In real life, Chairman Ralph is always on the go as a published author, freelancer for local, regional and national magazines, newspapers and websites. Ralph's nonfiction debut, UNFINISHED BUSINESS: THE LIFE & TIMES OF DANNY GATTON (Hal Leonard: 2003), won broad acclaim as the first in-depth biography of Washington, D.C.'s late instrumental guitar underdog -- known to fans as "The Humbler," and "The Master Blaster Of The Telecaster" -- and has remained a "bubbling under" bestseller ever since.
Ralph's additional publication credits include the AllRovi Guide, BASS PLAYER, DISCoveries, eHow, GOLDMINE, GUITAR PLAYER and VINTAGE GUITAR. During his career, Ralph has profiled numerous topflight artists and performers - from blues (Luther Allison), to funk (George Clinton), heavy rock (Eye Empire, Halestorm, Sick Puppies), '60s pop-rock (Tommy James), punk (Iggy Pop, John Lydon, Henry Rollins, Bob Stinson) and beyond, no genre nor trend is beyond his reach.
When not committed to these activities, he's also an accomplished spoken word writer-performer whose work has been featured in THE CHIRON REVIEW, and stages like the Artpost Gallery's Poetry Marathon (South Bend, IN), The Acorn Theater (Three Oaks, MI), and The Livery (Benton Harbor, MI), among others. He also keeps his hand in as a rock 'n' roll packrat and eBay seller (ID: biggreenfrog2002).
Bio And FAQs
So what do you want to know, exactly? Crack open a beer, put your feet up on the couch, and feel free to check out the goings-on here.
CHAIRMAN RALPH: THE LITERARY RUNDOWN
CHAIRMAN RALPH: THE MUSICAL RUNDOWN
I fly several musical flags of convenience, with "Punk Rock Troubadour" being the most common. My agenda is pretty simple: it's live 'n' direct, no holds barred, with one guy and his guitar -- no tricks, no gimmicks, everything played sharp, hard, and straight to the point. The original '77 punk explosion and '60s Beat Mod culture form two major cultural reference points for this approach.
My lyrical faves include Greg Ginn, Ian Hunter, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, and Joe Strummer...you get the idea. If you're unhappy with the status quo, spiked with a heady dose of sarcastic insight, you'll definitely enjoy what I do! My subjects range from difficult bosses ("Fetch 'N' Step"), to tribute ballads about the concertizing of The Only Band That Matters ("I Saw The Clash"), and our desire for escape from our current political insanity ("Move To Finland").
My shows are like fingerprints: no two are alike. Some nights, I throw in '60s and '70s-style spy themes ("Action Budgie," "Samurai Budgie") and appropriate covers, done in my style ("Julie's In The Drug Squad," "To Have & To Have Not")...depending on my mood, the crowd and the room I'm working, in that order.
Since 2005, this agenda has been refined and upgraded through nearly 150 live shows, plus assorted home recordings (some of which are posted on the "Featured Songs" or "Spoken Word Tracks" sections of this website), which form a body of work that continues to grow. For a more detailed description of the proceedings...see the "FAQs".
My lyrical faves include Greg Ginn, Ian Hunter, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, and Joe Strummer...you get the idea. If you're unhappy with the status quo, spiked with a heady dose of sarcastic insight, you'll definitely enjoy what I do! My subjects range from difficult bosses ("Fetch 'N' Step"), to tribute ballads about the concertizing of The Only Band That Matters ("I Saw The Clash"), and our desire for escape from our current political insanity ("Move To Finland").
My shows are like fingerprints: no two are alike. Some nights, I throw in '60s and '70s-style spy themes ("Action Budgie," "Samurai Budgie") and appropriate covers, done in my style ("Julie's In The Drug Squad," "To Have & To Have Not")...depending on my mood, the crowd and the room I'm working, in that order.
Since 2005, this agenda has been refined and upgraded through nearly 150 live shows, plus assorted home recordings (some of which are posted on the "Featured Songs" or "Spoken Word Tracks" sections of this website), which form a body of work that continues to grow. For a more detailed description of the proceedings...see the "FAQs".
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
AND THE STORY BEHIND YOUR NAME IS...?
Well, my last name's long enough -- but the Chairman Ralph name is taken from an Iggy Pop lyric ("I'm bored, I'm the chairman of the bored"). A lightbulb clicked off, and the rest is history.
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE, ALREADY.
If pressed, I'll say, "folk-punk," since I've played both types of bills. Previous flags of convenience have included "left-field folk," and "modern alternative folk"...which is my way of saying, "Here's one guy and his guitar, no tricks, no gimmicks, everything played straight to the point."
WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO YOU PLAY, THEN?
My own songs talk about what's happening today. My targets range from idiot bosses ("Fetch 'N' Step," "I Get Paid The Same") to the breakdown of our political system ("Nothing Works Anymore"), the ways that people use and lose each other like so much Kleenex ("I Fired The Dog," and "My Cousin Kevin," one of several co-written with my wife, Lisa).
Depending on my mood, the crowd and the room, I'll also throw in '60s/'70s-style instrumental themes ("Action Budgie," "Budgie Is A Spy"), improvised medleys of classic rock tunes and commercial parodies, plus classic Britband covers by Kevin Ayers ("I Don't Depend On You"), Billy Bragg ("To Have And To Have Not"), the Clash ("Clampdown," "Koka Kola"), the Who ("The Kids Are Alright"), and beyond.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
Personally speaking: my biggest influence is my late friend, Anthony Salazar, who taught me those first chords (A, C, D) and helped me to take it from there. Without him, I wouldn't even be holding a guitar, let alone playing one. After he died in '05, I figured it was time to get serious about what I did, without losing the fun. Every show that I do is for him, in a way.
