Ralph Gean (#24): Gallant Ralph Gean.

Ralph Gean holding my recently-acquired copy of Ralph's 45 on Gallant Records from the early 1960s: "Hey Doctor Casey/One Night In San Antonio." It's still auditorily medicinal to hear Ralph playing his song about the old-time TV physician. Tickles the funny bones in the ear, in fact.

Ralph Gean (#23): Ralph's Groove Thang.

Rock 'n' Roll lifer Ralph Gean showing off his latest release: a lathe-cut record limited to 25 copies.

  

Here's Ralph, with drummer Andrew Lindstrom of Nightshark, at his record release event at Mutiny Information Cafe. According to Westword, which reviewed the event, Ralph remains "Denver's Greatest Unknown Rock Star." (The article also mentions that Ralph "covered a song by a local artist present for the performance--Gregory Ego.")

See more Gregory Ego photos documenting the vastly under-appreciated phenomenon of Ralph Gean right here. Because those of us who know, do speak!

Ralph Gean (#22): Ready To Play At Seventy.

Today is rock 'n' roll original Ralph Gean's seventieth birthday. I'm sure if he has guitar in hand, and someone in front of him, he'll naturally be playing his own songs or cover tunes, and serving as the entertainment tonight at his own celebration.

Never have I witnessed a performer reach so many different types of audiences: whether it be white hipster dive-bar patrons as he plays his original songs like "Homicidal Me," or latinos gamely listening to him butcher the lyrics to "La Bamba" at a blue-collar bar, or old folks at a retirement home as he breaks out a hip-shaking, risque Elvis standard. Ralph has been enjoyed at peckerwood car lots, local talent shows, and Satanist wedding receptions. He has the gift of reaching all manner of people through his muse.

I'm delighted to add that Ralph sometimes entertains people by playing a cover version of my song "Kill for a Cigarette," which Ralph released on one of his own CDs, in addition to having tickled the keys on my very own, original Gregory Ego sound recording. (See YouTube video below.)



Here's hoping Ralph remains ready, willing, and able to rock and roll all night for years to come.

Happy Birthday to you, Ralph Gean!

Ralph opening for John Doe at the Lion's Lair in Denver on May 27, 2011.

Little Fyodor (#3), Boyd Rice (#4), Ralph Gean (#21): Holding Court.

The Court Jester, The Duke of Doom, and The Star Trekkin’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Knight.

Little Fyodor, Boyd Rice, and Ralph Gean gathered together in fellowship at the Lion’s Lair in Denver. Franksgiving Celebration. 10/8/2011.

Ralph Gean (#20): Get on the Mike, Ralph.

The Amazing Ralph Gean singin' old school rock 'n' roll into an old school-style microphone. Guest vocalist with The Calf Branders at the Skylark Lounge in Denver. June 26, 2009.

Ralph Gean (#18, #19): Photos Go With Liner Notes.

Here are a couple of shots of rockin' Ralph Gean which accompanied the liner notes included in his CD releases:

In the photo above, Ralph (right) holds counsel at the Lions Lair in Denver, circa 1996, with Boyd Rice (center) and Shannon Dickey (left). Rice produced the CD "A Star Unborn or What Would Have Been If What Is Hadn't Happened: The Amazing Story of: Ralph Gean" which appeared on England's World Serpent label (1997). Dickey, the former jazz buyer at the Denver music shop Wax Trax and an all-around incredible musicologist, managed Gean at the time. It may look like a noir gangster movie, but it's really just Ralph and his brain trust.

This second photo of Ralph -- holding his instrument, ahem, erect -- accompanied the liner notes for "The Amazing Ralph Gean: His Music, His Story" (2006) on Discriminate Audio. Well Ralph, most assuredly, understands the primal elements of rock 'n' roll.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are 2,000 words worth of Ralph Gean imagery suitable for explaining the man and his musical legacy.

(Here are other photos of mine of Ralph Gean.)

Ralph Gean (#17): Ralph Imitates Art.

Rock and roll legend Ralph Gean standing sorta statuesque beside the illustration that graced his show flyer below. Art exhibit and performance at the Flying Dog Brewery. Denver, Colorado. June 9, 2007.



(Click here for my other Ralph Gean photos.)

Ralph Gean (#16): Guitar Spankin' Good.

Ralph Gean giving the guitar a pat at the Continental Club in Denver. January 9, 2008.

(Click here for my other Ralph Gean photos.)

Ralph Gean (#15): The Grin Reaper.

Ralph Gean seemingly pleased as punch with his "G" chord. Spark Gallery, Denver. January 6, 2003.

(Click here for my other Ralph Gean photos.)

Ralph Gean (#14): The Tiger Man.

The Tiger Man, Ralph Gean, roaring through a set at the Old Curtis Street Bar. April 29, 2005.

Ralph Gean (#13): Got Your Back.

Ralph Gean performing at the Denver underground art space Monkey Mania. January 4, 2004.

Ralph Gean (#12): Giving The Mic A Mouthful.

Ralph Gean howlin' at the Hi-Dive. January 21, 2006.

Ralph Gean (#11): Cheap Sunglasses.

The specs make the man. Ralph Gean playing at the Lion's Lair in Denver.

Ralph Gean (#10): Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here.

The Ralph Gean Appreciation Society (from left to right): Boyd Rice, Ralph Gean, Shannon Dickey, and Jello Biafra.

Ralph reconciling opposites, bringing people together, with the power of music.

Monkey Mania, Denver. January 4, 2004.

Ralph Gean (#9): Poker Face.

Ralph Gean displaying a mysterious affinity for the Two of Diamonds at the Hi-Dive. January 20, 2006.

Ralph Gean (#8): Ovation For Gean.

Give that man an Ovation guitar -- and a standing ovation.

Ralph Gean. Skylark Lounge. October 9, 2005.

Ralph Gean (#7): The Men In Black.

Ralph Gean outside of Bender's Tavern in Denver, the night of his CD-release party. May 12, 2007.

Johnny would approve.

Ralph Gean (#6): Rockabilly Aaargh!

Ralph Gean appearing with legendary, rockabilly guitarist Paul Burlison.

Ralph Gean (#5): Mean Gean.

Ralph at the Zephyr Lounge. October 11, 2003.

Ralph Gean (#4): Elvis Berkowitz.

Bad news for Ralph: The King is dead; the Son of Sam lives.