Here are some pictures of my late father, Dr. Ralph D. Mutchler. When I have more time I will post some more things fitting of a tribute to him.

If you CLICK HERE you will find the text of a tribute to "RDM" I wrote in 1997 for a memorial concert. It is a nice summary of his life.

He was director of instrumental music at Olympic College in Bremerton,WA; a nationally recognized jazz arranger and educator; long time clinician at the Stan Kenton Jazz Camps; an expert on pep band/marching band music (having written a text book on the subject). He inspired many young musicians to excel. (Many students and colleagues have emailed me because of this web page to share their stories. They are appreciated, and I pass them along to family members).

Many people knew our dad. I am hoping this web page may help me collect some "missing" items. Primarily, tapes (mostly reel to reel, some cassette). Dad retired from Olympic College around 1985. After his death we went to find dozens of tapes of old recordings of the Olympic College Jazz Workshop as well as tapes of some 15 Olympic College jazz festivals (from 1960 through 1974; I played in three of them and remember each). Alas, they were missing and nowhere to be found around campus. (And to make a sad story sadder: his home [owned now by my brother] went up in a fire in 1999, destroying much of what we did have.)

So, if you have some ideas of their location ("no questions asked") or, if you have either some recordings and/or photos of Dad's you could share, our family would be thrilled. Contact me. Thank you!

(Jon R. Mutchler)

From one of the "Last Blast" parties at Holly Beach. Drummer behind dad: Matt Stewart, Trent Leurquin (bass), Jim Brush (bone), Danny Ward (sax), Larry Anderson? (trumpet), standing sax player u/k (someone will let me know soon I'm sure).