Something New
These days, nationally known theater pipe organist Bob Ralston is having the time of this life incorporating Yamaha electronic keyboards into his act. "It's a fusion of the old and the new, and it makes for a thrilling experience for the audience," says Bob.
Over 1000 people paid $35 per ticket to hear Bob Ralston and Bob Hope when they appeared together at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. Bob Hope was amazed at how Bob Ralston made the "little" synthesizer sound like a full orchestra.
"Bob Ralston's the greatest, " said singer Eddie Fisher in October 1993, when he and Bob entertained at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles for newly-elected Mayor Richard Riordan. Eddie first hired Bob as his Musical Director for the "Earthquake Victims Benefit Concert" he presented in San Francisco in 1989. They have since worked cruise ships and other engagements together.
Currently, Bob Ralston is including Yamaha's Electone keyboards in most of his engagements for the various chapters of the American Theater Organ Society. "I'm strictly an independent," Bob is quick to point out. "I don't endorse any particular electronic organ, I just use the Yamaha because it sounds so fabulous and enhances so well the traditional lush sounds of the pipes."
Bob has recorded over 300 albums, many of them with Freddy Martin, Billy Vaughn, Ray Conniff, Lawrence Welk and other famous band leaders. Bob has recorded 25 solo albums, many on theater pipe organs, including those at the Senate Theater in Detroit, the Granada Theater in Kansas City and the Paramount Theater in Oakland. Bob's latest album, "Show Stoppers of 1997" features 38 of his best arrangements played on the Yamaha Synthesizers.
A Man of Many Talents
Bob Ralston is probably best known for his 20 years as pianist/organist with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Reruns of that beloved TV show are still shown every week in most major US cities. Viewers enjoy not only Bob's piano and organ solos, but they also frequently catch a glimpse of him as a singer, dancer and comedian.
Musically, Bob "wears many hats." In addition to his ATOS concerts, (which are the mainstay of his career), Bob continues to work as a pianist, show producer, arranger/conductor, composer, teacher, and recording artist.
You Can't Fight City Hall
In the spring of 1990, Bob Ralston did a command performance at the home of Tom Bradley when he was mayor of Los Angeles. The Mayor originally just wanted to hear Bob play "a few Gershwin tunes." But Mayor Tom and his 12 guests were so enchanted with Bob's piano stylings that the evening turned into a four-hour marathon with Bob playing dozens of medleys of the music George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter. Bob knows over 3,000 songs by memory.
Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder
In a special ceremony on December 30, 1990, Bob Ralston --- for his work as a show producer --- was made a lifetime member of the Fifteenth Air Force Association. In their 45-year history, this organization has accorded such an honor to only two others: Bob Hope and Wayne Newton.
Bob Ralston and his Dutch-born wife created and (for six years) directed the "Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show" programs at the Tulip Time festival in Holland, Michigan.
Bob is the former conductor of the Hayward Symphony Orchestra and has guest conducted several other symphonies.
To God be the Glory
An alumnus of Illinois' Weaton College (alma mater of Dr. Billy Graham), Bob Ralston has been involved in Christian music all of his adult life.
For 17 years, Bob assisted in producing and directing Birmingham, Alabama's annual Festival of Sacred Music. He was also pianist, orchestrator and guest conductor for the Alabama Symphony.
In 1989, Bob Ralston was featured as solo organist on the prestigious Hollywood Bowl Easter Sunrise Service (which is held world-wide each year). That performance resulted in Bob's appointment as Musical Director for this internationally acclaimed Christian celebration, a position he currently holds.
Every Sunday morning (except when he is on the road), Bob Ralston can be heard playing the 4-manual 31-rank Wurlitzer pipe organ at Founder's Church in Los Angeles, where he has been staff organist for the past nine years. You are invited to attend; the Sunday morning service is at 10:00 a.m. and Bob's prelude music begins 15 minutes prior to the service.
Bob's sacred cantata, "The Rising of the Sun," was premiered at Founder's Church in 1989. This beautiful pageant received rave reviews, and it is now presented each Easter.
Bob Ralston's best-selling CD (also available on cassette) is entitled; "It's beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas." This critically acclaimed recording is Bob's twenty-third solo album.
On A Personal Note
A native of California, Bob Ralston received a full scholarship to study music at Wheaton College in Illinois. He later returned home to attend the University of Southern California, where he majored in composition and accompanying. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from USC in 1964. While still in college, Bob played six nights per week at the Coconut Grove with the Freddy Martin Orchestra (1959 - 62). Bob's career really began to zoom, however, when he joined Lawrence Welk's Champagne Music Makers in 1963.
With all of his travels, Bob finds his greatest happiness at home with his family. Bob and his wife, Fietje, now married 34 years, reside in Studio City, California (a suburb of Los Angeles).
Their 33-year-old son, Randy, a computer systems analyst for Home Savings, lives with his wife, Lisa, in nearby Sylmar. Their 31-year-old daughter, Dianne, a writer, lives with her husband, Chris Cate, in Burlington, Vermont. On July 22, 1997, Dianne and Chris presented Bob Ralston and Fietje with their first grandchild, a boy, named Field Cate.
Bob has always been personally involved in religious and civil rights movements, including VOCAL. His is on the board of many philanthropic organizations. He is a member of MENSA (the high I.Q. society). In his spare (?) time he studies foreign languages and computer programming. Professionally, he is now doing all of musical arrangements, composition, and orchestrations on the latest MacIntosh computer.
Planning a Visit to Southern California?
The Ralston's present six one-hour pops concerts each month in an intimate (40-seat) setting. Four of these programs are presented at their concert hall in Granada Hills, CA, and two of them are presented in their home in Studio City, CA.
The main feature is Bob Ralston's keyboard artistry --- you'll enjoy him playing both the grand piano and the Yamaha organ --- but frequently Bob also includes guest vocalists from his wide range of colleagues in the musical world.
There is a charge for these entertaining programs, but they are open to the public. For further information regarding these concerts --- or about a program at your location --- please phone (818) 366-3637, or write to Ralston Concerts, 17027 Tennyson Place, Granada Hills, CA 91344-1225.
Last Update: March 6, 2000
