Ralf began playing at the age of 10, first experimenting with selfmade drum sets composed of tin cans and a soap containers. He started out by playing to the music of the local American radio station AFN, who aired a lot of R&B, Rock, Funk, Jazz and Soul.
At the age of 12 he joined the local music corp and there learned how to read music, the rudiments of theory and stick control.
He got his first drumset when he was 13, and then after begging his mother he began drum lessons.
In 1980 - 85 he played in many Garage bands and began gigging in the various American clubs in the Mannheim & Heidelberg area.
Despite growing up in the influence of a musical environment Ralf is basically self-taught (an autodidact).
He then took part in the newcomer contest of the DRUMMER MEETING KOBLENZ 1986 and won the upper circle. Around the same time he joined the LYDIE AUVRAY group ( musette,jazz ) and toured in Germany, France and Switzerland. This lead him to gig with one of the greatest female Singers of all time CHAKA KHAN with Ralf..s own band ZEBRA playing support. Performing at jazz-festivals in Denmark, Sweden , France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland, while also touring in Japan introduced him to an international Audience.
Simultaneously he was working in studios for many artists like WOLF MAAHN, SIX WAS NINE, FRANK NIMSGERN, the Austrian Singer GEORG DANZER and Ralf..s own project CULTURE CROSS (signed with EMI ELECTROLA) and ZEBRA.
In 1993 - 96 he joined the Italian Singer GIANNA NANNINI to tour and record in Italy.
On his return from Italy he started working with 3P, considered the most exciting Hip-Hop Label in Germany/Frankfurt at that time. Within that constellation he worked in the studio and on tour for SABRINA SETLUR, MOSES PELHAM and GLASHAUS.
This period also included Studio recordings for: NENA, EDO ZANKI, LOTHAR KOSSE, GOSPELFIRE, KEVIN COYNE, CULTURE BEAT, GIL, NORM STRAUSS, TOM LANE and many more. Even while working in the studio that time he was also touring with the Acid-Jazz project DE PHAZZ across Europe.
In 1999 he met XAVIER NAIDOO and to date Ralf works for him as a drummer and as Musical Director on tour and studio. Ralf is also a member of the multicultured Band SÖHNE MANNHEIMS since 2000.
Ralf has also built himself a reputation as a solo performer/clinican. He has appeared at Drum Festivals like RHYTHM MARKTOBERDORF (1992, 2002), WORLD DRUM FEST HAMBURG (1998),YAMAHA DRUM NIGHT COLOGNE (1999), DRUMMER-MEETING KOBLENZ (2000) , MUSIK MESSE FRANKFURT (1996,1997,2001) and many more. Recently he took part in the PPC DRUM NIGHT HANNOVER (2006), and so he was featured amongst the greatest names of the drumming community today (TERRY BOZZIO, STEVE SMITH, JOEY HEREDIA, ED THIGPEN, BILLY COBHAM, GERRY BROWN, DAVE WECKL,VIRGIL DONATI, ZORO etc.)
In the year 2006 Ralf became a member of the German Electro Act SCHILLER.
He formed also two own projekts -
ELECTRIC OUTLET and the band YAZZMEEN.
We are proud to present our current album "True Fidelity". Electro-acoustic chillout, lounge and easy-listening well mixed and always ready to surprise you. We hope you enjoy our work. Further we wanna thank your for your support so far and give away 5 songs of our album!
Welcome to The Aaron Haines drumspace, your #1 source for all things Aaron Haines and his drums with updates on blogs, photos and more. Be sure to tune in! This is Aaron Haines, drrumming extraordinaire, the Beat Master General for Southern California‘s melodic brutality, Tantive-IV from San Diego/Chula Vista. AKA, The Animal, The Phresh Beatz of Chula Vista, and The Rebel Blockade Drummer, here showing some love, and kickin’ ass on the drums before dinner time, which by the way is strong within the force! How are you doing by the way? Hope all is well and good, thanks so much.
These siq tunes on your page here is the bomb ass shit that I ever heard in my life. It’s dope, it’s phresh, and it sure as hell is out of sight, dynamite! Well anyways, thanks so much.
Bin gerade wieder in Wien angekommen. Die Konzerte in Leipzig waren der Hammer, deine Performance ein absolut erstklassiges Erlebnis. Vielen Dank!!!! Freu mich auf deinen nächsten Gig! Wird Anfang nächsten Jahres ein Yazzmeen Konzert werden. Das wird geil!
Ich war gestern bei dem Söhne Konzert in Leipzig und bin vollauf begeistert! Deine Solos waren wieder der Absolute Hammer. Respect! Und auch so war das ganze Konzert echt klasse. Es macht wirklich spass Euch live zu sehen. Ich freu mich schon, Dich nächstes Jahr bei Schiller wieder erleben zu dürfen!
Danke für das hammer Konzert gestern in Hannover!! Und natürlich auch für *wir sind verrückt*!! Wünsche Euch viel Spaß auf dem Rest der Tour!! Viele Grüße
I am professional Soul-RnB-Pop Singer, looking for Music Labels and professional artist with whom I can start something real. I would be pleased about an answer or an idea.
schön, dass Du nächstes Jahr wieder bei der Schiller Tour dabei bist. Zusammen mit Cliff gebt Ihr ein geniales Team auf der Bühne ab. Und ausserdem bin ich schon sehr gespannt, wie die Tracks klingen, die Du mit eingespielt hast. Ich hoffe, man darf bald etwas davon hören.
Dein Schlagzeugsolo beim XN Konzert auf der Waldbühne Berlin war der absolute Oberhammer. Hat mich echt weggebeamt. Raum & Zeit haben sich aufgelöst. Das Gefühl war wie als Jimi früher auf der Gitarre verzauberte. Wow! Einfach genial! Und überhaubt war das ganze Konzert fantastisch!
Viels Spaß beim reinhören & sehen, viell. magst mir ja auch ein Kommentar hinterlassen, würde mich freuen!!! =) Danke für deine Zeit und Liebe zur Musik!!
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