Ralph Carney
Ralph Carney | |
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Formerly of | |
Website | ralphcarney |
Ralph Carney (January 23, 1956 – December 17, 2017) was an American multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer. While his primary instruments were various saxophones and clarinets, Carney also collected and played many instruments, often unusual or obscure ones.[1]
He is best known for his long association with Tom Waits and for his collaboration on the theme song for BoJack Horseman, along with his nephew Patrick Carney.[2]
Early years
Carney was born and grew up in Akron, Ohio, and listened to music on a windup record player. He was the youngest of three siblings. His father, William Carney, worked in polyester research for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., headquartered in Akron. Ralph Carney showed an early interest in art, but turned to music in the eighth grade. He started learning five string banjo, violin, and harmonica and played bluegrass and country blues. His father, as well as his mother, Madge Carney, encouraged his interest in music. At age 15 he started to play saxophone. He also worked in a mall record store.[3]
Career
Carney got his start as a professional musician as a founding member of the
Carney collaborated with the
Carney composed music for two poetry records on Paris Records. One was with poet
Personal life
Carney's nephew Patrick Carney is the drummer for the rock band the Black Keys. The two collaborated on the theme music to the Netflix original series BoJack Horseman. A memorial tribute can be observed during the opening credits to season 5.[5]
His older brother, Jim Carney, is a retired reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal.
Carney died on December 17, 2017, at the age of 61, from head injuries sustained falling down steps in his home in Portland, Oregon, the previous day.[7][8] He was survived by his daughter, Hedda, as well as his partner, Megan Hinchliffe.
Discography
Solo albums
- Happiness Finally Came to Them (1987)
- Black Power (1994)
- Ralph Sounds (1997)
- I Like You (A Lot) (1999)
- This Is! Ralph Carney (2003)
- Ralph Carney's Serious Jass Project (2009)
- Seriously (Ralph Carney's Serious Jass Project) (2011)
- OH, PA (spoken word album with David Greenberger) (2011)[9]
- Secret Language (with David Coulter) (2012)
- All at Once (with All Ones) (2016)
- Songs for Unsung Holidays (with Chris Butler) (2018)[10]
References
- ^ "Ralph Carney Dies at 61: Saxophonist, Composer, Tom Waits Collaborator". 2.kqed.org. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ "The Bojack Horseman theme song was never intended to be on the show". Theverge.com. August 6, 2016.
- ^ "Akron Cracker". Akroncracker.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Ralph Carney Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ a b Sandy, Eric (August 25, 2014). "The Black Keys' Pat Carney Wrote the Theme to Netflix's 'BoJack Horseman' With His Uncle". Clevescene.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ Outsight Radio Hours. "Ralph Carney on Outsight Radio Hours". Archive.org. Retrieved December 17, 2017 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Butler, Will (December 17, 2017). "'Bojack Horseman' and Tom Waits saxophonist Ralph Carney dies aged 61". NME. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
- ^ "Ralph Carney, Akron native and internationally renowned musician, has died". Cleveland.com. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ "David Greenberger, Ralph Carney – OH, PA (2011, CD)". Discogs.
- ^ [1] [dead link]