Rob Ragusa, jazz pianist (deceased 10/2006)

agavebeat · 08-26-2017, 08:22 AM

I met Rob Ragusa at the very beginning of his professional jazz piano playing career (just before he graduated high school), and I am looking for any used CDs he may have made during his all-too-short life and career (he passed from a secondary infection from leukemia on October 20, 2006). He played the Boston, Cape Cod, Plymouth, MA area; as well as aboard cruise ships to the Bahamas. Maybe he played around West Palm Beach, FL, as well. I only know about (and have copies of) a few CDs he made (I already have a copy of 'Partners'). If you knew of Rob and have any other of his CDs, I would very much like to have a copy of what you have. I would pay you for them (I'd love the originals, but, I'd settle for burned copies, too).

Thank you very much.

Minimalist · 09-16-2025, 01:37 AM

In case you (or someone else) is interested in a few PRIVATE recordings of Rob Ragusa:
I met him around 1994 on Cape Cod at one of the Boogie Bashes at Hyannisport (Chris Page). He and Chris visited me later and did some 'piano salad' recordings on my own Kurzweil MK Digital Grand, that I captured as SNG recordings on the instrument back then.
I discovered the old 3,5in floppies yesterday and was able to read and convert them to playable MIDI files (quite challenging after 30 years).
They are off-the-wrist doodles of various tunes by Rob, eg. composiitions of James Booker, ragtime, stride etc. Not error free, no CD quality, just extemporaneous tinkering on the brandnew Kurzweil I had installed in my house.

Drop me a note and we can talk about Rob and his music, exchange stuff. Sadly I didnot follow up on this relationship, never met or heard Rob Ragusa again.

Blues'n'Gruß ([gru:s], German: greetings; rhymes with 'Blues')

08-26-2017, 08:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
agavebeat Groupie Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 1	Rob Ragusa, jazz pianist (deceased 10/2006) I met Rob Ragusa at the very beginning of his professional jazz piano playing career (just before he graduated high school), and I am looking for any used CDs he may have made during his all-too-short life and career (he passed from a secondary infection from leukemia on October 20, 2006). He played the Boston, Cape Cod, Plymouth, MA area; as well as aboard cruise ships to the Bahamas. Maybe he played around West Palm Beach, FL, as well. I only know about (and have copies of) a few CDs he made (I already have a copy of 'Partners'). If you knew of Rob and have any other of his CDs, I would very much like to have a copy of what you have. I would pay you for them (I'd love the originals, but, I'd settle for burned copies, too). Thank you very much.

09-16-2025, 01:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Minimalist Groupie Join Date: Sep 2025 Posts: 1	Still around? In case you (or someone else) is interested in a few PRIVATE recordings of Rob Ragusa: I met him around 1994 on Cape Cod at one of the Boogie Bashes at Hyannisport (Chris Page). He and Chris visited me later and did some 'piano salad' recordings on my own Kurzweil MK Digital Grand, that I captured as SNG recordings on the instrument back then. I discovered the old 3,5in floppies yesterday and was able to read and convert them to playable MIDI files (quite challenging after 30 years). They are off-the-wrist doodles of various tunes by Rob, eg. composiitions of James Booker, ragtime, stride etc. Not error free, no CD quality, just extemporaneous tinkering on the brandnew Kurzweil I had installed in my house. Drop me a note and we can talk about Rob and his music, exchange stuff. Sadly I didnot follow up on this relationship, never met or heard Rob Ragusa again. Blues'n'Gruß ([gru:s], German: greetings; rhymes with 'Blues')