Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Ralph Martin Obituary
Long Beach, MS
Ralph Martin, dubbed the "Pianist Extraordinaire" by friends, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Gulfport, MS.
On October 28, 1926, Ralph Lawrence Martin was born in North Jersey. He joined the United States Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II following which he graduated from the University of Miami Music School with a degree in Musical Composition. After moving to New York City he studied with Henry Brant, joined AFM Local 802, and became acquainted with jazz music critic Leonard Feather who included him in his two-volume "Encyclopedia of Jazz." Martin was cited in the New York Times as one of five pianists seeking to add a note of "funkiness" to the traditional "tinkling-piano" sound of the popular cocktail pianists then appearing in lounges and supper clubs.
Soon after his arrival in New York, he went to Europe as part of the Glenn Miller aggregation sent behind the Iron Curtain as the second musical tour dispatched by the US State Department. The group was hugely popular with fans in Eastern Europe. The Soviets, who were dismayed by the group's popularity, canceled the final concerts of the tour and locked the band in a railroad car for several days.
Safely back in the US, Martin became associated with stellar jazz names including Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Kai Windyng, Bobby Hackett, and Terry Gibbs. As an accompanist, he played behind Anita O'Day, Jackie Paris, Grammy Jazz Award winners Helen Merrill and Sue Ramey, jazz duo Anne Marie Moss and Jackie Paris, and popular vocalists such as Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and Johnny Desmond. When the Pass Christian Library was called upon by the Smithsonian Institution to represent "Roots Music" in Mississippi, he performed with local virtuosi including George Mason and the late Jerry Ball.
His brother was the late, MAD Magazine's counter-culture cartoonist Don Martin.
He will be forever mourned by his wife, Bette, his daughter, Raphaelle Carlesimo, his grandchildren Sean Michael Carlesimo and Adrianna Carlesimo, as well as his nephew, Max Martin.
Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis, MS is in charge of the arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ralph Martin
Sponsored by The Sun Herald.
Raphaelle Carlesimo
April 29, 2018
To my dad. One of the few REALLY good people I ever had the joy of knowing. His amazing talent will be missed by the Music and Art World. Not to mention his family. All my love. Faffy ❤
Peg Margoshes
April 29, 2018
My love and sympathy to you and your mother for your loss.
April 28, 2018
Deepest sympathy to the family of this remarkable man who must have brought happiness to thousands of people with his talent. Please know that our thoughts are with you. The Duckworths
Jim & Terry
April 26, 2018
Wishing you peace, comfort, and love.
D S
April 26, 2018
May family and friends find comfort, by reflecting on the wonderful memories that you shared together with Ralph. May you all draw close to God and he will draw close to you giving you the strength to endure in the days ahead.
April 26, 2018
My heartfelt sympathies are with you. Losing someone you love can be so hard but may your memories along with God's promise at 1 Thessalonians 4:14- Bring you comfort during this very difficult time.
M.S.
April 26, 2018
My sincerest condolences to the Martin family during such a difficult time. May the words of Psalms 146:5,9 provide comfort.
April 26, 2018
My deepest condolences to your family in time of sorrow. Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always and may the support of family and friends help you through your grief. May your family find comfort in the comfort that God give in his written words Ps 116:15
Cassandra
April 26, 2018
I would like to send my sincere condolence to the family of Ralph Martin. May the God of all comfort be with you at this time.
April 26, 2018
May you be comforted by Isa 41:10,13
April 26, 2018
Very sorry for the lost of your loved one May God the hearer of prayers comfort you during this difficult time and give you strength. 2 cor. 1:4
April 26, 2018
So very sorry for your loss. May you treasure the memories you shared with with him until you see him again...John 11:43-44
Showing 1 - 12 of 12 results
Make a Donation
in Ralph Martin's name
Memorial Events
for Ralph Martin
Funeral services provided by:
Edmond Fahey Funeral Home - Bay Saint Louis110 S. Necaise Avenue, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520
How to support Ralph's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Ralph Martin's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
