Earl Poole Ball

Country backup and session pianist Earl Poole Ball was born in Mississippi and moved to Southern California in the 1960s, where he appeared on albums by Buck Owens and the Byrds (Sweetheart of the Rodeo). In the 1970s, he was hired by Johnny Cash, whom he backed for 20 years, until Cash's retirement in the 1990s. Meanwhile, he found time to do recording sessions with other musicians including Jo-El Sonnier, George Jones, Marty Robbins, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Dale Watson, Sleepy LaBeef, James McMurtry, Merle Haggard, Rick Nelson, and Jason & the Scorchers. Ball made a rar...