Ralph Pena

A fine supportive bassist who was capable of taking worthy solos, Ralph Pena was greatly in demand for modern jazz dates during the 1950s and 60s. Pena started out playing baritone horn and tuba before switching to bass, and at age 15 he began gigging professionally with Jerry Austin (1942-44). He went to college in San Francisco and became a fixture in the West Coast jazz scene. Among Pena's many ...more