Ralph F. Glaser

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My first CD came out in 1999 and was more straight off folk/celtic. A lot has changed in my taste and style since then and I have gotten influence more by Americana roots of Rock & Roll. I still love Christian and Celtic music as well as many styles of Rock and "old school "real" Punk (Clash, Pistols, etc.). My new CD (have too many varying styles of songs written and recorded so far) will probably end up having a blend of all these (whenever I end up releasing it). Thanks for visiting my page (www.urbanfolksinger.com is my first/main page). The following is more info about myself and my music!

While my guitar work, vocals, and recording abilities have evolved since this material was recorded and originally distributed on Soul Joy Records, I still continue to get great feedback from it. A new recording is already in the works and has an expected release date is Spring/Summer 2009. The working title for this release is "Journey Into Tomorrow" and it's taking on an "alternative/grass roots Americana acoustic bluesy edge with a Celtic flair" (Eddie Cochran meets Ben Harper meets Flogging Molly?). It will include some reworked songs from the "Fear Of Bridges" as well as numerous new ones. MP3s from this upcoming CD should be up on the site soon. I am planning on this being an independent release on my own "Righteous Bug Records" label. Support Independent Music!

I originally made my start in semi-professional music as a trumpet player at the age of 17 with "The Gladiator Jazz Band" (this was my one and only time being a "card carrying member" of the Musicians Union), and was a bass guitarist and vocalist in a few notable midwest recording bands (namely "Saffire," "OR," "The Social Insects", and "Big Bill & The Swampbuzzards") before switching to guitar and solo music in 1992.

I have had the priviledge of performing my original music in various settings (clubs, coffee houses, weddings, churches, etc.) as well as leading worship at church and parachurch events throughout the United States, Japan, and most recently the Middle East.

The digitally recorded CD "Fear oF Bridges" was originally independently released in the Fall of 1999 and was distributed by Soul Joy Records that first year (although I retained all rights) and was a mix of Celtic Christian folk with an "alternative" flair. As this was mainly a distribution contract, my first actual recording contract was with Ecclectica/N*Soul Records for the Genkideska project. As of this writing the CD is currently "out of print" (though you may still find it at Amazon.com or elsewhere on the net). Two tracks ("Rain In Belfast and "To The Nines") are featured on the RMMGA Vol. II CD. My songs from this album have also showed up on a several acoustic Christian, Celtic, and Alternative compilation CDs.

I did the GenkideSka Third Wave Ska project that had an international release through N*Soul/Eclectica Records back in 1998 ("Skanktified" CD).
I am a former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Music Major and have a Bachelors Degree in Youth Ministry from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois; and a Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary San Diego.

I have lived in various areas around the United States, my favorites being Racine, WI (my hometown-I am a huge Green Bay Packer fan), Clarksville/Nashville, TN; and San Diego, CA.

I am currently an active duty Army Chaplain stationed at Fort Sill, OK serving with the 1/19 Field Artillery. In the past I have served with 2/54 Infantry out of Fort Benning, GA, and 1/327 Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was with the 101st that I deployed to Iraq in support of OIF 4.