whole house, I mean even the little kids and anybody who came over would get to dancing. They would tell me to move my thighs and stuff and making my backbone slip and that got me to where I wasn’t shy. I wanted to move because I felt it, I just didn’t know how.

What inspires you Slick?
Well right now I am on a gravel road in the middle of Mississippi crossing and old bridge with no rail looking at nothing but trees and fields and a clear blue sky. This is God’s earth, what he created, that is what inspires me. Meeting people and learning from the old people are things that make me move and inspire me.

What’s next for Slick?
Well, I know I am gonna keep on playing and singing till the day I die. I want to play and sing as long as I can, I want to meet new people and learn more about life. The main thing I really want o do is just spread love. I mean that is what it is really all about. I mean that is what the Blues are all about because ain’t nobody gonna have the Blues over something they don’t love. Whether it be a woman or family or the way folks treat you. That is what it is all about.

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