Traveling soloist playing Poway Library May 15

José A. López

Published 05/05/2010 - 4:36 p.m.ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Many musicians may say they live on the road, but unless they’re Dean Ratzman, chances are that they’re only speaking metaphorically.

For the past five years, Ratzman and his wife, Valli, have been without a fixed address as he performs his one-man show, “Swingin’ with Dean” at senior centers, libraries and other venues throughout the country.

Ratzman, who recently played shows at the Remington Club and at Casa de Las Campanas in Rancho Bernardo, will perform at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010, at the Poway Library, 13137 Poway Road.

The 58-year-old lives and travels to the shows in his motor home, a 27' Four Winds C-Class, that he and his wife drive throughout the country. He performs between 20 to 35 shows a month (often two in a day). Last year he had 266 gigs (he had 322 in 2008). His website (www.ratzpack.net) shows a similar schedule for this year and the beginning of next.

The couple used to live in San Diego for about 20 years when, according to Ratzman, the landlord at their Pacific Beach apartment told them they would have to move into a smaller apartment while theirs was being remodeled, and pay more rent when they moved back. They said "No, we don't have to do that".

After seeing that he could book two week’s worth of gigs at senior venues quickly, he realized he could make a living as a traveling musician, he said.

“I told Valli, ‘We can do this if you’re on the phone booking gigs ... we can both live on the income,’” Ratzman said. “We started checking out RVs online ... and we decided, let’s do this. Let’s move out of the apartment and use our money to spend on fuel for the gigs.”

Ratzman said his wife warmed up to the idea after initially being wary of the thought of leaving her full-time job for a life on the road. Now, she books the shows and he plays, said Ratzman, who added that his wife has been able to book twice the number of shows he originally thought she could.

The performer — whose repertoire includes songs from the ‘40s to the ‘80s ('40s - '60s for seniors) — said adjusting to the ambulant life didn’t require a “downward adjustment,” just different thinking. “In our situation ... We’re on the road hitting our jobs as we go. It’s kind of nice, you’re never really backtracking like you do when you’re commuting to work.”

The couple have a garage/music studio in the Northwest and are up there every summer, and another storage unit in Southern CA. They spend a couple of months in the spring and also the fall in San Diego visiting a grown daughter who lives in the SDSU area, and a son who lives in Santee.

The rest of the time they’re on the road, said Ratzman, who added that they try to schedule their touring around places they would like to visit, or friends and family they would like to see.

During the shows, Ratzman plays trumpet, trombone, a Korg keyboard (or Yamaha) and sings. He accompanies himself with his own real drumming recorded onto MiniDisc, (no drum machine or computer tracks). He says he looks forward to the drumming sessions every summer in Port Angeles, WA., with his Pearl drum set.

    Ratzman, who attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, has vast experience being on the road.

In the ‘70s he was on the road touring with a Seattle-based Top 40's cover band named “Carnival” that toured the U.S. and Canada. “That was at the height of the disco era and we were playing the best clubs. We were opening new clubs around the Southeast for the Big Daddy's/ Flanigan's chain."

    Ratzman says he was hired over the phone in Seattle, to join "Carnival".  An agent with the Wm. Stephan Agency had seen him play trumpet with a Seattle group, "Roadshow" at an outdoor Pike's Place Market rock fair and thought he would fit well with "Carnival". "Roadshow" was one of the top bands with the Unicam Agency playing a lot of BS&T and Chicago Transit Authority.

   "It was a very interesting scene," describes Ratzman. Bruce, the leader of "Carnival" told Dean to meet him and the band at the "Love Affair" night club in Vancouver, B.C., where "Carnival" was performing." Well, the band was 'hot', a four piece rhythm section with organ and sax and trumpet. I was just hoping I could live up to Bruce's expectations. Plus, the song list was a little daunting with a multitude of 'funk' from Tower of Power and Kool and the Gang." 

Ratzman said, As I was milling around a scant audience, Monday nights usually being a bit slow, I was noticing a few other guys interested in the band too, not really looking like patrons, but more like musicians. A few of us started talking while the the band was playing, and we discovered we are all up for a part in the apparent "re-making" of "Carnival". The band we were witnessing was heading to Boise with a new agent, and Bruce wanted to continue the "Carnival" name and the current song list around the Seattle area with new guys. I knew we were all wondering if we could pull this off. In the days to follow, we got to know each other and rehearsed and discovered we were all coming from different musical arenas, but were also enjoying the mix. We each had significant track records in Northwest bands, and the end result was a great rhythm section plus 3 horns that were top notch, and everybody sang. 

 In San Diego, Dean played trumpet with the "Mar Dels", the most prominent oldies cover band in San Diego.  He also owned his own bands in the 80's, "Dean and the Persuaders" and "The Ravells" a Motown showband, both based in San Diego.

When you see Dean perform as a solo, you will notice an osmosis of modern musical history that he has been a part of throughout the years.

     His repertoire will include great American hits from the ‘40s - ‘60s, along with a few originals, during his Poway library show.

     For reference on the internet: Google Dean Ratzman, Broadjam.com, and Ratzpack.net.

Subject: RE: Rebooking "Swingin' With Dean" Hits of Great American Artists '40s - '60s

Date:  November 6, 2009 3:49:21 PM PST

From:  Myra Rubin <mrubin@heritagepointe.org>

To:    Dean Ratzman <meandean@ratzpack.net>

yes, I'd like to rebook....the residents loved the program.........for Dean's next visit, I have 4/1 or 5/6, and then 10/21 or 11/11.........please let me know which 2 dates will work best.......thank you very much.......Myra.

Date:   January 6, 2009 3:34:31 PM PST

From:   Terry.Wallace@rshaz.com

To:           meandean@ratzpack.net

I had many compliments about the performance and we would love to have you back. I would like to have a time in November Maybe the third week. Please let me know some free dates you have.

Look forward to hearing from you. J

Terry Wallace

Grandview Terrace

Director of Special Events

623-975-8020

From: Croxton, Trudy
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 2:47 PM
To: Joiner, Jan
Subject: RE:

Dean Ratzman “Swingin’ with Dean” was a very popular program.  The residents loved him.  I had him play on my day off, but he received high praise from staff as well as residents. I rebooked him for 2010.

Trudy Croxton

Wellness Director

croxton@kiscosl.com

Oakmont Gardens

Santa Rosa, CA

Concert to feature hits of 1940s-60s

The sounds of Cole Porter, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Elvis Presley will echo through the Lake Elsinore Senior Center on Oct. 21 at a concert dubbed Swingin' with Dean: Hits of the Great American Artists, '40s-'60s.

The concert will feature performer Dean Ratzman, who sings and plays the trombone, piano and trumpet.

The event is free, but tickets are required. They can be picked at the senior center, 420 E. Lakeshore Drive.

The concert starts at 12:15 p.m.

Information: 951-674-2526.

--Gene Ghiotto

gghiotto@PE.com

Subject: Cascades of Tucson

Date: February 6, 2008 12:18:03 PM PST

To:   meandean@ratzpack.net

Residents are still talking about last nights performance!  We all look forward to seeing you next year! Ann

Date:  November 20, 2008 1:26:01 PM PST

From:  afundingsland@heritagehighlands.com

To:          meandean@ratzpack.net

I love the sounds of Dean. The residents greatly enjoyed him, also. Thank you for a wonderful performance.

Aileen Fundingsland

Activities Director

 520-579-9574

Heritage Highlands 55 + Comm

Marana, AZ