Robert Hudson Ballard was born 23 September 1913 in Nyack, New Jersey, USA. He studied music with Edmund Ross and Lyle 'Spud' Murphy and worked as arranger for the bands of Gus Arnheim, Freddy Martin and Phil Harris before his association (1973-1982) with Lawrence Welk as arranger, choral director and musical advisor. He died 2 May 1992 in Riverside County, California, USA.