Sons of Ralph is a bluegrass band from Asheville, North Carolina, formed by Ralph Lewis.[1]
History
The band was formed in 2001 by Ralph Lewis (1928-2017) with his sons Martin and Don.[1] Their debut studio album was released in 2001, titled Grab a Root and Growl.[2]
Members
- Ralph Lewis — vocals, vocal harmony, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Martin Lewis — vocals, vocal harmony, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar, dobro, harmonica, percussion, keyboards
- Don Lewis — fiddle, banjo, vocals, vocal harmony, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica
- Steve Moseley — bass guitar, vocals, vocal harmony, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
- Ozzie Orengo Jr. — drums, percussion
Ralph Lewis
Born on April 25, 1928, in Big Laurel of Madison County, North Carolina, he played the guitar and mandolin at a young age.[3] He was the youngest of seven sons, the same as his father who was also a seventh son.[4] With his brother Ervin, Ralph hosted radio shows under the name Carolina Pals. After moving to Niagara Falls, New York, he formed a band with his brother, Blanco. In 2001, he received the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award.[5] Married to Imogene with whom he parented four children, Ralph formed the Sons of Ralph with his sons Martin and Don.[3] Known as a pioneer in bluegrass, he died at the age of 89 on August 5, 2017.[1]
References
