About Me
As Ben Ratliff tells it, he was 14 years old when he "started playing bluegrass for a bunch of old folks at the Hollonville Opry House." Growing up in Thomaston on old country, such as Keith Whitley, Conway Twitty, and Earl Thomas Conley, it was only natural that when Ben "got tired of working a real job and...figured [he] could make money through music," he played country at gigs in the area as a solo artist.
After "getting bored" of playing solo, he decided to put together a band, The Ben Ratliff Band. "It just had a little ring to it," says Ben, referring to why he self-titled the band. "I have a unique last name, and 'BRB' just looked good on a t-shirt," Ben says with a laugh.
Ben met the original members of his band , David Wilkerson, drums; Wesley Flowers, bass; Ryan Wilson, guitar, through church and working with other local musicians. "Wes, David, Ryan and I were playing together when Ryan got a record deal. 'The Love Willows' took off so he went to do his thing," Ben says.
In need of a new guitarist, Wes mentioned his friend, Shane Steward, while on the phone with Ben. "He actually just threw Shane the phone," Ben says. Wes explains, "Shane was sitting next to me in the car."
They didn't hold auditions, but Shane jokes, "I e-mailed him my resume." Ben catches on to the joke and adds, "And it sounded like [insert awesome guitar sound here]."
With a country/classic rock-infused record coming out in spring 2009, Ben just may be well on his way "to make enough money to retire early, buy a bunch of old John Deere tractors and bail hay for the rest of [his] life."
The Ben Ratliff Band is clearly all about having a good time and sharing the good times with their audiences. "We give you a piece of Friday night," says Ben. Wes adds, "This band has a great ability to have a lot of fun. We coule be in Pike County performing for 25 people in an outdoor pavilion in the rain - you think it's going to be a drag, but it turns into a blast."
The new year will bring more writing, more practicing and more shows, if they can handle topping the 98 shows they performed last year. And as always with the Ben Ratliff Band, "No matter what happens, your toe's still tappin'" (a slogan they created after a few post-show mishaps).
-Scoop Magazine, Jan/Feb 2009
