Timeline
| 1878 | July 22 - Ernest R. Ball is born in Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1890 | Enters the Cleveland Conservatory |
| 1904 | Serves as Musical Director for the Broadway production Mrs. Black is Back |
| 1905 | Contributes songs to the stage production Simple Simon Simple |
| 1905 | While living in New York City, Ball is presented with a few verses written by NY State Senator James Walker. Ball put music to the lyrics thus creating his first published composition WILL YOU LOVE ME IN DECEMBER AS YOU DO IN MAY. |
| 1906 | Writes and performs on the vaudeville circuit. |
| 1907 | Signs with music publishing company Witmark Music as a demonstrator and house composer |
| 1910 | Writes the first of many Irish ballads, MOTHER MACHREE |
| 1911 | MOTHER MACHREE reaches the #1 spot on the Billboard charts with a recording by John McCormack |
| 1911 | January 30 - Barry of Ballymore opens at the Grand Opera House |
| 1912 | Writes the legendary standard WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING |
| 1912 | February 15 - Macushla opens at the Grand Opera House |
| 1913 | Chauncey Olcott's cover recording of MOTHER MACHREE reaches the top ten on the pop charts |
| 1913 | WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING reaches the #1 spot on the Billboard charts with a recording by Chauncey Olcott |
| 1913 | January 27 - The Isle of Dreams opens at Grand Opera House |
| 1914 | Contributes songs to the Broadway production Shameen Dhu |
| 1914 | November 23 - The Heart of Paddy Whack opens at Grand Opera House |
| 1914 | Charter Member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |
| 1915 | George MacFarlane's recording of LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN reaches the #1 spot on the Billboard charts |
| 1915 | Taylor Trio's cover of the 1911 #1 hit MOTHER MACHREE reaches #5 on the Billboard charts |
| 1917 | John McCormack's cover of the 1913 #1 hit song WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING reaches #4 on the pop charts |
| 1918 | Charles Harrison's recording of DEAR LITTLE BOY OF MINE reaches #6 on the Billboard charts |
| 1919 | Will Oakland's cover recording of DEAR LITTLE BOY OF MINE reaches #7 on the Billboard charts |
| 1920 | LET THE REST OF THE WORLD GO BY hits the #2 spot on the Billboard charts with a recording by Elizabeth Spencer |
| 1927 | May 3 - Ernest Ball dies in Santa Ana, CA |