Major Works
- Safe at Home (piano)
- Sweetheart of the Rodeo
- Pianography
Biography of Earl Poole Ball
Earl Poole Ball was born in Foxworth, Mississippi, in 1940. He produced music, wrote songs, played the piano, and acted. Known as “Mr. Honky-Tonk Piano”, Poole played with Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, Linda Rondstadt, Marty Stuart, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many others. He was the piano player for Johnny Cash for a long period.
In high school, he was in a band called the Hillcats, which played in Foxworth, Mississippi, often at the local VFW hall. When he was 16, he auditioned for the Red McCaffrey’s Supermaket Showtime TV show in Hattiesburg, and became the pianist.
In 1959, he played piano for Louisiana Governor Jimmie Davis’ election campaign.
At the age of 20, he moved to Texas. He moved to California in 1963. During this time he played at the Silver Dollar Lounge in Houston, worked as a salesman at a department store, and played at a nightclub. It was in this nightclub that he met other musicians and began holding late-night after-hours music sessions. This helped his career take off as he met other musicians and began playing with and recording with them.
In the 1960’s, Ball wrote songs for various artists. He was hired by Capitol Records as a producer and moved to Nashville in 1972.
In 1977, he recorded with Johnny Cash and was then asked to go on the road with him. He played with Cash for 20 years.
He moved back to Texas in 1999, where he continues to live and play.