Steve Ball is a musician from Columbus Ohio specializing in the music of the American Civil War, and the music and life of Stephen Foster. Steve has studied the American Civil War since his teens, and has devoted the past twenty years to studying the music of this era in American history. Steve has done programs for the Ohio Statehouse, the National Civil War Museum, the American Civil War Museum of Ohio, and countless historical societies, genealogical societies, libraries, museums, Civil War Round Tables and other historical venues such as re-enactments or living history programs. He has released two CD's of the music of the Civil War and is currently working on a CD of Stephen Foster tunes. Steve has been an instructor for Life Long Learning through Central Ohio Technical College. He also provides the music for the annual Springfield Ohio Civil War Symposium, and is the narrator for the 73rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Civil War Brass Band. He is a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust. He has participated in the annual Windham New York Civil War Music Gathering, and the Gettysburg Music Muster at the Gettysburg Military Park visitor center.
As a collector of vintage instruments, mainly guitars, Steve has built a collection of Civil War Era Martin guitars, the earliest being an 1850 Martin size 3 model 17, followed by an 1851 Martin size 1 model 21, then, an 1852 size 2 model 30, an 1852 size 3, an 1855 size 1 model 26, and then an 1860 Louis Schmidt size 3 model 18. Steve uses all of these guitars in his performances. All guitars are in their original cases, and all are used in performances to minimize the amount of wear to any single instrument.
As a collector of vintage instruments, mainly guitars, Steve has built a collection of Civil War Era Martin guitars, the earliest being an 1850 Martin size 3 model 17, followed by an 1851 Martin size 1 model 21, then, an 1852 size 2 model 30, an 1852 size 3, an 1855 size 1 model 26, and then an 1860 Louis Schmidt size 3 model 18. Steve uses all of these guitars in his performances. All guitars are in their original cases, and all are used in performances to minimize the amount of wear to any single instrument.