Ralph Moore

Moore was born in London on 24 December 1956.[1] His father was in the US military, and his mother was English.[1] He grew up in Brixton in London, and after trying various instruments, took up the tenor saxophone at the age of 14.[1]

In 1972 he moved to Santa Maria, California, to live with his father.[1] "Around 1975 he moved to Boston, where he played locally and attended the Berklee College of Music. His studies were interrupted when his apartment was robbed and he was shot and seriously wounded, and he never received a degree."[1]

Moore began his professional career with a tour of Scandinavia in 1979.[1] He moved to New York the following year.[1] He was part of Horace Silver's band from 1981 to 1985, including for tours of Europe and Japan, and recordings.[1] He then played with numerous musicians, including Roy Haynes (around 1982–86), Darrell Grant (1986–87), Dizzy Gillespie's reunion band (1987), Freddie Hubbard (around 1987–91), and Gene Harris (1989–90).[1]

Moore's first recording as leader was for Reservoir Records in 1985.[2] He subsequently recorded for Landmark, Criss Cross, and Savoy.[2] Starting in 1995, he was part of Kevin Eubanks's band for The Tonight Show.[1]