Composer/Pianist. ASCAP Charter Member 1914.
Early in the 1900’s Ernest Ball started his career by appearing in vaudeville and composing music. The up-and-coming hit writer, at the age of 28, provided the faous Irish tenor, John McCormack, with one of his two great successes.: “Love Me and the World is Mine” (Music by Ball, lyrics by Dave Reed, Jr.; Copyright 1906). Four years later McCormack recorded another blockbuster composed by Ball, “Mother Machree,” from the Broadway show score of Barry of Ballymore (Music by Ball and Lamb Chauncy Olcott, lyrics by Rita Johnson Young; Copyright 1910).
Other scores by Ball/Olcott were The Heart of Paddy Wack and Magushia. Songs include “Will You Love Me in December as You do in May?” (Music by Ball, lyrics by Lamb James J. Walker; Copyright 1905. Note: Walker later became the colorful and controversial Mayor of New York City 1925-1932), and “Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Old” (music by Ball, lyrics by George Graff, Jr.; Copyright 1911). You certainly don’t have to be Irish to be taken by these Ball tunes: “Alittle Bit of Heavan, Sure They Call it Ireland” (music by Ball, lryics by J. Keirn Brennan; Copyright 1914), and “She’s the Daughter of Mother Mchree” (music by Ball, lyrics by Jeff T. Nonard; Copyright 1915).
-Roy B. Jorgensen