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FEATURED ARTIST, EARL POOLE BALL
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Hey Folks! I am excited to share the details of my newest album called SWEETHEARTS: A Tribute to the Byrds 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo' in collaboration with Earl Poole Ball, who played piano on this 1968 classic and spent 20 years performing with Johnny Cash. Earl is the featured artist and co-producer on the Sweethearts album. Jay Dee Maness, the original pedal steel player steel guitar, made a special appearance on two tracks on the album.
Sweethearts will be released on August 18th, 2023.
Today the first single, 'You Ain't Going Nowhere,' was released on all major service providers. Two additional singles will drop before the album's release.
Distribution will be handled by Sony/The Orchard. We are excited about this effort honoring the Byrds and the folks who helped create one of the greatest country-rock albums of all time, 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo.' We were all thrilled to have Earl & JayDee part of this record.
Please feel free to share and spread the news! Pre-order on christianparker.com or Amazon.
LINK TO AMAZON SWEETHEARTS CD WITH EARL POOLE BALL
It will be available on CD and Vinyl.
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“Chances are, if you haven’t heard of Moon Mullican, you’ve either heard his music or felt his influence,” writes Ben Sandmel in his liner notes. “Revered for perfecting a wildly eclectic yet seamlessly organic blend of genres, Aubrey “Moon” Mullican (1909 – 1967) was an agile piano player and a fervent singer who described the rambunctious side of his hybrid repertoire as ‘East Texas sock’ that could ‘make goddamn beer bottles jump on the tables!’
More than half a century later, Mullican continues to inspire people who appreciate the soulful spirit, the remarkable breadth, and the consistent high quality of his work. The expressive new renditions of his songs on this tribute, co-produced by Nicholas and Joel Savoy, pulse with the same passion and artistic commitment that Mullican brought to the originals. Collectively they touch on every facet of Mullican’s music, from torrid and toe-tapping to touching and tender. Yes indeed, Moon Mullican played it all.”
This two-volume set of this brand new tribute to Moon comes straight from the Louisiana bayous and the Texas Hill Country, presented by Valcour Records’ recording artist and former Asleep at the Wheel frontman Johnny Nicholas, along with an all-star cast paying homage to this rather unsung hero of American Roots music.
“I was first turned on to Moon Mullican by Danny Erlewine in Ann Arbor, Michigan around 1971,” recalls Nicholas. “I was impressed and I dug his Starday/King LP, but didn’t realize that it was just the tip of the iceberg. When we opened a show for Commander Cody at Hill Auditorium, the Commander invited us out to the East Bay to play music with them and a bunch of hippies in cowboy hats named Asleep At The Wheel, who had just moved there from West Virginia. We were playing stone cold Chicago blues and boogie at the time, but we dug them and they dug us. We all shared gigs and sometimes brought home as much as $15.00 per man! I was sitting around one day with Lucky and Leroy and Ray and said, ‘Hey, you guys ever heard of Moon Mullican?,’ and they all responded in the affirmative and with great enthusiasm.
“Considering the scope of Moon Mullican’s repertoire and his enormous talents and legacy, he remains today grossly under-recognized and under-appreciated. This project was a labor of love and represents a wish by all of us involved to honor one of our heroes and bring some long overdue recognition to the ‘King of the Honky Tonk Piano Players.’ On every track, I asked each artist to put their own stamp of originality upon the songs and the arrangements.
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As you would expect with veteran artists and roots music legends like Linda Gail Lewis, Augie Meyers, Peter Rowan, Steve Riley, Earl P Ball, Los Texmaniacs, Floyd Domino, and Danny Levin, this was accomplished in spades. However, the arrangements and performances by the lesser- known younger artists like Katie Shore, Tif Lamson, Emily Gimble and Kelli Jones are as powerful and compelling in their originality and performance as any on the record. The superb backing by Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Rusty Blake, Chris Maresh, Greg Piccolo, Joel Savoy and Trey Boudreaux cannot go without mention.”
“Moon Mullican was a great friend and a wonderful music man!!!! Last time I saw him I gave him and Roy Orbison 50 dollars.” – Jerry Lee Lewis, May 2022
Legendary roots music all-star and self-avowed Moon Mullican music fan Johnny Nicholas announces the upcoming release of an exciting two-volume set, Moon and the Stars: A Tribute to Moon Mullican, coming on vinyl release January 27, 2023. A combined set of both volumes on one CD will arrive shortly thereafter, with each package including liner notes by acclaimed music journalist Ben Sandmel. The albums will be distributed in the North America by Select-O-Hits and in Europe by Bear Family Records.
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"Me & Earl Poole Ball July 13, at Devils Backbone. Dueling pianos and great stories about when we were on the road with Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash" Linda Gail Lewis |
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"I had a great time with Earl Poole Ball tonight. He is amazing! It was an honor to share the stage with him. July 13, 2021 Devil’s Backbone" Linda Gail Lewis
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WS "Fluke" Holland, Reverand Billy Graham, Earl Poole Ball, and Johnny Cash |
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WS Holland
Reverand Billy Graham
Earl Poole Ball
Johnny Cash
Evangelistic Crusade |
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Earl Poole Ball and WS Holland at Ameripolitan Awards, Austin TX
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1967 Academy of Country Music Award - Best Piano
THE LOOK OF A WINNER: Ball won Best Piano Player at the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC AWARDS 1967. Here he celebrates his win with Minnie Pearl and fellow winner Ken Curtis, who played Festus on Gunsmoke and also played in Sons of the Pioneers, which won Vocal Group of the Year. |
1968 Academy of Country Music Award - Best Piano
 
ACADEMY of COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC AWARDS - LOS ANGELES 1968
RED WOOTEN - Bass Award, CLIFFIE STONE - (My Mentor) Publisher Award, EARL POOLE BALL - Best Piano Award |
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Thanks to Mark Pucci from Country Music People Magazine
Here is a cool feature in the new May issue of UK's "Country Music People"
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