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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name =J. Ralph
| name = J. Ralph
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| background =solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =1975
| birth_date = 1975
| birth_place =New York City
| birth_place = New York City
| genres =Orchestral, folk, soundtrack, instrumental
| genres = {{hlist|Orchestral|folk|soundtrack|instrumental}}
| occupations =Composer, singer-songwriter, producer, engineer, mixer, arranger
| occupations = {{hlist|Composer|singer-songwriter|producer|engineer|mixer|arranger}}
| instruments =[[Singing|Vocals]], [[guitar]], [[synthesizer instrument]]s, [[Drum kit|drums]], [[bass guitar]]
| instruments = {{hlist|[[Singing|Vocals]]|[[guitar]]|[[synthesizer]]|[[Drum kit|drums]]|[[bass guitar]]}}
| years_active =1997–present
| years_active = 1997–present
| label =Lava, Atlantic Records, Universal, Rumor Mill Records
| label = {{hlist|[[Lava Records|Lava]]|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[Universal Music Group|Universal]]|Rumor Mill}}
| website ={{URL|http://www.jralph.com/}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.jralph.com/}}
| notable_instruments =
| notable_instruments =
}}
}}

Revision as of 21:26, 21 March 2016

J. Ralph
Born1975
New York City
Occupations
  • Composer
  • singer-songwriter
  • producer
  • engineer
  • mixer
  • arranger
Instruments
Years active1997–present
Labels
Websitewww.jralph.com

Josh Ralph[1] — usually credited as J. Ralph — (born 1975) is an American composer, producer, singer/songwriter and social activist who focuses on creating awareness and change through music and film.[2][3][4] A two time Academy Award nominated composer, his professional career began when he was signed to Atlantic Records at the age of 22 as a recording artist.[5] He is the founder of the award-winning music production company The Rumor Mill,[6][7][8] and has written and produced the music for numerous Grammy Award-winning artists, symphony orchestras, The United Nations, The President of The United States.[9] and more Oscar-winning/nominated documentaries than any other composer in the history of the Academy Awards. His music has sold more than 10 million records world wide reaching the number one position on the Billboard "Hot 100" charts in over 22 countries.[10]

Music career

Described by The Hollywood Reporter as the "go-to producer of documentary film scores",[11] and by Indiewire as “Perhaps the best documentary composer working today”,[12] J. Ralph is considered by many to have had a profound impact on the documentary medium.[13] Over the last eight years, J. Ralph has written and produced the music for seven of the Oscar-winning/nominated documentary feature films including Man on Wire (2009),[14] The Cove (2010),[15] Hell and Back Again (2012),[16] Chasing Ice (2013),[11][17] Finding Vivian Maier (2015), Virunga (2015) and Racing Extinction (2016). For his contribution to Chasing Ice, J. Ralph received an Oscar nomination for his song "Before My Time", performed by Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell. It became only the 3rd song from a documentary ever nominated for the Oscars Best Original Song. For his contribution to Racing Extinction, he received his second Oscar nomination for his song "Manta Ray" co-written and performed by Anohni (F.K.A. Antony of Antony and the Johnsons). In the entire history of the Academy Awards, only six songs from documentaries have ever been nominated for Best Original Song. J. Ralph is the only composer in the history of the Oscars to have more than one of those nominations.[18] Additionally J. Ralph is the first composer in Academy Award's history to write and produce the original music for multiple Oscar nominated documentary films in the same year.[19]

J. Ralph is completely self-taught[20] and does not read or write a single note of music.[21] He is the founder of the internationally award-winning production company The Rumor Mill and many of his songs have been featured in modern commercial advertisements for companies including Porsche, Nike, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Chrysler.[22]

Ralph has recorded two CDs, The Illusionary Movements of Geraldine and Nazu (2005) and Music to Mauzner By (1999), the latter under the moniker "Spy".[23][24] He has also written for live performance, with 2008's "Fanfare for the Uncommon Ellie and Mr. Greene" performed by the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus.[25]

on January 5, 2016 it was announced that J. Ralph and Sting have written an original song "The Empty Chair" for the James Foley Documentary; JIM.[26]

Working in a variety of mediums, he composed the original opening theme music for the New Yorker's television show directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. The show marks the first time the iconic print magazine has created a live action version of the magazine.[27] On August 1, 2015 J. Ralph created the music for the Projecting Change art instillation event on the Empire State Building in NYC to raise awareness worldwide for species extinction. The event was organized by Louie Psihoyos as part of the Racing Extinction documentary. All of the images and lighting were choreographed in synch with the original songs J. Ralph wrote and produced for the film including "One Candle" which was written and performed by J. Ralph and Sia and "Manta Ray" written and performed by J. Ralph and Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons). It is the first time the owner of the Empire State Building and New York City officials ever allowed projections onto the building.[28] For the Academy Award nominated documentary VIRUNGA J. Ralph wrote and produced the song "We Will Not Go" which was performed by 3 of Africa's most famous music legends: Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, and Fally Ipupa. For the project he traveled across 3 continents (Africa, Europe, USA), 4 countries (Bamako, Mali / Paris, France / London, England / New York, United states) while writing and recording the song in 5 different languages (Bambara, Lingala, Wolof, French and English) [29]

J. Ralph was commissioned by Discovery to write an original symphonic piece for shark week 2015 called "Theodora" to raise awareness for species extinction, oceanic preservation, and sharks. Featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, The London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices, the piece was recorded at Abbey Road studios in London.[30]

Performances and appearances

- J. Ralph appears in the opening of Morrissey's concert film "25: LIVE" along with Patti Smith, Joaquin Phoenix, Heather Graham, Patrick Dempsey and Russell Brand. The concert was filmed live at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California on March 2, 2013.[31]

