He was an underground legend of the folk-rock era and a pioneer of the San Francisco Bay Area’s 60's sound. He had a hand in the creation of the “Garage Band” sound.
Gerry Ralston, 71, is part of 60’s music history and now, 40 years later, he is living in Amherst, and was on hand when Nik Wallenda walked over Niagara Falls last month. And he wrote a song on the spot.
If nothing else, his video recording captures a slice of Wallenda night as Ralston and Wallenda fans sing the catchy refrain of “Wallenda Walked the Wire Tonight.”
Ralston said he may record his song with SAB Records of Tampa. He’s been with SAB since 2007.
Although not well known to the general public, Ralston has made a mark in the music world.
His first record, “Too Young,” was performed on Dick Clark’s American bandstand. Teen Screen Magazine wrote of his Mexican tour with the Amoebas with whom he recorded “Lost Love.” Gary Thompson, founder of San Francisco’s Hush Records, devotes ink to Ralston’s contributions in his Hush Records Story, including Ralston’s hand in the writing of the top ten hit, “Hey Little Girl,” performed by the Syndicate of Sound. Ralston wrote and performed with Leslie Knutson, as Gerry and Leslie, and their “I like that girl” gained inclusion as one of 22 “Nuggets of the Golden State” anthology.
During the 60’s Ralston promoted a number of artists, like the Seeds, the Yardbirds, Spanky and Our Gang, and wrote the original single for the Gotham City Crime Fighters, “Who stole the Bat Mobile.” The band later became “The Tower of Power.” In 1970, as “Instant Ralston,” he recorded “Rock and Mole” which Cream Magazine called “The Best Record of the Year,” and in Toronto, he wrote, “Mariposa” at the Mariposa Folk Festival which Gamma Records released in Europe and Scepter Records in the U.S. He worked alongside fellow Scepter artists B.J Thomas and Dionne Warwick. His “Fireman Song” was recorded by Michael Damian. He worked with Beatles Promotional Manager Pete Bennett.
Ralston never captured the celebrity some of his contemporaries did, but he had a hand in making stars and hit records. Now, 40 years later, will his touch, combined with Wallenda’s feat, produce a hit for Ralston and Niagara Falls?