Paul Cardall began piano lessons at the age of eight but quit after six months because he was frustrated with the practice routine. During high school Cardall lost a close friend and in search of solace he sat at the family piano and discovered his ability to play by ear and transcribe the feelings of his heart through music. Cardall would play the piano 2-3 hours a day. Cardall studied a couple of months with pianist Craig Kaelin and credits him with teaching Cardall how to chart music (which would later serve a valuable purpose in his studio recording sessions.)

While continuing to develop his composing skills, Cardall took jobs playing the piano at Nordstroms and The Roof Restaraunt (a top the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City). His public performances led to Cardall recording his first album, entitled SIGN OF AFFECTION, in 1995 a copy of this home-pressed album made its way to #1 New York Times best-selling author Richard Paul Evans, writer of “The Christmas Box”. He invited Cardall to create a musical adaptation of the book. The resulting album sold more than 50,000 copies its first year.