Ron Stewart: At the Red Dog

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Ron Stewart: At the Red Dog LP (1973), Roncar Records
Comedy

Real name Ronald Phillip Gratsch.

Born in 1932, Mr. Gratsch grew up in Mount Auburn and attended Roger Bacon High School. He was the class clown and learned to play piano by ear from his mother.

When he was 17, he joined the Army to fight in Korea. He was a flight radio operator in the artillery during the 1950-53 war. Although not fluent, he learned to speak and write Korean.

In the early 60s, he began his entertainment career as a piano player at La Normandy downtown and later teamed with local musicians Dave Baney and Red Ash at the downtown Holiday Inn.

He later added a comedy routine to his performances and moved up to nightly gigs and standing-room-only crowds at the Red Dog Saloon in Sharonville. When he finished at the Red Dog, he took his act next door to the Santa Fe. He also worked at The Tropics in Dayton and the Ramada Inn on Pfeiffer Road.

He died in 2003. Read his obituary.