Lonnie's Biography
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Born and raised on the border of Ohio & Kentucky Started playing guitar at age 8 Played in church with his Mom & Brother Started writing songs at age 15 Made his first recordings at 17, "Blue Feeling" & "Roadway" In his 20's he started making his way across country to the west coast. Landed in Las Vegas, and met a man who owned a recording studio. He made some recordings in his studio. The songs Lonnie wrote were not copyrighted. Later one of those songs (Golden Ring) was released by George Jones & Tammy Wynette, with a different song writer. What a bummer! 
Later he met John Ott, the bass guitar player for Jeanie C. Riley. Through John
Ott he met Charlotte Richards, who owns several wedding chapels in Las Vegas.
They all got together to form a Gospel band called "The Glory Road Travelers".
Left Las Vegas for Hollywood to cut an album on Custom Fidelity label. They went
on a year and a half long tour yielding a #1 song "Hotline to Heaven".
. . . 
Lonnie is a member of BMI and his life has been filled with country music. In
the 1970's he was with a 5 piece band called "Cascade Country". The finest in
the Northwest. Playing with such stars as Johnny Cash and Barbara Mandrell.
One of the members of the band was killed in an auto accident.
. . . . . 
A year or so later, 3 of the members picked up the pieces and put together a
trio. They left for Las Vegas and played some of the finest places, The Mint,
The Plaza and Los Rancheros.
. . . . . . 
After leaving Las Vegas he played with The Gibsons and The Bottom of the Hole
Band. They went to Nashville, cut an album and had another #1 hit "No Bottom to
this Hole" In 1993 they played the Willie Nelson fund raising concert to aid
the victims of the Missouri flood. "Flood Relief 93"
Through that concert he met and has remained good friends with Tompall Glaser.
Tompall Glaser was one of the original outlaws, with Waylon, Willie and Jesse
Colter.
. Lonnie & Pam met and Married in Oregon and shortly after moved to Alaska. They have been singing as a duo for eight years playing weddings, festivals and various clubs. Lonnie is currently working on putting together one final CD consisting of songs he has written and songs his nephew, Larry Ratliff II (Panama City Beach, Florida) has written through-out the years. Lonnie and his life-long musician buddies are going to Nashville to cut the CD. Lonnie has never strayed from country music even though country music has strayed. His faith in country music is as strong today as is his faith in The Lord. "Thank you Lord for all you have done in my life" |
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Copyright © 2001 - Lonnie & Pam Ratliff
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