Clint Ballard, Jr. was far more famous as a songwriter than an artist. His songs include Ricky Nelson’s "There's Not a Minute" and "Come Out Dancin, '" Jan and Dean’s "Fiddle Around" and "Oh Julie," Connie Francis’s "It Would Still Be Worth It," Patti Page’s "One of Us (Will Weep Tonight)," Frankie Avalon’s "Gingerbread," Jimmy Jones’s "Good Timin'" and even De La Soul’s "My Brother's a Basehead." During the British music invasion of the 1960s, Clint became closely associated with the import music through such recordings of his songs as Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders’ "The Game of Love," "Just a Little Bit Too Late" and "She Needs Love," the Swinging Blue Jeans' "You're No Good" and "It Isn't There," the Zombies’ "Gotta Get a Hold of Myself," and the Hollies’ smash "I'm Alive."
Clint Ballard, Jr. was born on May 24, 1931, in El Paso, TX. He was a child prodigy who played piano on radio at the age of 3. He mounted a singing career in the early 60s under his own name, as well as the alias Buddy Clinton, under which name he recorded "Take Me to Your Ladder (I'll See Your Leader Later)" and "Joanie's Forever," co-written with Burt Bacharach. In this period Guyden put out “The Secret” and “Stompin,’” on December 28, 1960. It made no impact and so was rereleased in early 1961 on Caldwell, which did no better. Clint continued his successful songwriting which rose to a new level of succees with the British invasion in the mid-60s.
He died in Denton, TX, on December 23, 2008
