Reverend Richard Amos Ball was born in 1845 in St. Catherines, Ontario, then known as Upper Canada. His work and his family’s contributions would help progress the status of Black people in the county and played an important role in the region’s history.

Rev. Ball was the son of church minister and former slave, Henry Ball. His father arrived in Canada via the underground railroad; Upper Canada was known then as a hub for Black immigrants, free persons and those fleeing slavery. He first worked as a barber from the 1860’s-1880’s, then followed in his father’s footsteps and became active in the British Methodist Episcopal Church (BME). Throughout his time with the church he would serve his community as elder, deacon, pastor, general agent, temperance advocate and president of its annual/general conferences. He also helped organize various educational programs, helped with job searches for community members, and ran soup kitchens.

He married his wife, Mary Jackson, in 1864 and they had eight children. Together, they would make the Ball Family Jubilee Singers, led by Rev. Ball. The group travelled across Canada and some parts of the United States for approximately 40 years. They gained significant notoriety, appearing in newspapers and flyers in various cities. The gospel group sang songs of freedom, helping to uplift their community across the country.

Richard Amos Ball passed away one year after his retirement in 1925 from heart complications. His contributions have earned him significant prestige and respect in his community and in music history.