Music Bio

Like many of us, Ralph has had a dream of one day becoming an entertainer. Nothing, it seemed, could replace the joy he felt as a teenager when he was a regular on stage at high school assemblies or acting as Mayor Shinn in the popular musical, The Music Man.

Then, too, the experience of wearing a hearing aid from ages 8-10 may have given Ralph a special passion for music. When his hearing returned at age 10, he performed Ramblin' Rose and Somewhere Over the Rainbow to a wonderful ovation at a Kiwanis Music recital in Chatham, Ontario.

Years passed until his sister, Cynthia, gave him a gift certificate to record a song at Christmas time in 2000. Ralph finally found the courage to follow through with the idea in March 2003, which led to his first CD, A Song For You. His second CD, Another Song For You was released in December 2003, and then his third CD, More Songs For You was released in May 2005. From 2003-2005, Ralph began to perform locally with encouraging results.

In November 2005, Ralph left his previous job as a Golf Professional to pursue music full time. In January 2006, he left for Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; Branson, Missouri; and then to New York in an effort to learn more about the music industry.

When he returned to Canada, Ralph auditioned for the RBC Jubilee at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto in April 2006 and was inspired by the Artistic-Director, Wayne Burnett. Wayne was very encouraging and interested in elevating Ralph's performance level. After many practice sessions, Wayne then honoured Ralph as the opening act on August 14, 2006, performing I May Never Get to Heaven by Conway Twitty and Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers before an audience of over 2200 people. Ralph also performed at the Jubilee in 2007 and 2008 with the 2009 show deferred until 2010.

On September 14, 2006, Ralph put together an afternoon and evening show at the Empire Theatre in Belleville, Ontario, entitled Ralph Kuster and Friends. Ralph performed 37 songs in each show. He not only selected all the singers and dancers for the show but also outlined the entire show requirements for the sound, lighting, and stage directors. A DVD was produced of the show.

Ralph then followed up with shows at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on March 16, 2007 and then at the Market Hall Theatre in Peterborough, Ontario on May 11, 2007. All three shows were well received.

On May 7, 2008, Ralph opened a 4-day a week show at the Imaginary Theatre in Branson, Missouri and then in 2009, performed a 5-day a week show at the God and Country Theatre and then at the Hall of Fame Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

See Performance Info for more information on Ralph's recent performances.

Ralph is a diverse performer with many singing styles, which include the Classics of the Sinatra/Martin Era, Classic Country, Broadway (Show Tunes), Gospel, Elvis, Soft Rock, Neil Diamond, Soul, Jazz, Big Band, Rhythm, and Blues. His excellent vocal range enables him to sing such songs as Unchained Melody and Make the World Go Away with equal impact. He can perform over 400 songs, so each show is unique in presentation and content.

Ralph loves to interact with his audience. His warmth, charm, and down-to-earth manner attracts an audience to him. Ralph has also written many lyrics to songs which he hopes to produce and put to music in the future.

When not on the theatre stage, Ralph performs with a quality sound system that will accommodate audiences from 100 to 700 people.

From May through October, 2010, Ralph performs his new expanded show, Fly Me to the Moon, at the Hall of Fame Theater in Branson, Missouri. His popular Christmas Show from 2009, A Bing Crosby White Christmas, opens November through December 12^th in the same theatre. For show times and ticket information to either show, call 417-334-5412. Bus and group rates also available.

For performance bookings, see Contact Info.

For more information on upcoming shows, including box office information, see Performance Info.