Miembro del Salón de Honor

Ralph Haynie 2025 CBMS Induction speech

In 1972 it wasn’t necessarily easy to find like-minded bluegrass folks to hang out and play music within the Denver region.  News of open mics and music jams could periodically be found in the local newspaper’s classified section or the local music store may have had a board in the back with info on folks looking for other folks to play with.  

At 2890 South Zuni in Denver hung a wooden sign that read “Ralph’s Top Service.”  Ralph’s was a countertop and cabinet shop that boasted of being the only Corian dealer west of the Mississippi.  Corian was the first substantial stone counter substitute made from acrylic resin and minerals.  

As you entered Ralph’s shop there was a sign that read "Welcome to Ralph's Bluegrass and Country Western Music Jam Session.”  Sometime in 1972 Ralph Haynie decided to open his place of business and every first and third Thursday of the month he would host what became one of the longest running open bluegrass picks in Colorado.  Everyone was welcome, everyone was included and encouraged, beginners and professionals, all ages, and all listeners would swing by Ralph’s.  To learn and grow as a musician, for the old guard to pass the knowledge on to the young pickers, to come, listen, relax and forget about life’s daily stresses.  This is what Ralph provided.  He held space for our Colorado (and beyond) bluegrass community.  He fostered an environment for bands to be born and for relationships to deepen.  For stories to be passed down through the generations to both grow and preserve the bluegrass tradition.  

Ralph wasn’t a hot picker nor a fiery singer, but he loved playing banjo and singing bass on the old Gospel quartets.  His love of the banjo and his day job collided when he built what is quite possibly the worlds heaviest banjo.  It weighed in around 40 pounds because it was made out of Corian, and although it was said to be quite a nice instrument, no one could or would play it due to its heavy factor.  

Every first and third Thusday of the month around 630 or 7, pickers would start filtering into Ralphs Top Shop.  As folks would filter in you’d hear him say “Hi ya’ll.  Make yourself at home.”  Once the picking started it was common for groups to splinter off and soon there would be 3, 4, or maybe 7 different picks happening at once.  While most folks would start heading home by around 11, there was always a handful who kept the candle burning, picking til the wee hours of the morning, hanging out and telling stories and joking with each other.  And as sometimes happens with bluegrass musicians, there’s be picking right up until it was time to head back to work in the morning, with maybe a quick stop at the Dunkin Donuts for a bite and a coffee to help start the workday.  

Around Christmas time in 1972 Ralph also began what became his annual Holiday picking party where folks could come together for a potluck spread, play music till the wee hours, and enjoy each other’s company in the spirit of the holidays.  That legacy still lives on today as it just celebrated its 52nd annual “Ho Ho Ho Down”  now hosted by Jack and Carrie Davis.  

Thank you Ralph Haynie for the community you helped bring together, for the bands, friendships, and love that you unknowingly helped foster.  Thank you for your warm smile and your generous hospitality.  Thank you for your welcome arms, the endless pots of chili, the thousands of cups of coffee, thank you for the world’s only Corian 40 pound banjo, and thank you for Ralph’s Bluegrass and Country Western Music Jam Session.