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J. Ralph

{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = J. Ralph

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| occupations = {{hlist|Composer|singer-songwriter|producer|engineer|mixer|arranger}}

| instruments = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|synthesizer|drums|bass guitar}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| label = {{hlist|Lava|Atlantic|Universal|Rumor Mill}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.jralph.com/}}

}}

Josh Ralph {{cite news |last=Block |first=Melissa |title=J. Ralph: Ad Tune Master |work=All Things Considered |publisher=NPR |date=June 22, 2005 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4714399 |access-date=2016-04-14}} (born 1975), known professionally as J. Ralph, is an American composer, producer, singer/songwriter and social activist who focuses on creating awareness and change through music and film.{{cite web|last1=Grobar|first1=Matthew|title=Making The Environment A Better Place, One Note At A Time: J. Ralph & His Oscar-Nominated Song "Manta Ray"|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/oscars-racing-extinction-j-ralph-manta-ray-best-original-song-interview-1201698619/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=10 February 2016 |publisher=deadline|access-date=10 February 2016}}{{cite web|title=ASCAP Café announces new performance by Sting and J. Ralph|url=http://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/ascap-caf-announces-new-performance-by-sting-and-j-ralph/|website=parckrecord.com|date=21 January 2016 |publisher=park record|access-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite news |last=Neale |first=April |title=Shark Week 'Theodora' Soaring Symphonic Score By J. Ralph Debuts |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/shark-week-theodora-soaring-symphonic-score-by-j-ralph-debuts/ |work=Monster & Critics |date=July 3, 2015 |access-date=2016-04-14 |archive-date=2016-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220201927/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/shark-week-theodora-soaring-symphonic-score-by-j-ralph-debuts/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Scott |title=J. Ralph Could Make Oscar History With Second Song Nom for Doc-Featured Tune |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/j-ralph-could-make-oscar-751484 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 23, 2014 |access-date=2016-04-14}}{{cite news |first1=Anthony |last1=D'Alessandro |first2=Cari |last2=Lynn |title=Oscars: Reactions To Academy's Nominations |url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/top-reactions-oscar-2013-nominations-85th-academy-awards-400430/ |work=Deadline |date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=2016-04-14}}{{cite web|last1=Cusmano|first1=Katherine|title=Sia's "One Candle" Lyrics Show She's All About The Environment|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/121968-sias-one-candle-lyrics-show-shes-all-about-the-environment|website=Bustle.com|date=5 November 2015 |publisher=Bustle|access-date=5 November 2015}}

A three-time Academy Award-nominated composer, Ralph's professional career began when he was signed to Atlantic Records at age 22 as a recording artist.{{cite news|last=Kurutz |first=Steven |title=A Prodigy's Second Act |url=http://topics.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703584804576144383911722022.html |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=February 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003051430/http://topics.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703584804576144383911722022.html |archive-date=October 3, 2013 }} He is the founder of a music production company The Rumor Mill,{{cite news|last=Sun|first=Rebecca|title=Oscar-Nominated Songwriter Signs With WME|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscar-nominated-songwriter-signs-wme-428345|newspaper=Hollywood Reporter|date=2013-03-13}}{{cite news|title=Volkswagen Adverts & Commercials Archive BIG DAY|url=http://www.advertolog.com/volkswagen/adverts/big-day-3110255/|newspaper=Advertolog|access-date=2013-04-26|archive-date=2017-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024152702/http://www.advertolog.com/volkswagen/adverts/big-day-3110255/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Volkswagen Squares|url=http://www.welovead.com/en/works/details/af1zjntD|newspaper=We Love Ad|access-date=2013-04-26|archive-date=2017-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024095724/http://www.welovead.com/en/works/details/af1zjntD|url-status=dead}} and has written and produced the music for Grammy Award-winning artists, symphony orchestras, the United Nations, and former United States President Barack Obama.{{cite news|title=J. Ralph on Chasing Ice|url=http://www.ascap.com/Playback/2012/11/wecreatemusic/fmf-j-ralph-on-chasing-ice.aspx|newspaper=ASCAP Playback}} His music has sold more than 10 million records worldwide reaching the number one position on the Billboard charts in over 22 countries.