-On Saturday, February 22, 2014 J. Ralph was invited to perform a special concert with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra in Colorado. The orchestra performed several of his works including his Oscar Nominated song "Before My Time" which J. Ralph sang.[32]

- In april of 2014, Vanity Fair featured a profile written about J. Ralph and his recording studio in NYC. The studio was one of New York city's oldest vaudeville theaters where Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin would perform.[33]

- Was a featured guest and performer on NBC's Last Call With Carson Daily.[34]

Collaborations

J. Ralph has written and produced songs in collaboration with artists such as Sting, Sia, Wynton Marsalis, Liza Minnelli, Willie Nelson, Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons), Joshua Bell, Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's), Ezra Koneig (of Vampire Weekend), The London Symphony Orchestra, The London Voices, The PS22 Chorus, Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, Fally Ipupa, Sean Lennon, Philippe Petit, Dr. John, Devendra Banhart, Stephen Stills, Carly Simon, Vincent Gallo, David Garza, Ben Harper, Scarlett Johansson, Bob Weir (of the Grateful Dead), Aston "Family Man" Barrett (of Bob Marley & The Wailers), Matisyahu, KRS-One, Paul Brady, Bonnie Bramlett, Vashti Bunyan, Martin Carthy, Judy Collins, Lila Downs, Nic Jones, Norah Jones, Leah Siegel and Ben Taylor.[35][36][37][38][39][40][41]

Filmography as composer

References

  1. ^ "whose given name is Josh" "J. Ralph: Ad Tune Master" by Melissa Block, NPR, June 22, 2005
  2. ^ "shark week theodora soaring symphonic score by j ralph debuts". monstersandcritics.com. Monstersandcritics.
  3. ^ "J. Ralph Could Make Oscar history". The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. ^ "OSCARS: Reactions To Academy's Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. ^ Kurutz, Steven (2011-02-15). "A Prodigy's Second Act". The Wallstreet Journal.
  6. ^ Sun, Rebecca (2013-03-13). "Oscar-Nominated Songwriter Signs With WME". Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ "Volkswagen Adverts & Commercials Archive BIG DAY". Advertolog.
  8. ^ "Volkswagen Squares". We Love Ad.
  9. ^ "J. Ralph on Chasing Ice". ASCAP Playback.
  10. ^ "shark week theodora soaring symphonic score by J. Ralph debuts". Monsters and Critics.
  11. ^ a b Carlson, Erin (2013-02-20). "Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice". Hollywood Reporter.
  12. ^ The Playlist Staff. "The 20 Best Documentaries Of 2015". Indiewire. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  13. ^ "Interview…Composer J. Ralph on Documentaries, Real Life Heroes and the Call to Action – GoSeeTalk.com". goseetalk.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  14. ^ "Nominees & Winners for the 81st Academy Awards". Nominees & Winners. AMPAS. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  15. ^ "Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards". Nominees & Winners. AMPAS. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
  16. ^ "Nominees and Winners for the 84th Academy Awards". Nominees & Winners. AMPAS. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  17. ^ "Nominees for the 85th Academy Awards". Nominees & Winners. AMPAS. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  18. ^ Anita, Busch. "Oscar Nom Reactions: Saoirse Ronan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bryan Cranston, Sylvester Stallone & More". deadline. deadline.com. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  19. ^ Neman, Melinda. "J. Ralph & Antony Hegarty's Oscar-Nominated Song Was Inspired By Singing of Extinct Bird". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  20. ^ Rosenbloom, Etan (2012-11-23). "J. Ralph on Chasing Ice". Playback.
  21. ^ Block, Melissa (2005-07-22). "J. Ralph: Ad Tune Master (4:55)". NPR.
  22. ^ "J. Ralph: Ad Tune Master". NPR, All Things Considered. 22 June 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  23. ^ "Illusionary Movements of Geraldine and Nazu". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  24. ^ Bush, John. "Spy". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  25. ^ Zuck, Barbara (November 9, 2008). "Soloists, premiere cap energetic night". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  26. ^ Sneider, Jeff. "HBO lands Jim documentary about journalist murdered by isis". The Wrap. The Wrap. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  27. ^ "The New Yorker Presents". Jigsaw productions.
  28. ^ Roston, Tom. "Illuminating the Plight of Endangered Species, at the Empire State Building". New York Times. NY Times. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  29. ^ "J. Ralph Could Make Oscar History" (Article & Online Video). The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter.
  30. ^ "Discovery To Feature New Music By Composer J. Ralph". thehollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. ^ "Special Guests In The Opening OF Morrissey Film" (DVD).
  32. ^ "Boulder Philharmonic Celebrates 10 Years Of BIFF".
  33. ^ "Inside New York's Most Hidden Studio". Vanity Fair.
  34. ^ "Last Call With Carson Daily". IMDB. NBC.
  35. ^ Barker, Andrew (2010-11-18). "Ralph's score veers to the vulnerable". Variety.
  36. ^ "Wretches & Jabberers Soundtrack". Wretches & Jabberers Official Website.
  37. ^ "INTERVIEW: J.Ralph". Globecat. Globecat. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
  38. ^ Jeffries, David. "Matisyahu Spark Seeker (Credits)". Crossroads. Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  39. ^ Florino, Rick (2011-10-19). "J. Ralph Talks "Hell and Back Again"". Artist Direct.
  40. ^ "illuminating the plight of endangered species at the empire state building". NYTimes.com. NY TIMES.
  41. ^ "Shark Week To Feature New Music From Composer J. Ralph". Billboard.com. Billboard.
  42. ^ "J. Ralph IMDB".
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