- Ernest Ball
Infobox Person
name=Ernest Ball
dead=dead
birth_date=birth date|1878|7|22|mf=y
birth_place=Cleveland, Ohio
death_date=death date and age|1927|5|3|1878|7|22|mf=y
death_place=Santa Ana, California Ernest R. Ball (
July 22 1878 -May 3 1927 ) was aUnited States singer andsongwriter , most famous for composing the music for the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling " in 1912.Born in
Cleveland, Ohio , Ball received formal music training at theCleveland Conservatory . His nascent career was much buoyed byJames J. Walker , then a state senator ofNew York , who asked Ball to write music for some lyrics he wrote. Ball did, and the song "Will You Love Me In December as You Do In May?" became a hit. Walker later became known as "Dapper Jimmy Walker", Mayor ofNew York City , a fortunate event for Ball's career.Ball accompanied singers, sang in
vaudeville and wrote sentimental ballads, mostly with Irish themes. [Laurie, Joe, Jr. "Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace." New York: Henry Holt, 1953. p. 328.] He collaborated with Chauncey Olcott on many songs including "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," for which Olcott composed lyrics. He became a charter member ofASCAP in 1907, and wrote many American standards. He died in his dressing room at the Yost Theatre inSanta Ana, California while on tour with "Ernie Ball and His Gang" an act starring Ball and a male octet. [Slide, Anthony. "The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville." Westport, Connecticut, Greenwood Press, 1994. p. 22.] Ball was posthumously inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.Notes
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