Musician made it to the top through hard work

Fate, luck, talent, dedication, hard work and being at the right place at the right time have given guitarist Ralph Grasso a professional life with great names in 20th century music — Frank Sinatra, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Hugo Montenegro, Andy Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald and others.

Now living in Quail Creek, Grasso, 75, tells it like it is: “I was not born a gifted person. We were poor. Nothing came easy...

“When I was 9, an attendant at an after-school center gave me a guitar. I couldn’t do a thing with it. My dad asked a friend to give me lessons.”

And a star was born.

Grasso had a natural ability and ended up doing what he loved and working with famous names in Hollywood.

He said his major influence was guitar legend Les Paul (of Les Paul and Mary Ford) who passed away on Aug. 13, at age 94.

“I admired his work. When he was in Hollywood I would write to him and he would answer my questions.”

Discovered by singer Randy Sparks, who was in the U.S. Navy Band with Grasso, he said, “Randy asked me to play the guitar for him. Then he invited me to Hollywood after I got out of the Navy.”

At 27, Grasso took Sparks up on the invitation, drove from New Jersey to Hollywood and the morning after he arrived was told to go to NBC Studios in Burbank where he was signed to play on The Andy Williams Show.

“Meeting Randy Sparks was the key. Now that I know the system I could’ve never made it on my own. Once they found out I was good, I kept getting called.”

Grasso said it was Sparks who also discovered John Denver and gave him his stage name.

And the beat went on

One appearance or meeting with a musician or Hollywood star led to another chance. Some breaks made available to him were mind boggling.

“Hugo Montenegro and I had to write the musical score for an MGM film ‘Thunder Road.’ We learned how to make the music fit the scene... Music, gunshot, music,” Grasso acted out.

“We were given just three days to write an original score and recorded the score in two three-hour sessions.

“One day when I was on the MGM sound stage I said to myself, ‘My God. Look where I am. I’m on the MGM sound stage.’”

Working with Nelson Riddle, Grasso got to play on the Smothers Brothers and Glen Campbell shows. He was a guitarist for Frank Sinatra and had only good things to say about him.

“He knew every musician’s name, would ask how someone’s wife was if she’d been sick. He appreciated us and said, ‘Without you guys I’m just another Italian singing in the shower.’”

While in the Navy he was stationed in Washington, D.C., played with the Navy Band and was invited to perform for five presidents — Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.

“Reagan was my favorite. He was a nice, nice man. He came up to me like I was the president! He was very down to earth.”

Grasso remembers Eisenhower asking his commanding officer if he could play solo for Queen Elizabeth, who was visiting the White House. And backed by the Navy Band, Grasso played solo for the queen.

Leaving Hollywood behind

Coming from a broken down apartment building in Newark, N.J., with no heat or hot water and a bathroom shared with other families, Grasso said he’s lived in some nice homes in the Hollywood area and upon retiring he and his wife looked beyond.

“The music business had died in Hollywood. L.A. was overcrowded. The freeways were parking lots.”

Now living a semi-retired life Grasso spends his time teaching students, holding clinics and workshops and critiquing musicians.

His current musical group of six — “The Velvet Guitars” — is fitting. Listening to them practice it was easy to hear six different guitars play harmoniously ever so smoothly.

The group ranges from a 14-year-old to two in their 20s, two mature men and Grasso himself.

His custom-made guitar named “Angel” is made with straight-grained spruce and ebony on the front and flame maple on the back and sides.

Of his five students, Grasso said, “What you’re hearing today is all my work... They’re all playing different notes. That’s what makes harmony.” Teaching those who show talent is his way of giving back for his good fortune.

He passes on his musical skills by teaching with heart and kibitzing with the group.

“Some day I hope they’ll pass on to others what they’ve learned from me. If they pass this on, it’s an extension of me.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.