music and a message
"Helping People Achieve Their Goals"
Dick is available to speak to a variety of groups, organizations, or clubs, including students of all ages, community service organizations, the faith community, senior citizens groups, or any organization who would like to hear him speak about overcoming blindness to lead a successful and rewarding life.
Tailored to your special audience, Dick tells his life story of personal growth, business success, community service, and music with humor — interspersed with his own live musical performance. Dick Ramberg is a unique resource who can entertain and inform you with his diverse knowledge and talents, and inspire you with his widely varied personal and professional experience.
presentation topics
Dick is available to speak on the following topics:
- Disability Awareness
- Dick served as Executive Director for the Minnesota State Council on Disability
- Jazz
- Dick has been a musical performer most of his life and is a member of the Barbary Coast Dixieland Band. In the past, he performed with Doc Evans and other groups, and he founded the Upper Mississippi Jazz Band (which still performs occasionally).
- Investments
- Dick worked as Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley
- Community Service
- Dick has served on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Courage Center and Vision Loss Resources; he is the founding president and a current member of the Bloomington Daymakers Rotary Club.
From a member of the church audience who heard Dick being interviewed as part of the sermon topic, Overcoming Demons in your Life.In this case it meant his battle with pancreatic cancer and being able to resume playing with the band for concerts, tours and jazz services:
“Pat and I feel privileged to have had a chance to talk with you for a few minutes between services. You are an inspiration to thousands and you are using your gifts to lead many — young and old alike."Dr. Dan Scott
Comments made by a teacher after speaking to her high school American Jazz class:
“Thank you again for coming to school, you were just terrific! The kids were very impressed and enjoyed you very much. The day was a big hit. The students talked about you a lot today.My favorite comment was, “Mrs. Dressler, you were right.That dude IS better than Benny Goodman.”I know “dude” was used in the most respectful manner."— Kathryn Dressler, Wayzata High School
“I liked hearing how you became a professional jazz musician as this is my personal goal.”
“You have a real gift and have inspired me to try another instrument this summer.”
“I love hearing people’s personal stories.You are really amazing! “
“You really taught me a lot about jazz music and inspired me to learn more in-depth about this genre. “
“ I play jazz piano, still very much a beginner in improvising, but now I have a good idea of how to get started.”
“A heart-felt performance,your life story has motivated me to continue to love music and know it can get me through life with a smile on my face. “
“Incredible, entertaining and informative! Inspired by your accomplishments!”— Quotes by students after hearing my presentation
Comments excerpted from a newsletter about a speech Dick gave to the Rotary Club of Minneapolis No. 9 several years ago:
“Not often do members of #9 rise in unison to give the speaker a standing ovation.But then, it is not often that we are presented with the abundance of talent that was so evident today.Clarinet, piano, organ or sax, it doesn’t seem to matter to Dick Ramberg.He has mastered all with talent that is obvious even to a “Tin Ear’ such as myself."
"Dick has been a musician most of his life.He thanks his musical mentor, his mother, for this talent.After playing other types of music, Dick came to “Dixie” during his high school days at Roosevelt High.It was a perfect fit.Not only did he like it, but it allowed him to showcase his talent for playing by ear."
"From these beginnings, Dicks musical career evolved into playing with the likes of the Hall Brothers Jazz Band,Doc Evans Dixieland Band and the River Boat Ramblers.He continues to perform with the Barbary Coast Dixieland Band and the Upper Mississippi Jazz Band.”
"The article went on to highlight Dick’s retinal cancer being diagnosed and starting to learn Braille in 1st grade, and his vocation then as an investment executive.The article concludes with the statement,“It’s not a surprise that his professional motto is “Helping People Achieve Their Goals.”