He Had Many Different Parts, All of Which Were in English or Cantonese

 91 Years Ago Today

Saturday 15th of November 1930
Writer James Graham Ballard is born in Shanghai International Settlement, Shanghai, China.

He was born in March 1934 (aged 31), aged 30, in New York City, New York. There he attended the London School of Music and received a Doctorate of Music from the University of London as well as a Master's Degree from the Graduate Art Institute of Cairo. In 1949, he joined the Society of Artists and Writers of the Chinese Academy of Drama as a professional producer and, for the next two years, worked as a writer and stage actor. During that time he produced many songs in over 150 countries. He had many different parts, all of which were in English or Cantonese. He came to the United States from Japan at age 17, but later moved in with his children. Ballard became an active member of the Chicago Theatre Association and was inducted into the Chicago Symphony Hall in 1956. He received his DFA from Columbia University in 1963 and he has published several short works that have won both the Best Musical, Best Director and Best New York Poetry award. There he wrote for two Grammy-nominated albums, One in 1968 and One in 1971, as well as the film The Tender Tolls as well as four short plays and countless works both in Chinese and English. He wrote an autobiography. Ballard has appeared in several films and television series, including a short series of Doctor Who episodes called The Master.