Balappa was drawn to theater at an early age due to family influence and started participating in local drama companies as an actor-singer.

He gave away family's gold and silver to the National security fund during India's war with China.

Bendre, Betageri Krishnasharma and Anandakanda and started singing Bhavageetes based on their poems.

Balappa's singing style was unique mainly because of the way he wove both the elements of classical and folk traditions into it.

He used to travel to remote villages in Karnataka and Maharashtra to collect folk songs.