Jeff Ballew: Guitar, Pedal Steel, Mandolin, Banjo, Vocals...

On July 4th 1954, the world was violently introduced to multi-instrumentalist Jeff Ballew, in Washington, Missouri. Born to a family of musicians, his grandfather and father played bluegrass music while Jeff was growing up. His father sang bass for The Jordanaires prior to their singing backup for Elvis Presley. Jeff has been playing the guitar since he was nine years old.

Jeff moved to San Francisco at the age of twelve and recorded for local bands throughout the bay area at the age of 13. In 1967 Jeff attended the Monterey Pop Festival where Jeff, and America, were introduced to Jimi Hendrix. This performance by Jimi Hendrix inspired and influenced Jeff to become a life-time musician. After the Monterey Pop Festival, Jeff moved to Southern California where he was the founder of a rock band called WWIII, which became very popular throughout Los Angeles. This band disbanded after the drummer, Mark Droubay, was recruited into the band Survivor, which went on to release the hit song "The Eye of the Tiger".

In 1983, Jeff moved on to Dallas, Texas where he played lead guitar for popular female lead-singer Chastity Fox. This is where he first met Desperado's guitar player, Brad Zapper. Jeff and Brad toured with Chastity throughout the United States.
After returning to Southern California in 1985, Jeff was signed with RCA Records Jack Street Band. He also worked as a staff writer for Chrysalis Records. Jeff has performed on the soundtrack for the full-length feature film "Dangerously Close". He has toured with platinum recording artist Rick Springfield. He has also appeared in concert opening for Survivor, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Leann Rimes, Kansas, and many more!

In 2002, Jeff met Aaron Broering while playing, ironically enough, in another Eagles tribute band. Each used their great and versatile talents to replace each other in that band before they actually met. The two played together for no more than four months before they mutually agreed to combine their talents and use their growing notoriety to front their own Eagles tribute band. Realizing their own vision and chance for a future, not only originally, but as one if the most successful tribute acts that Southern California has to offer, they formed the band Desperado.