Ralph Leucht (1912-1979) grew up in Indianapolis and attended Manual High School, where his skill as a clarinetist earned him solo performances at school programs. During the 1930s he toured Europe and made the most of opportunities to sit in with and learn from many excellent clarinetists. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and attended the Cincinnati Conservatory after World War II. Ralph was a tool and die maker and used his design skills to craft mouthpieces and customize reeds for himself and fellow clarinetists. For many years he was concertmaster for the Indianapolis Symphonic Band and solo clarinetist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis.