LanisLoveday

• RALPH LOVEDAY & THE US MALE

  LanisLoveday

  January 2017
  Found this website years later...... I am Ralph's older sister, Lanis.
  Ralph Loveday was a multi-talented entertainer (trumpet player/congas/keyboard/ vocalist/impressionist/comedian/big band conductor). The record featuring  Ralph Loveday and The US Male ( an all male band traveling the US ) was a low-budget recording made in Tampa, Florida (3,000 were produced at $1 each) (cover art was created by one of the groups musicians, Charlie Shrader, (saxophone/vocals). The vinyl album featuring popular lounge rock band covers was sold at gigs while the band traveled the United States in 1972. The album also featured Ralph's younger brother, Scott Loveday, on drums (solo break in Slaughter on 10th Avenue) and Tony Larocca (keyboards) . Ralph eventually was booked in Atlantic City, then Las Vegas in the early 70's to early 80's, appearing in numerous Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe Show Spectaculars. Ralph was also the opening act for singer/songwriter, Grammy Award winner, Bobbie Gentry (Ode to Billy Joe) in Las Vegas before landing in 1978 a starring role in the colorful adult revue Bedazzle. In 1980, Ralph headlined in the show "The Las Vegas Strip" at the Tropicana Casino/Resort in the Casino Lounge ( formerly known as the infamous Blue Room). When Las Vegas began to decline in the 1980's before a theme park remake and revival as a family tourist destination, Ralph returned to his Tampa roots and formed a 30- 35 piece Big Band he affectionately called The Endangered Species Orchestra. He appeared in local TV commercials, sang the Star Spangled Banner for a few NY Yankees Spring Games, did a voiceover for a animated film that never was picked up for distribution, helped produce and perform in the the 1988 Jazz Festival with Ramsey Lewis, and with Ralph's Endangered Species Orchestra. He starred in a PBS TV show featuring music from the Big Band days and appeared in many USO shows, as well as, providing the main entertainment for shows honoring veterans and military officers. Ralph's Endangered Species Orchestra performed for weddings, corporate office parties, events for Pepin Distributors, National Distributors, Jazz Festivals, local television shows, Busch Gardens, Skippers, and many, many more. Ralph felt a great sense of accomplishment when he was asked to help save the program for the first International Jazz Hall of Fame Awards Ceremonies in 1997 at Tampa's Performing Arts Center when the event coordinator was fired. Within a week, Ralph helped with booking, publicity, accommodation, and sponsors, for the all star cast featuring Al Jarreau, Lionel Hampton, James Moody, Tito Puente, Chaka Khan, Herbie Mann, Oscar Peterson, Pete and Conte Candoli, Nancy Wilson, Michael Bolton, Al Grey,  and more.  Ralph booked and appeared with talk show host/actor/musician/composer Steve Allen (host of the event) on a popular local daytime TV show starring local tv/radio personality, and a friend, as well as, fan of Ralph's, Jack Harris. 
  In 1999, Ralph performed at Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Va . Ralph became friends with Danny Aykroyd and Donna Dixon who were the Grand Marshals that year. (Dan loved Ralph's "Ray Charles" impression singing America!!)
  Later, that year Ralph was booked as The Ralph Loveday Orchestra in Telluride at the Sheridan Opera House for their 2000 (Y2K) New Years Eve Gala.  From 2000-2001, Ralph performed in Nashville in a night club partnership named Blind Owl's. After 9/11, Ralph returned to Tampa performing in venues in Florida. In 2009, he was booked for the before/after shows entertainment for Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, Florida. He appeared at Palma Ceia Country Club and Spotos Grill 131 in Seminole, Fl. through 2010.  In Ralph's final years from 2011-2016, Ralph would perform just for weddings of close friends. In November 2016, Ralph was informed that he was inducted into the Trumpeters of Old Las Vegas section at the Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was excited about the event and looked forward to returning to Las Vegas in December 2016.   On Saturday, November 16, 2016 , Ralph passed away suddenly from a heart attack at his Oldsmar residence. 
  He was 63 years old.