Born Ralph Lauren in Brooklyn, I changed my name to Ken Lifshitz in 1958 (just kidding, except for the Brooklyn part).

After attending Cornell and Ithaca College in the late sixties and early seventies I went on to a ten year career in music as a bass player

Musical Credits Include :

• Appearances with the Platters and Fabian;
• Appearances with Huey Lewis
• Appeared with Ithaca College Orchestra under Tomas Michalak
• Robert Merrill ABC TV specail
• Artist's Relations for the Kool Jazz Festival-- two years;
• Musical director for 'off-off Broadway CSC Rep
• Recorded soundtracks for PBS specials;
• Performance at Alice Tully Hall;
• Manager Forest Hills Symphony
• Performed with the American University Symphony Orchestra;
• Performed with All-City Orchestra
• Manager and Principal Bassist for the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.
• SUNY Orange Orchestra.

Apart from musical activities,--

In the early eighties I joined the Merchant Marine and after two years at sea settled down to raise grapes in the Hudson Valley of New York with wife Eva as partner in Silver Stream Winery . The winery tasting room is slated to open next fall.

Have done various systems computer contracts for Aer Lingus, U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force, State of New Jersey, State of NY, State of Maryland, NY Teacher's Retirement Fund, TIAA-CREF.

Of the three part article about the Great Chain across the Hudson "Men of Iron, Men of Wood", two parts have been published in Orange County Historical Society Journal (Vols. 34 and 35).

Member Chester Historical Society