RALSTON BROWN OBIT WR/S.S.

LOCAL JAZZ GREAT RALSTON BROWN PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT, AFTER A BRIEF BATTLE WITH CANCER. RALSTON WAS WELL-KNOWN, AND WELL-LOVED, IN SANTA CRUZ?A MEMBER OF THE SANTA CRUZ JAZZ SOCIETY, AND A REGULAR SINGER AT BOCCI?S CELLAR SUNDAY JAZZ JAM. AMONG THE MANY BANDS WITH WHICH HE PLAYED IN THE 30?S AND 40?S, HE WAS PROBABLY BEST REMEMBERED AS THE SINGER (AND DRUMMER) FOR THE ?INK SPOTS?. RALSTON DIED SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE NEXT WEEK IN SAN JOSE, AND A SWING BAND TRIBUTE THIS SUNDAY AT BOCCI?S, BEGINNING AT 1 P.M.