Ralph

About me:

Ralph Lampkin, Jr; is owner of Lampkin Music Group and the label, LMG Music. Celebrating 35 years in the business of show, LMG is a presentation house that specializes in jazz, dance music, theater, classical and cabaret. Background: Raised in New York City, Ralph attended the New York School of Printing and Journalism and studied acting, violin and voice with many a private teacher. Singing was his first love and Ralph’s lyrical baritone voice was heard at such spots as the legendary Copacabana, the original Duplex, 47th Street Restaurant, Reno Sweeney’s, Brother and Sister’s, Backstage Restaurant, Beefsteak Charles, Alice Tully Hall, RKO Theatre, the well known Grand Finale, Boltax (opening for the chanteuse, Sylvia Syms), and the ultimate showroom, Carnegie Hall. Musical Directors included Marc Malamed (Annie), Shellen Lubin, Bobby Cole and Louis Monteleone. Ralph also appeared on early cable TV shows and in several movies, along with recording demos for new songwriters. Persuaded by his friend Laurie Beechman (Tony Nominee for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Cats) to take a gig in Chicago, Ralph left New York in ’81, and started a new journey. Once in Chicago, He performed a weekly gig at La Cage Aux Follies, His and Her’s, Gentry’s, Man’s Country, Century Center Complex, private parties and appeared in several movies. In the mid eighties, Ralph, tired of the changing scene of music - from American songbook to pop rock and punk, which was not to his liking, he decided to pursue his dreams of helping other artists and produce theatrical events, albums and nightclub/cabaret appearances, by sharing his knowledge. Theatre/Concert/Cabaret Credits include: Danny Lerman/Project Grand Slam @ Iridium 4/09; Martha Lorin at Trio's - 12/2008; the Legendary Norman Connors with Danny Lerman at Trio's - 11/2008; Peter Lerner @ Iridum 10/08; Dan Tepfer at Trio's - 9/08; Alexandra Billing Concert Debut LA - 8/08; "Christmas with Martha Lorin and Diane Delin" at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, NY. 12/21/2007. "The Great American Salon Series" starring Spider Saloff, Kelli Armentrout, Nafe Aleck, Randy Kelly and Danny Lerman. Co-produced with The South Bend Regional Museum of Art. Randy Kelly in “The Life & Times of Harold Arlen” – Acorn Theater, Three Oaks, Michigan – Fall 2006; Entertainment Producer for the International Press Awards starring Mike Wallace,"KUP" and WGN’ Rick Kogan; “Largely Live,” starring Tony Award Winning Actor/Writer/Composer Hinton Battle at the Apollo Theatre co-produced with David Garfinkle, Cheryl Sloane and Rob Coulson; The Tom Tunney Benefit for Alderman at Mercury Theater – 2003 – Hosted by Chicago Sun Times Correspondent Bill Zwecker - Co-Produced by President Emeritus of Second City - Joyce Sloane, Cheryl Sloane, Designer Richard Dayhoff, and Playboy Inc. president, Christine Hefner. "The Gershwin Concert" - Spider Saloff - co-produced with the late "Kecky", Joyce & Cheryl Sloane and Lynn Orman Weiss. The Aids Foundation Benefits starring Danny Lerman and Broadway/Cabaret personality Karen Mason; The Children's Memorial Hospital Benefit starring Billy Stritch. The Chicago Workshop (2003,) Off Broadway (2003) and Los Angeles (2005) and Michigan (2007) Debuts of Alexandra Billings’ One Woman Show “Before I Disappear;” “GYPSY” starring Alexandra Billings as Mama Rose – Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Chicago, Ill. – which was the first Chicago area production by a regional theater. “A Time For Love” at the Apollo – the 9/11 Benefit – starring Steppenwolf members Amy Morton and Bob Breuler, Disco Legend Linda Clifford, Nan Mason, Alexandra Billings, Tom Michael, Robin Kay and hosted by Emmy Winner Richard Knight; The Annual Holiday Cabaret Benefits for Teen Livings Programs, Inc; starring Phillip Officer, Nan Mason, Patty Morabito, Alexandra Billings, Cory Jamison, Suzanne Petri at the Mercury and Bailiwick Theaters co-produced with CCP; “1776,” the female version at the Apollo Theater starring well known Chicago based actresses Hollis Resnik, Elizabeth Laidlaw and Alexandra Billings; “And The World Goes ‘Round,” at the Mercury Theatre starring Alexandra Billings, Michael McAssey, Stephen Rader and Dance Diva Suzanne Palmer; The New York Cabaret Debuts of Christiana Moffa (cousin to opera legend Anna Moffa), Alexandra Billings, Tom Michael and Beckie Menzie, Denise Tomasello, Cory Jamison, Patty Morabito, Marnie Balmer, Lee Stevens and Ester Hana. The Nightclub Debut of Broadway personality, Debbye Burrell (Dreamgirls, Eubie, The Wiz) at The Grand Finale, New York. Album credits include: Devin Richards "My Own Voice." "Martha Lorin's "Don't Slam That Door - The Many Moods of Martha Lorin." "He Ain't Heavy - He's My Brother/Smile" from Tyler Stephenson. “Only One Life” – The dance single from Tyler Stephenson "Life," the CD debut from Chicago Singer, Tyler Stephenson; "Tango" from Chicago based composer/singer, Bob Solone; “Being Alive” the CD debut and it’s follow-up “The Story Goes On” by Alexandra Billings; “I Didn’t Go To My Prom” by Robin Kay; “The Delicate Hour” by Patty Morabito; “Sailing’ On” and “Written in the Stars” by Tom Michael; “David Gurland” by David Gurland; “Come Walk with Me” and “Blues over Broadway” by Martha Lorin – Co-Produced By Russ Kasoff (Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Sylvia Syms, Rod Stewart); “Solo Piano” and “Soft Side – with Gwen Pippen” by Bob Solone; “Danny’s Island” by Danny Lerman; “Do You Feel?” by Danny Lerman. Albums listed above have been heard worldwide on radio/music web stations such a NPR – reaching the top ten on many a list (Reaching number ONE, Top Ten – Hawaii, Top Ten Jazz Week List – Martha Lorin - Blues over Broadway); DMX Satellite Radio, Sirius Radio, Discover Radio, Accuradio, David Kenny’s “Everything Old is New Again,” Record Pool Chart – (Number 24 – Robin Kay – I Didn’t Go To My Prom”), Number ONE on WGCI – (You Take My Breath Away – Danny Lerman – from Danny’s Island) and many college/jazz stations. Song-plugging Clients have included: Tony/Oscar/Grammy Winner, Tom Snow (Footloose, Chances Are) Golden Globe Winner, Amanda McBroom (The Rose, Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins) Oscar/Gammy Winner, Alan Rich (Barbra Streisand, the Bodyguard, Barry Manilow, James Ingram, Patti Labelle) Sherrie Sano (Dionne Warwick) Doug Frank and Jeanie Napoli (Dionne Warwick, Placido Domingo, Air Supply, the musical Marilyn) David Friedman (Laurie Beechman, Nancy Lamott, Diana Ross) Richard and Michael Berardi (Jane Oliver, Terri Burrell) Ralph was Midwest Correspondent for the monthly international magazine dedicated to the art of cabaret – Cabaret Scenes – 4 years and also wrote a monthly column for Jam Sessions, a monthly newspaper concentrating on What/Where/Who to see in Chicago. Memberships: ASCAP; winner of 18 ASCAP awards for his talents as a lyricist. LAFTA (Los Angeles Federation of Theater Arts), MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs – 20 years), NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences - 20 Years), Board of Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. His publishing company is LaRoth Music (ASCAP) Ralph is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Entertainment and the British Who’ Who – IBC.