Music career

Honored by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for innovative and unique contributions to American music,{{cite web |last1=Machado |first1=Melinda |title=Smithsonian To Honor Sting and J. Ralph Sept. 8 for Contributions to American Music Including Their Oscar-Nominated Song "The Empty Chair" |url=https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-honor-sting-and-j-ralph-sept-8-contributions-american-music-including-their-o-0 |website=www.americanhistory.si.edu |publisher=Smithsonian National Museum Of American History |access-date=September 8, 2017}} Ralph is completely self-taught{{cite news|last=Rosenbloom|first=Etan|title=J. Ralph on Chasing Ice|url=http://www.ascap.com/Playback/2012/11/wecreatemusic/fmf-j-ralph-on-chasing-ice.aspx|newspaper=Playback|date=2012-11-23}} and does not read or write a single note of music. He is the founder of production company The Rumor Mill. His songs have been featured in commercial advertisements for Porsche, Nike, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Chrysler.

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".{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/illusionary-movements-of-geraldine-and-nazu-barnes-noble-exclusive-mw0001015784 | title = Illusionary Movements of Geraldine and Nazu | website= AllMusic | access-date = 26 April 2013}}{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/artist/spy-mn0000130022 | title = Spy | publisher = Allmusic | first = John | last = Bush | access-date = 26 April 2013}} 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.{{cite news | url = http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2008/11/09/promusica_review_1109.ART_ART_11-09-08_A2_BVBR7NO.html | title = Soloists, premiere cap energetic night | first = Barbara | last = Zuck | date = November 9, 2008 | access-date = 26 April 2013 | work = The Columbus Dispatch}}

Described by The Hollywood Reporter as the "go-to producer of documentary film scores",{{cite news|last=Carlson|first=Erin|title=Oscars 2013: Best Song Contender J. Ralph on Scarlett Johansson's 'World-Class' Singing Voice|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-j-ralph-best-song-422620|newspaper=Hollywood Reporter|date=2013-02-20}} and by Indiewire as “Perhaps the best documentary composer working today”,{{cite web|last1=The Playlist Staff|title=The 20 Best Documentaries Of 2015|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/the-20-best-documentaries-of-2015-20151215?page=4|website=Indiewire|date=15 December 2015 |access-date=December 15, 2015}} Mr. Ralph has helped create some of the most influential documentaries of all time, revealing critically important social issues and culturally defining artists that “along with his partnering filmmakers and musicians, have spurned governments to act and introduced or amplified for millions of people, concerns that have might otherwise fallen under the radar” said the Smithsonian’s Dr. John Troutman, curator of Culture and Arts for the Smithsonian National Museum Of American History.{{cite web |last1=Kownacki |first1=Brendan |title=Sting And J Ralph Donate Items To The Museum |url=https://hollywoodonthepotomac.com/?p=84594 |website=Hollywoodonthepotomac.com |access-date=September 13, 2017}} Over the last decade, Ralph has written and produced the music for eight Oscar-winning/nominated documentary feature films including Man on Wire (2009),{{cite web|title = Nominees & Winners for the 81st Academy Awards|url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/81academyawards/nominees.html|work = Nominees & Winners|publisher = AMPAS|access-date = February 22, 2009}} The Cove (2010),{{cite web|title=Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html |work=Nominees & Winners |publisher=AMPAS |access-date=March 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411210003/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html |archive-date=April 11, 2010 }} Hell and Back Again (2012),{{cite web|title = Nominees and Winners for the 84th Academy Awards|url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html|work = Nominees & Winners|publisher = AMPAS|access-date = February 26, 2012}} Chasing Ice (2013),{{cite web|title = Nominees for the 85th Academy Awards|url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/85/nominees.html|work = Nominees & Winners|publisher = AMPAS|access-date = February 24, 2013}} Finding Vivian Maier (2015), Virunga (2015), Racing Extinction (2016) and "Jim: The James Foley Story (2017)".{{cite news|last1=Light|first1=Elias|title=Oscars 2017: Sting, Timberlake, 'La La Land,' 'Moana' Vie for Best Song|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/oscars-2017-hear-all-the-best-song-nominees-w462650|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=January 24, 2017}} “Like no other American composer before him, J. Ralph has created in very short order, a stunningly unique body of philanthropically minded musical works” continued Dr. Troutman of the Smithsonian.

For his contribution to Chasing Ice, Ralph received an Oscar nomination for his song "Before My Time", performed by Scarlett Johansson and Joshua Bell. He received his second Oscar nomination for his song "Manta Ray" co-written and performed by Anohni. For his contribution to Jim: The James Foley Story, Ralph received his third Oscar nomination for "The Empty Chair", which he co-wrote and performed with Sting.

Ralph is the first composer in the history of the Oscars to have received multiple nominations for Best Original song that originated from documentaries.{{cite web|last1=Anita|first1=Busch|title=Oscar Nom Reactions: Saoirse Ronan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bryan Cranston, Sylvester Stallone & More|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/oscar-nominees-reactions-2016-academy-award-nominations-1201682531/|website=deadline|date=14 January 2016 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=15 January 2016}} Additionally, 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 and the first composer to have back to back nominations for best song in a documentary.{{cite magazine|last1=Neman|first1=Melinda|title=J. Ralph & Antony Hegarty's Oscar-Nominated Song Was Inspired By Singing of Extinct Bird|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6843700/j-ralph-antony-hegarty-oscar-nominated-manta-ray-racing-extinction|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 14, 2016}}

On February 22, 2014, Ralph and the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra in Colorado performed several of his works. including "Before My Time", which Ralph sang.{{cite web|title=Boulder Philharmonic Celebrates 10 Years Of BIFF|date=15 February 2014 |url=http://www.dailycamera.com/entertainment/ci_25147464/boulder-philharmonic-orchestra-celebrates-oscars-biff-anniversary}}

On August 1, 2015, Ralph created the music for the Projecting Change art installation event on the Empire State Building in New York City to raise awareness for species extinction. The songs included "One Candle", written and performed by Ralph and Sia, and "Manta Ray" performed by Ralph and Anohni.{{cite web|last1=Roston|first1=Tom|title=Illuminating the Plight of Endangered Species, at the Empire State Building|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/movies/illuminating-the-plight-of-endangered-species-at-the-empire-state-building.html|website=New York Times|access-date=July 29, 2015}}

For Virunga, Ralph wrote and produced the song "We Will Not Go", performed by Youssou Ndour, Salif Keita, and Fally Ipupa. Ralph recorded this song in Bambara, Lingala, Wolof, French and English.

Ralph was commissioned by Discovery Channel to write an original symphonic piece for Shark Week 2015 called "Theodora". The object was to raise awareness and money for species extinction, oceanic preservation, and sharks. Featuring violinist Joshua Bell, the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices, the piece was recorded at Abbey Road studios in London.{{cite web|title=Discovery To Feature New Music By Composer J. Ralph|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/discoverys-shark-week-feature-new-806621|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2 July 2015 }}

On January 5, 2016 it was announced that Ralph and Sting had written "The Empty Chair".{{cite web|last1=Sneider|first1=Jeff|title=HBO lands Jim documentary about journalist murdered by isis|url=https://www.thewrap.com/hbo-lands-jim-documentary-about-journalist-murdered-by-isis/|website=The Wrap|date=5 January 2016 |access-date=5 January 2016}}

Collaborations

Ralph has written and produced songs in collaboration with a wide variety of artists, including Sting, Sia, Wynton Marsalis, Method Man, Wu-Tang Clan, Liza Minnelli, Willie Nelson, Anohni (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.{{cite news|last=Barker|first=Andrew|title=Ralph's score veers to the vulnerable|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/ralph-s-score-veers-to-the-vulnerable-1118027671/|newspaper=Variety|date=2010-11-18}}{{cite web|title=Wretches & Jabberers Soundtrack|url=http://wretchesandjabberers.org/soundtrack.php|publisher=Wretches & Jabberers Official Website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403032015/http://www.wretchesandjabberers.org/soundtrack.php|archive-date=2013-04-03}}{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Matisyahu Spark Seeker (Credits)|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/spark-seeker-mw0002377512/credits|website=AllMusic|access-date=2012-07-17}}{{cite news|last=Florino|first=Rick|title=J. Ralph Talks "Hell and Back Again"|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,9516216,00.html|newspaper=Artist Direct|date=2011-10-19}}{{cite news|title=illuminating the plight of endangered species at the empire state building|work=The New York Times |date=30 July 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/31/movies/illuminating-the-plight-of-endangered-species-at-the-empire-state-building.html |last1=Roston |first1=Tom }}{{cite web|title=Shark Week To Feature New Music From Composer J. Ralph|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6620030/discoverys-shark-week-feature-new-music-j-ralph|website=Billboard.com}}{{cite web |last1=Iahn |first1=Buddy |title=Method Man announces NFT collaboration with J Ralph |url=https://themusicuniverse.com/method-man-announces-nft-collaboration-with-j-ralph/ |access-date=December 20, 2021 |website=themusicuniverse.com |date=20 December 2021 |publisher=The Music Universe}}

Filmography as composer

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.therumormill.com/}}
  • {{IMDb name|name=J. Ralph|id=0707775}}

{{Satellite Award for Best Original Song}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralph, J.}}

Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:American male singer-songwriters

Category:American multi-instrumentalists

Category:American classical composers

Category:American film score composers

Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)

Category:Record producers from New York (state)

Category:Musicians from New York City