In his teenage years, Balfe lived in Plockton in north west Scotland where Hamish MacBeth was being recorded. He used to cook breakfasts for the cast and crew.
Started off his professional musical career by composing jingles for Radio Forth (now Forth One) in Edinburgh.
Distant relative of Michael William Balfe, the Irish composer, best known for the operetta, the "Bohemian Girl". His father, David Balfe was also a composer.