Purple Haze

Ralph Woodson certainly knows his Hendrix.

He has studied his idol to the point of being able to play the guitar behind his back, and with his teeth. He has all of the recordings and videos, including the bootlegs, and if you ask him about anything Hendrix, you’ll walk away knowing more than you did before you started the conversation. Ralph’s a Hendrix authority, and it’s obvious when you see him perform.

The youngest of nine, he grew up in Richmond, CA, and was initially struck by the sound of the “Band of Gypsys” record. His first band, Togetherness, won a Battle of the Bands highlighted by a 12-string acoustic version of Jimi’s “Hear My Train A Comin”, and  went on to open for the likes of Sly and the Family Stone and Buddy Miles. Ralph then toured with Hedzoli Sounds (of which Hugh Masekela was a member), as well as The Mighty Diamonds, Lady Bianca, Faye Carol, and a Bill Kreutzmann(Grateful Dead)/Sy Klopps(Herbie Herbert) collaboration called the Trichromes. With the Trichromes and later with the Sy Klopps Blues Band, Ralph played on big stages opening for Tower of Power, James Brown, ZZ Top, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, among others. He is an active musician in the North Bay area of California, regularly doing session work and playing solo dates throughout the Bay Area. He’s appeared at the College of Marin and on KFOG-FM with author/Hendrix expert Steve Roby, demonstrating the sound and techniques of Jimi Hendrix.

Ralph formed the Ralph Woodson Experience in 2001, focusing on the Hendrix material that he grew up with and always loved. The Experience has gained a steady following in the Bay Area and knock people out wherever they go. Ralph’s showmanship and command of the Hendrix material is second to none. See it for yourself!