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Born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Interest in music and drums began at age 9. At 15, purchased first drum set. At 17, was a featured percussionist with The Cincinnati Symphony. After graduating high school, moved to Boston and taught for two years at The New England Conservatory of Music and worked with Gil Scott-Heron and Webster Lewis. While commuting to New York, met and joined Freddie Hubbard. Recorded five albums with Freddie, two of which, "Keep Your Soul Together" (CTI) and "High Energy" (CBS), are considered ground-breaking.
Performed with some of the finest people in Jazz: Ahmad Jamal, Charles Lloyd, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Stan Getz, Toots Thielemans, Sarah Vaughn, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, Harold Land, Benny Golson, Tom McIntosh, Marlena Shaw, Andy Bey, Benny Carter, Nat Adderly, Cedar Walton,Carmen McCrae, Eddie Daniels, James Moody, Jackie Terrasson, Teramasa Hino, Carmen Lundy, Hubert Laws, Dianne Reeves, Jon Hendricks, George Cables, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, Bobby Hutcherson, Charlie Rouse, Don Cherry, The Coltrane Family (Alice, Ravi, Oran, Michelle), Pharoah Sanders, Maria Bethania, Tito Puente, Eliane Elias, Kurt Elling, Marc Copland, The Bob Belden Ensemble, Dewey Redman, Joshua Redman, Geri Allen, Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., and Wallace Roney.
Commercial Pop, R&B and Rock credits include performances with: The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Jeffrey Osborne, Grover Washington Jr., Benard Ighner, Eric Gale, Ali Woodson, Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, Patrice Rushen, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Steve Vai, Brian Auger, Robben Ford, George Benson and Frank Sinatra.
Frank Sinatra recruited Ralph for his year long 'Diamond Jubilee World Tour'. Ralph then played with the enduring and ever popular Grammy Award winning Carlos Santana. Other special highlights include: Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Joe Sample, James Galway, Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws, k.d. Lang, Etta James, Chaka Khan, and Herbie Hancock.
Film work and movie soundtracks include, 'Throw Momma From The Train', 'When Harry Met Sally', Chet Baker's 'Let's Get Lost', 'Cool World', 'The Russia House', 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' and 'Politically Incorrect'. On the radio and live concert circuit, starting with radio deejay Brad Chambers and his 'Fabulous Finds', Ralph spearheaded and popularized 'The Jazz Allstars'. As well as backing the finest vocalists around, the 'Allstars' also headline at various clubs, theaters, and concerts around the country and beyond!
While continuing to freelance in the super-sideman supporting role, the focus now is to develop his own music 'The Penland Polygon" as well as ‘The Jazz Allstars’. All along, Ralph has been writing, recording, producing and documenting his own musical journey. The new Ralph Penland album, 'To Journey A Dream' features Charles Moore, Tony Dumas, Patrice Rushen, Carter Jefferson, Roberta Davis, Bobby McFerrin, Victor Feldman, Dorothy Ashby, Greg Kurstin, Gerald Pinter, Steve Hall, and Wallace Roney. 'To Journey A Dream' is available on Polygon Records. Watch for the live performance of the ‘Penland Polygon’ or ‘The Jazz Allstars’! And, check out Ralph’s website at www.RalphPenlandDrums.com
Ralph Penland has proven to be and effective team player in this versatile music industry, and he proves to be a leader of substance and sensitivity.
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