[7] Ballard grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, where he began playing the piano and writing songs at an early age.
In 1978 Ballard wrote a song for Rocket artist Kiki Dee, which led to his being signed as a staff songwriter for MCA Music Publishing.
[1][8] Ballard wrote, played, and produced an increasing number of songs and projects in the 1980s, contributing to albums by the Pointer Sisters, Paula Abdul, Camilo Sesto, and others.
[3] In 1987, when Jones invited a group of songwriters to his home to write hit songs for Michael Jackson's upcoming album, Siedah Garrett and Ballard co-wrote "Man in the Mirror".
[8][9] The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The demo earned the group a record deal, and Ballard produced the trio's commercially successful debut album, released in 1990.
[16] Other artists with whom Ballard co-wrote and/or co-produced projects in the 1990s include Curtis Stigers, Lea Salonga, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and The Corrs.
Ballard worked with Lisa Marie Presley to develop her debut 2003 albumTo Whom It May Concern, co-writing five of its tracks.
He co-wrote songs on albums by Ringo Starr, as well as "Shine Your Way", performed by Owl City and Yuna) in the 2013 film The Croods.
In 2011 Ballard founded his own production company, Augury, focused on developing music-driven projects in film, television, and theater.
In 2019, Jagged Little Pill, a jukebox musical inspired by the 1995 album of the same name opened on Broadway after a successful limited engagement in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ballard was involved in the development of the 2020 Netflix TV series The Eddy, co-writing the music and serving as an executive producer.
[1] Additionally, Ballard and David Stewart had a joint creative studio in Los Angeles named High Window.
[20] In 1997, Ballard was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for co-writing "Hand In My Pocket", "Ironic", "You Learn", and "You Oughta Know" with Morissette.
[38] His honoree star was unveiled during a ceremony held on July 11, 2024 in the presence of Wilson Phillips who each honoured his contribution to their career and considering him band's unofficial fourth member.