Ernest R. Ball

American singer and songwriter. Most famous for composing the music for the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" in 1912.
Born July 22, 1878, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, died May 3, 1927, Santa Ana, California, USA.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Ball received formal music training at the Cleveland Conservatory. His nascent 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. 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 of New York City, a fortunate event for Ball's career.