Ralph profile picture

Ralph

Ralph Bassinger, Blues & Boogie Piano

About Me

I've been playing blues & boogie piano for over 35 years. My parents started me on lessons when I was 5. My training was 'classical'. After the death of my father at age 13 I lost interest and quit lessons as well as playing. My interest revived at age 19 after hearing Otis Spann. I fell in love with the blues, and have been listening and playing them since. After becoming deaf in one ear at age 25 due to a tumor I turned to playing solo in local coffee houses and other venues. I resumed playing in a band in 2004 with King Ju Ju & the Beats (still love that name). What followed were performances at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Or in 2005 (getting to do a set with Paul Delay which I'll never forget) Playing with Bill Rhoades and the Party Kings. Being a semifinalist in the IBC solo/duo category in 2006. Playing with Stu Kinzel and Lynn Ann Hyde as a trio in 2006. 2007 saw the completion of a dream as I finally recorded my first CD, "Waiting For My Train". The CD is self produced, on my own label, and was recorded with the help of my dear friend Jimmy D. Lane at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas. Please see the recent reviews of the CD on this page.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/11/2007
Band Website: bluespiano.org
Band Members:

album price
RALPH BASSINGER: Waiting For My Train $12.97
Choose how many, and click
Orders sent by CD Baby - the fastest, safest, and easiest place to buy CDs online. You can also call 1-800-BUY-MY-CD to order by phone.Buy CD from i-tunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum? playListId=257505351
Influences: Too many to mention them all.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Another Review of the CD

From the most classic school comes singer and piano player Ralph Bassinger. He began to play when he was only four years old, and soon he got an incredible fine technique with a cool fast piano phrasi...
Posted by Ralph on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:43:00 PST

New CD Review

There is another nice review of my CD "Waiting For My Train" in the December/January issue of 'Blues Review Magazine' Boogie-woogie and barrelhouse piano afficionados will hail the arrival of a solo r...
Posted by Ralph on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:04:00 PST

Another CD Review from Europe

The translation is courtesy of a friend's wife who is from this region. The album "Waiting For My Train" is some of the best I have heard in recent times when it comes to the Traditional Blues.It's so...
Posted by Ralph on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:52:00 PST

New Review of the CD Waiting for My Train

Ralph Bassinger is a blues & boogie woogie pianoplayer from Oregon, who's been playing for almost 30 years. Although he plays that long, this is his first solo recording. Before now he only did...
Posted by Ralph on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:45:00 PST

CD Review in August 2007 edition of Bluesnotes, Monthly Publication of the Cascade Blues Assoc.


Posted by Ralph on Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:06:00 PST

New Review of 'Waiting for My Train'

Review from 'Blues Critic Media'  www.bluescritic.com Ralph Bassinger "Waiting For My Train" (***). If you like that good 'ol Pinetop Perkins and Otis Spann piano boogie n' Blues Ralph Bassinger'...
Posted by Ralph on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:32:00 PST

Waterfront Blues Festival

 Hubert Sumlin has always been one of my guitar heroes. One of my first exposures to Chicago style blues was Howlin' Wolf, and I was amazed from the start by Hubert's unique style. When I heard h...
Posted by Ralph on Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:03:00 PST

Radio play on 'Blues Deluxe'

I was notified this weekend that the song 'Angela Marie' from my new CD, 'Waiting For My Train'  will be played on the syndicated radio program 'Blues Deluxe'.  The program will be aire...
Posted by Ralph on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:42:00 PST

Feartured Artist on KZUM Highway Blues Program

I will be the featured artist on Al Lundy's Highway Blues radio program on Tuesday June 26. The show goes from 3:00pm to 6:00pm central time. I will be doing a live phone interview with Al about 3:30 ...
Posted by Ralph on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:16:00 PST

CD now available on i-tunes

My new CD "Waiting For My Train" is now available at the i-tunes store. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum? playListId=257505351  ...
Posted by Ralph on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:13:00 PST