Ralph Rebel, Rockabilly musician
deb...@comcast.net
Ralph Santiago RIP
July 2, 2006 - From MIKE SPENELLA: We just heard the terrible
news that Ralph Rebel AKA Ralph Santiago passed away. The news story
will likely run in tomorrow's local NY newspapers - we just received a
phone call from one of Ralph's former band members.
Ralph was an extremely talented musician who released five
fantastic Rockabilly records and a great Surf Instrumental record. He
almost single-handedly revived the Long Island Rockabilly scene in the
late 1990s. He had boundless energy and was always looking to encourage
local musicians to play, write and record music.
Ralph was one of the important artists who helped launch the
Golly Gee Records label back in 2001 (Golly Gee releases are noted with
a GGR catalogue number). He was instrumental in the signing of The
Supertones and The Spinouts as well as bringing his own catalogue of
releases. A short list of his accomplishments follows:
Full length albums:
The Rebel Rockers "Red T Bird"
The Rebel Rockers "This Is The Night"
Ralph Rebel "Big Town Boogie" (GGR 1003)
Ralph Rebel "Rockabilly Vampire" (GGR 1004)
Ralph Rebel "Surfin' & Rockin" (GGR 1005)
Peter and The Wolves "Trouble With Girls" (GGR 1002)
Compilations:
V/A "Rockabilly Rumble" (GGR 1016)
V/A "Rockabilly Rumble Deuce" (GGR 1026)
V/A "War of The Surf Guitars" (GGR 1017)
V/A "Supertones Surf/Modern Surf Band Spotlight" (GGR 1022)
V/A "Yule Boogie"
Producer and Engineer:
The Found Cats "Full Gospel Rockabilly" (GGR 1025)
Rhythm Bound "Born To Love You"
About Ralph Rebel
Ralph Rebel "Big Town Boogie"
Ralph Rebel "Rockabilly Vampire"
Ralph Rebel "Surfin & Rockin"
Peter and The Wolves "Trouble With Girls"
V/A "Modern Surf Band Spotlight"
I have listed links below where you can listen and read more
about Ralph. You can see the many favorable reviews of Ralph's recorded
work from around the world. You can also find pictures of Ralph with a
number of Rockabilly greats such as Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, Big
Sandy, and Robert Gordon.
Here's a brief quote from one of the reviews: "It might be too
early to print up buttons stating that "Rebel is God," but he's just
this side of Cardinal in my book ... Rebel charges headfirst into the
classic territory and reminds us of why the surf guitar was so damn
cool in the first place." -- Wilhelm Murg, Cool & Strange Music
Magazine, Issue #23, November 2001
Yours sincerely,
Mel Spinella, Chairman,
Golly Gee Records, Inc. -
"Where The Cats Are Rockin'" -
www.gollygeerecords.com
deb...@comcast.net
BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO AND JAMES FITZPATRICK
Newsday Staff Writers
Ralph Santiago faced up to 15 years in prison for burglary following an
embarrassing trial in which he argued that he was too overweight to
have fit through a neighbor's window and stolen jewelry and
electronics.
After failing to show up for his sentencing Wednesday, police say, he
decided to end his life instead, apparently committing suicide in a
Copiague motel, where his body was found Saturday morning. Suffolk
police said there no signs of foul play. Police said Santiago, 41, of
Lindenhurst, checked in to the South Bay Motel a couple of days before
and was found in his room by the motel manager. Authorities declined to
comment on how he had killed himself.
A woman who came to the door at Santiago's Lindenhurst home yesterday
declined to comment.
The death marked a sad end to a man known to his friends as "Ralph
Rebel," a musician who brought rockabilly back to Long Island and who
would dress up in two-tone shoes and sing to his heart's content. A man
with a wife and three children he loved, friends said.
"He really was, deep down inside, a good-hearted guy who found himself
in the wrong situations sometimes or didn't use the best judgment,"
said Peter Crugnale, of Nesconset, who played stand-up bass with
Santiago.
Crugnale and several others in the music scene said they had lost touch
with Santiago in recent years, when he became less active in rockabilly
circles.
At his trial last month, prosecutors argued that on Sept. 7 Santiago
sneaked into neighbors Karen and Errol Orehek's home through a casement
window while they were at work.
His attorney, Howard Knispel of Commack, had Santiago stand behind a
replica of the window to demonstrate how a man of 275 pounds could not
fit in a 22-inch opening. Prosecutors showed the jury a videotape of a
6-foot, 325-pound Suffolk police sergeant clearing the same window in
seconds. On June 13, a jury found Santiago guilty.
Yesterday, the Oreheks declined to comment.
Edward Riley, 84, who lives across the street and testified at trial
that he had seen Santiago go into the Oreheks' backyard and leave with
bags, said: "Ralph did this to himself, he was at fault."
In brighter years, Santiago had been the frontman of the Ralph Rebel
band. On their Web site, the band is described as combining '50s
rockabilly guitar and the '60s surf sound. "He wasn't really that much
of a rebel, but it was a cool stage name and he looked the part,"
Crugnale said.
He had a talent for persuading bar owners to host '50s bands they
traditionally wouldn't book. Then, about four years ago, he had a heart
attack.
"The music scene kind of died out," said Crugnale. Santiago started
spending more time with his family and opened a music store that closed
later. "It bothers me to think I hadn't spoken with him in a year and a
half," he said. "I hope he had people that he was reaching out to."
wazzzy
Ralph Rebel's page @ golly gee records w/ pics:
http://www.gollygeerecords.com/Bands/BandDetail.asp?BandID=5
