1

f you're planning a party with music for danc-
ing and really want to be "in," leave the Macare-
na out. Then, again, if you have great fun with
the Macarena and have no designs on being
strictly stylish, include it.
That's the advice of Mel Ball whose band
Colours entertains at some of Michigan's posh-
est night spots and for some of the state's most stellar
hosts, hostesses and visitors.
Ball's West Bloomfield office is lined with pictures of
him one- on-one with Presidents Clinton, Ford, Reagan
and Bush as well as Goys. Engler and Blanchard.
You'll find no party politics there — just reminders
of great parties for top politicians.
Ball, music director for the Ritz Carlton as well as
other area hotels, works with a core group of band mem-
bers and adds or assigns them and others as each oc-
casion warrants.
Besides all the big hall parties, most recently the grand
opening of the Star Theatre in Southfield, he also
arranges the music for home gatherings.
"I really try to tailor everything to the event at hand,"
said Ball, who plays piano, drums and vibes.
When James Blanchard was in office, Ball knew the

"Tom.Jones came up one and sang with us," Ball
reca
recalled.
"Marvin Hamlischnt e on stage to perform
by himself."
One of the most unusual party settings encoun-
tered by Colours was an airplane hangar, where Ball's
group was asked to entertain at a surprise birthday
celebration for the wife of a pilot.
The most unusual party recently filled a ballroom
at the Ritz Carlton, where a couple renewed their wed-
ding vows with all the women guests asked to wear
their own bridal outfits. Ball's singers wore nuptial
dresses as well.
"It was hysterical," the pop maestro said. "I looked
out at an audience of nearly 200 brides."
Weddings — the real ones — always are Ball's fa-
vorite parties. He likes getting caught up in the ro-
mance and drama.
For his own wedding at Temple Israel, where his
family still belongs, Ball wrote the music and asked
musician friends to be ushers and serenade his wife,
Gail, a former model and now special events plan-
ner.
"When I was younger and working at the restau-
rant, I used to feel frustrated when people talked and
made noise while the band was playing," Ball said.
"Then I decided to look at an evening in segments.
"While people are being served their food, I think
of the entertainment as a prelude of what's to come.
Mel Ball: He used his bar mitzvah gift money to buy his first set of
The time after dinner is when the real party — and
drums and began forming bands as a teen-ager.
real listening and participation — is the focus.
"If someone requests a song or style that I may not
governor always wanted to hear "That's What
like personally, I just do the best with it."
Friends Are For." For the Englers, there has to be
Composing music and lyrics has been important to Ball,
a Cole Porter medley.
and he has a studio set up in the basement of
Ball always has been drawn to music and
his home, where, he keeps a grand piano,
used his bar mitzvah gift money to buy his
drums, vibes and recording equip-
first set of drums. He began forming
ment.
bands as a teen-ager.
Sometimes his daughter, Lau-
Thinking that he would have a
ren, 16, a student at Andover, -
business career, Ball studied mu-
will sing, while son Jason, 18,
sic only as a minor at Wayne State
a Cranbrook graduate, plays
University. While continuing to
i
the drums. Neither has ca-
play with bands, he opened his
reer aspirations in music.
business in 1978 to provide par-
Although most of Ball's
ty musicians.
compositions have been for
Soon, he was hired for a long-
corporate presentations, he
term engagement at the London
is especially proud that 'a
Chop House — for a period of 10
number written for a local
years.
party honoring former Presi-
"I'm basically a jazz musician, and
dent Reagan is part of the
that has been the foundation of my
archives at the Reagan library.
work," Ball said. "I made many friends and
Ball has a video of his perfor-
contacts at the London Chop House, and that
mance with President Clinton at a gov-
led to performances at special events and parties."
ernors conference held in the state. With
During the Chop House years, Ball's band per- Clinton on sax and Ball on vibes, the audience heard a
formed for Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Bob Hope, rendition of "Summertime."
Carol Charming, Herb Alpert and many other stars
"The president did very well," said Ball, who can book
who ordered late dinners after being on stage at himself at as many as three events a week. "And no mat
other venues around town.
ter what, I really enjoy the interplay with the audience." 0

e pa
ts, music
Ball has
ned them

(

THE DETROIT

w

Q O

Mel Ball and Colours entertained at a recent event where the couple renewed
their wedding vows with all the women guests asked to wear their own bridal
outfits. Ball's singers wore nuptial dresses as well. '