Musically speaking: there's too many list in such a small space, but after Tony's input...the Year Zero dynamism of the Clash, Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers and their related postpunk offspring (Basement 5, Gang of Four, Joy Division, PiL, the Slits -- to name a few) made the greatest imprint on my brain.
From the spoken word side: Attila the Stockbroker, John Cooper Clarke, and many of the Liverpool Poets (Adrian Henri, Roger McGough) exert the strongest gravitational pull on that side of my creativity. They took the form back from the dusty academics, and gave it back to the people -- as did classic Jamaican DJs like Big Youth, Dillinger, Mikey Dread, I Roy, and U Roy...that's enough validation for me!
WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE PLANS?
There's never been a grand master plan: I don't have to conquer the world by lunchtime. However...to find out when that might actually happen...check the "Communiques" section, or my Facebook page, for the relevant nitty-gritty on whatever project I'm pursuing.
WHAT DO YOU DO ON YOUR DOWNTIME?
I've covered a lot of ground as a newspaper editor, reporter and author, too, so let's put it this way -- when I'm not performing, recording or covering an event, I prefer to be home! Wouldn't most of us?
Well, my last name's long enough -- but the Chairman Ralph name is taken from an Iggy Pop lyric ("I'm bored, I'm the chairman of the bored"). A lightbulb clicked off, and the rest is history.
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE, ALREADY.
If pressed, I'll say, "folk-punk," since I've played both types of bills. Previous flags of convenience have included "left-field folk," and "modern alternative folk"...which is my way of saying, "Here's one guy and his guitar, no tricks, no gimmicks, everything played straight to the point."
WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO YOU PLAY, THEN?
My own songs talk about what's happening today. My targets range from idiot bosses ("Fetch 'N' Step," "I Get Paid The Same") to the breakdown of our political system ("Nothing Works Anymore"), the ways that people use and lose each other like so much Kleenex ("I Fired The Dog," and "My Cousin Kevin," one of several co-written with my wife, Lisa).
Depending on my mood, the crowd and the room, I'll also throw in '60s/'70s-style instrumental themes ("Action Budgie," "Budgie Is A Spy"), improvised medleys of classic rock tunes and commercial parodies, plus classic Britband covers by Kevin Ayers ("I Don't Depend On You"), Billy Bragg ("To Have And To Have Not"), the Clash ("Clampdown," "Koka Kola"), the Who ("The Kids Are Alright"), and beyond.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
Personally speaking: my biggest influence is my late friend, Anthony Salazar, who taught me those first chords (A, C, D) and helped me to take it from there. Without him, I wouldn't even be holding a guitar, let alone playing one. After he died in '05, I figured it was time to get serious about what I did, without losing the fun. Every show that I do is for him, in a way.
Musically speaking: there's too many list in such a small space, but after Tony's input...the Year Zero dynamism of the Clash, Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers and their related postpunk offspring (Basement 5, Gang of Four, Joy Division, PiL, the Slits -- to name a few) made the greatest imprint on my brain.
From the spoken word side: Attila the Stockbroker, John Cooper Clarke, and many of the Liverpool Poets (Adrian Henri, Roger McGough) exert the strongest gravitational pull on that side of my creativity. They took the form back from the dusty academics, and gave it back to the people -- as did classic Jamaican DJs like Big Youth, Dillinger, Mikey Dread, I Roy, and U Roy...that's enough validation for me!
WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE PLANS?
There's never been a grand master plan: I don't have to conquer the world by lunchtime. However...to find out when that might actually happen...check the "Communiques" section, or my Facebook page, for the relevant nitty-gritty on whatever project I'm pursuing.
WHAT DO YOU DO ON YOUR DOWNTIME?
I've covered a lot of ground as a newspaper editor, reporter and author, too, so let's put it this way -- when I'm not performing, recording or covering an event, I prefer to be home! Wouldn't most of us?
YOU MAY HAVE CAUGHT ME AT...
Thanks to the stages that have let me do my thing, in no particular order: Hillsdale Annex (Hillsdale, MI), Manifesto! (Niles, MI), Bizarre Bazaar Festival (Grand Rapids, MI), Coldwater Community Resource Center (Coldwater, MI), The Darkroom (Chicago, IL), Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI), The Hillsdale County Coalition For Peace & Justice Festival (Jonesville, MI), Thunderbird Cafe (Jackson, MI), The Nomad Bookhouse (Jackson, MI).
You may also have caught me recently at:
Art In Motion (Niles, MI)
Artpost Gallery (South Bend, IN)
The Chocolate Cafe (St. Joseph, MI)
Downtown South Haven (South Haven, MI)
Elkhart Public Library (Elkhart, IN)
Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI)
International Festival,
Minority Coalition Of Cass County (Cassopolis, MI)
Krasl Art Fair (St. Joseph, MI)
Maple City Market (Goshen, IN)
Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library (St. Joseph, MI)
Six Degrees Resale Store (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Oak Room At The Citadel (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Livery (Benton Harbor, MI)
Manifesto! (Niles, MI)
Third Saturday (Three Oaks, MI)
You may also have caught me recently at:
Art In Motion (Niles, MI)
Artpost Gallery (South Bend, IN)
The Chocolate Cafe (St. Joseph, MI)
Downtown South Haven (South Haven, MI)
Elkhart Public Library (Elkhart, IN)
Expressions Cafe (Benton Harbor, MI)
International Festival,
Minority Coalition Of Cass County (Cassopolis, MI)
Krasl Art Fair (St. Joseph, MI)
Maple City Market (Goshen, IN)
Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library (St. Joseph, MI)
Six Degrees Resale Store (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Oak Room At The Citadel (Benton Harbor, MI)
The Livery (Benton Harbor, MI)
Manifesto! (Niles, MI)
Third Saturday (Three Oaks, MI)