10 Facts About Ernest Ball

Ernest Roland Ball was an American singer and songwriter, most famous for composing the music for the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" in 1912.

Ernest Ball's growing career was much buoyed by James J Walker, then a state senator of New York, who asked Ball to write music for some lyrics he wrote.

Ernest Ball accompanied singers, sang in vaudeville and wrote sentimental ballads, mostly with Irish themes.

Ernest Ball collaborated with Chauncey Olcott on many songs including "When Irish Eyes are Smiling", for which Olcott wrote the lyrics.

Ernest Ball worked with J Keirn Brennan on songs like "For Dixie and Uncle Sam" and "Good Bye, Good Luck, God Bless You".

Ernest Ball became a charter member of ASCAP in 1907, and wrote many American standards.

Ernest Ball was a fine pianist, and his playing is preserved on several piano roll recordings he made for the Vocalstyle company, based in his home state of Ohio.

Ernest Ball died just after walking off stage at the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, California while on tour with "Ernie Ball and His Gang", an act starring Ball and a male octet.

Ernest Ball was interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ernest Ball was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.