Ralph Harris grew up in Ohio playing several different instruments in his school bands.
He played trombone in his high school marching band, concert band, pep band, and jazz band. He became a student conductor and was the drum major of his high school concert and marching band.

After playing trombone in his college concert band at Ohio Northern University, Ralph paused his trombone playing when he went to law school at Arizona State University College of Law. For more than 38 years, Ralph has been a lawyer at the Burch & Cracchiolo law firm in Phoenix, where he continues to practice commercial litigation. In 2005, Ralph returned to playing trombone. Since that time, he has joined a number of small groups playing a variety of types of music.

Ralph has volunteered to play with small groups at retirement facilities and at fundraising events for charities. He has also played in the jazz big bands at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and at Phoenix College. Ralph enjoys playing with Bones Southwest and especially enjoys its fine members who have welcomed him into their trombone community