Russ Ballard is a versatile English musician, singer, and songwriter whose work spans various rock genres, including hard rock, pop rock, and dance-rock. Born on October 31, 1945, in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England, Ballard began his music career in the early 1960s. He gained prominence as the lead singer and guitarist for the band Argent, where he wrote the hit "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," later covered by both Petra and KISS.