Frankie and Ralph. Ralph Stewart (84) and Frankie Laine (87) - sounds like a buddy movie. Well, it almost is.

Ralph (Stewart), Chairman of the Frankie Laine Benefit Concert, is also the Seven Oaks Emergency Preparedness district coordinator as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the RB Neighborhood Watch / Emergency Preparedness Board of Advisors. A resident of the San Diego area for 60 years; before moving to RB he was living in Poway and was a volunteer deputy sheriff for the County and manager of the ‘You Are not Alone’ (YANA) program. He never let his very successful insurance career, VP of the Robert F. Driver Insurance Company for 30 years, get in the way of his incredible volunteer activities. He packed the stadium from 1967 to 1976 as the Founding President of "God Bless America Week," filled with singing groups, circus performers, dancers and patriotic pyrotechnic shows, culminating with the huge Bicentennial Pageant on July 4, 1976. His awards from the City of San Diego are numerous.

And who orchestrated the very successful Raffle for NHW / EPP last year at Spirit of the Fourth? You guessed it. "Young" Ralph. It was his idea, and he personally obtained more than half the raffle sponsors and prizes.

Well, he’s at it again. This year, it was his idea to have a Frankie Laine benefit performance. No one quite believed it would happen until Ralph announced, "Frankie thinks it’s a good idea." The two have never even met; all of the details were handled by Ralph and his committee and Benny Hollman, Frankie’s conductor-arranger and manager. However, they are about to meet each other for the first time: Ralph, a huge baseball fan and Padres season ticket holder (many seasons) decided that it would be great if the Padres would advertise the Frankie Laine concert on June 29 on their lighted billboard; the Padres agreed. Then Ralph thought it would be terrific if Frankie throws out the first ball - it will happen on Saturday, June 17 at 1:05 p.m. when the Padres meet the Cincinnati Reds. And Frankie and Ralph will finally meet each other.

Frankie (Laine) at 87 is one of the best known performers in the world. He is the ultimate example of a musician with lasting appeal. For over 50 years, he has kept audiences thrilled with his songs and arrangements. Ever since his recording of ‘That’s My Desire’ broke all records in 1947, he has become a musical tradition. Today, after 21 Gold records, he is still packing in audiences all over the world. In 1996, Laine was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in New York City. Just last March, he received the prestigious ‘Living Legend Award 20000 given by the Women’s International Center in San Diego. In June, Rancho Bernardo will be honoring him; Laine will be presented with a Proclamation by the Rancho Bernardo Community Council proclaiming June 29, 2000 as "Frankie Laine Day" in Rancho Bernardo.

Call the Box Office at 858-748-0505 for your reserved tickets now.