Ralph Evans, born in Cardiff, began playing at the age of fifteen after his best friend's older brother took him to see his band, 'Jeff and The 'G' Men', featuring the legendary Welsh guitarist Micky Gee. Ralph originally wanted to play drums and duly set about tapping on cornflake boxes with knitting needles. However, another friend, Frank, also became interested in playing drums and after Ralph explained a few rudimentary patterns to him, he immediately got his parents to buy him a kit! Ralph had already dabbled with a guitar in the house, as his dad used to be in a band and had a guitar, but it was virtually unplayable because of neck width and high string action. Ralph's other friend Colin, wanted to play bass so the guitar was the obvious choice for him.
Ralph's first band, 'The Classics' was born in the early 60’s with two friends Colin Jenkins & Frank Rees. Ralph bought a Hofner Colorama solid guitar. The band only played instrumentals as nobody had the bottle to sing. One night after much persuading and a ‘swift half’ Ralph sang the Beatles song 'Misery' and by God it was! He, (and the audiences) persevered……….
Ralph's next guitar was a Framus II, and in 1963 he bought a Gretsch Tennesean which was his pride and joy, until one night, while 'relaxing' after playing a gig, it was stolen from outside a club on the pier in Penarth. Ralph then bought a Vox, (a Strat copy) but that was stolen too. Not a good time! Ralph's next big purchase was a Maple necked Telecaster, bought from ‘Barretts of Manchester’ in Cardiff. An early import, (to Cardiff), of the new ’Fender’ range and a Marshall amp with 2 x 2x12” cabs.
In 1966 Ralph joined a band doing club type work, 'The Allan James Combo'. Now wearing Tartan dinner jackets and bow ties, this was his first ‘semi pro’ band and here cut his teeth on harmonies with a very under-rated singer called Wally Harrison. Once a month he had the chance to ‘get heavy' in a club in Bridgend, and after a bottle of plonk each it seemed to sound wonderful,
Micky Gee was now playing with an up and coming band called, ‘The Sect Maniacs’ featuring Andy Fairweather Lowe. A soul band with Derek (Blue) Weaver, who Ralph was in the same class in school with, (later to join The Bee Gees!). Micky had itchy feet
and contacted Ralph as a possible replacement. He played several gigs with Andy singing the soul song ‘Gin house blues’. This song brought an unbelievable response from audiences and was always a potential hit song.
Ralph had just got engaged and had spent the house deposit on the ‘Telecaster’ & ‘Marshal’ rig. The Sect Maniacs were ready to take the world by storm but Ralph had blown all his Brownie points. Did he go to London & starve, or take the less sensible option and settle down?
((This is where history deals a cruel blow!!!))
Readers; ‘The Sect Maniacs’ became ‘ Amen Corner’, had several hits and Ralph got married (and divorced)
Ralph couldn't get his Telecaster to sound the same as the new distorted and sustained guitar sounds, so in 1968 he swapped his ‘Tele’ for a second hand Gibson 345 stereo.
By this time Ralph had turned proper ‘Pro’ and was playing four nights a week at a club in Cardiff’s Churchill way with a band called ‘The Loggers’. This is where he met up with Ricky John who was just starting on Bass. Ralph & Rick then had a long residency in Caerphilly’s ‘Checkmate club’ playing widely differing types of music with drummer Mac Davies. The band was called ‘Wolf’. Mac left and Rob Reynolds from ‘Universe’ who was playing in Germany joined the band.
The Gibson developed an electronics’ fault which sounded very expensive to fix so in 1971 Ralph put it in for a brand new Les Paul deluxe.
Ralph hated the new Les Paul for about 12 months until it got ‘worn in’. During this time the nucleus of Sassafras was formed with Ricky John on bass and Rob Reynolds on drums. They left the Checkmate and did several local Welsh gigs. They then heard reports of an exciting young guitarist playing in Tito’s in Cardiff and so went to hear him. It was Dai Shell. Ralph, Ricky and Rob asked Dai to join Sassafras, and he did. Much the same story when the boys went to see Terry Bennett and the modern Sassafras was born.
Over the years the old Les Paul featured on everything Ralph did. Replacements were a necessity, new tuners, bridge (by John Birch in Birmingham), pick up covers, a body makeover and a few snapped necks ! Amps were either huge Marshal stacks or later, Traynor 90 watt valve combos, more sensible in smaller venues…………….
……………Many years on and Sass split up, mainly because of the punk era. Each member of the band did their own thing for a while. Me, getting married again, having 2 lovely daughters, Samantha & Francesca, divorced again & basically leading the life of a (poor) rock ‘n roller!
Ralph got into television in 1982 in the audio post production field with HTV,
a “proper job” at last!! He was keeping his hand in though, playing with old mates Rob Reynolds and also Steve Finn (who was playing bass with Sass for a period and wrote some good songs!) There was a country buzz about this band (Universe) and even came second in a national Country Music competition in the Wembley Arena.
Ralph met up again musically with the Sass boys for a tv show in the early 90’s. This sparked a chain of events that led to a full scale revival of the new Sassafras which was reborn at a concert at St. David’s centre in Cardiff.
Now, the current line up is stable and very happy.
The old Les Paul is still gasping for breath after 35 years and is out to pasture. The current faves are PRS guitars. In large gigs he will use a Fender Tonemaster amp with 2 times 2x12” cabs. This is a monster sound and very loud! More often though, a Fender Prosonic 90 watt combo will be seen on top of an extension cab.
Ralph has taken to collecting a few guitars and who knows, some may be available for sale before long!
Ralph With Rob Reynolds
after leaving Sass Rob Reynolds joined up with Richie Galloni
in a pop band called Dragonfly
