Rock group. Members included Ralph Bogorad aka ‘Ralph Bryan’ (lead guitar ex-Hitchhikers), Butch Roche (rhythm guitar), Joel Papermeister (drums).
Ralph’s friend Jon Berle wrote “This group that Ralph Bryan (formerly Bogorad) played lead in was perhaps the first to experiment with feedback. Ralph used to amaze every guitarist in Baltimore because he could play just like Clapton or Jeff Beck, and would put his guitar on top of his Fender Bandmaster and make it feed back, making Hendrix-like sounds before anyone even knew what feedback was. His band won the Civic Center Battle of the Bands one year doing the song “Nowhere Man” with perfect four-part harmonies. Ralph, who died from complications of brain cancer in 2003, played on numerous recordings with a band named Daddy Please (1980+) and they released a 45, and in the ’90s-00s he played live weekly in Santa Rosa at a blues club with Elvin Bishop’s bass player Evan Palmerston. Ralph was on recordings and played with Jesse Davis, Ry Cooder, Robben Ford, Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon and others. One of the songs he co-wrote with Gary St. Clair in 1971 (“Doctor Rock and Roll”) has been covered around the world by various groups. The original version is on his website. He was much in demand and all musicians loved playing with him.”
Butch would later become a member of the bands Joshua, and Ozz, and along with his wife Marguerite Roche they were later members of Catwhistle. Joel later played for Imported Shoes.
Ralph relocated to L.A. in 1968. He appears on Alex Richman’s self-titled album in 1969 along with Jim Gordon (sax) and Jim Keltner (drums), and Richman’s 1971 album “Salty” (Capitol ST-11004). Ralph was also on Gary St. Claire’s 1971 self-titled album (Paramount PAS-6020). As a member of the band Daddy Please they released a single “Call You” b/w “Breakin’ Me Down” (707 Records) in 1980.
Photos above: Ralph Bryan
Below: Ralphs band Daddy Please
Photos courtesy of Jon Berle
