In the 1970's and 80's, Ybor City had a very lively and rich music and art scene...
Piano player and showman extraordinaire, Rev. Ralph was playing music by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, and Leon Russell on a small stage that was built specifically for him and his baby grand above the entrance door at Carmine's Restaurant.
Cosmic Dave was going around with his 3-string guitar living vicariously through Bob Dylan and Keith Richard.
Zenith Nadir was the top punk band in the city, and White Witch wound down their career after two amazing albums.
Other notables included Rocky Kester, the neighborhood potter, tile artist Richard Sorrentino and Ron Britt who was conducting the Saturday Night Jam in his storefront on 7th Avenue.
The Playmakers who occupied the historic Cuban Club, presented musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Company, and Promenade as well as comedy and drama in the Cuban Club's theater.
Steve Martin, the singer from The Left Banke who had a hit with Walk Away Renee in the 1960's, moved into town.
Gayle Natale was running Strangers in Hyde Park , a hangout for the poets and performance artists in the area.
ARTS ALIVE! was the place to go if you wanted to perform your original music or display some of your bag or foam art.
Magical inspiration was in the air, and the artists and musicians who inhabited the storefronts along 7th Avenue envisioned Ybor City as a creative arts community on par with Bourbon Street, Greenwich Village, or Liverpool.
Sometime in the 1990's, someone had the brilliant idea to turn Ybor City into an alcohol district. The artists and musicians were driven out of Ybor by special interest groups, developers, and politicians who were determined to 'revitalize' the historic quarter. Consequently, rents increased, and storefronts and buildings became prime real estate for nightclubs, tattoo shops, and retail outlets that had the backing and the resources to set up shop.
August 1987... Ybor City...the historic Latin Quarter in Tampa was fast becoming the Greenwich Village of Florida. Reverend Ralph the boogie woogie piano player wasn't an ordained reverend, but his raucous gospel revival style rock and blues show made one feel as though one was about to be slain in the Holy Spirit. Wearing his Cuban heeled Beatle boots, pomade plastered pompadour and always black too-tight clothes, he entertained night after night in the sandwich shops and small beer and wine joints that lined 7th Avenue which was the main drag in good old Ybor City Ralph lived in storefronts, and many nights were spent in these storefronts, drinking Cuban coffee and recording some song I had written and presented to the "reverend" for his scrutiny and approval. If we were recording it...he liked it.
I'm Mad
www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLBPgpwyro
A song written by Dennis Nails and Recorded 1984 in Ybor City, Tampa Florida by members of the Tampa band, The Kordz.
There are no available photos of Tony and Dennis, so you will only see pics of Rev. Ralph Ferrera.
Rev. Ralph Ferrera ~ Piano, Vocal
Dennis Nails ~ Guitar, Vocal
Tony Miranda ~ Bass
Percussion ~ Unknown (Possibly overdubbed by Ralph)
R I P Gentlemen
The Holiday Collection
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_pZjERLSkI
1.The Holiday Collection
2.Ralphie's Going Out Tonight
3.Now I'm Different
4.I'm Mad
5.Miserable Girl
6.Your Dog Has It Better Than Me
St. Louis DIY stalwarts Shady Bug's latest EP is languid, low-key indie rock that combines warm dream pop tones with alt-rock crunch. Bandcamp New & Notable May 11, 2023
