Ralph Fales

After living in Hawaii, Washington, Texas, Cuba, Boston and California, Ralph Fales taught himself photography and darkroom techniques in Iceland. This is where he first learned of and listened to American Blues with his local friends, so as he says "Icelanders taught me about the blues"

On moving back to Texas with his camera, he set up a darkroom in his bath and talked his way into unpaid jobs as “house photographer” in La Bastille, Liberty Hall and the Texas Opry House as well as a number of visits to The Continental Club, here Ralph was able to meet and photograph many of the great jazz and blues musicians that were passing through Louisiana and Texas at the time.