Dueling musician brothers to meet in court
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BY THE CHIPPEWA HERALD
Friday, December 30, 2005 10:04 PM CST
The relationship between members of a Chippewa Falls musical family have struck a sour note.
Master accordionists Ray and Ralph Rubenzer are scheduled to square off in court on Tuesday, Jan. 4. According to court documents, 71-year-old Ralph will face allegations that he threatened the life of his 61-year-old brother, Ray.
On Wednesday, Judge Roderick Cameron granted Ray Rubenzer's request for a temporary restraining order, instructing Ralph to stay at least 1,000 feet away from his brother. In asking for the order, Ray told the court he felt he was in imminent danger of physical harm.
Ray Rubenzer alleges that on Tuesday, Ralph called him after not speaking to him for nearly five years, screaming and yelling as if he were out of his mind.
Ralph told Ray to cancel a concert scheduled for today, commemorating Ray's 50 years of performing as a musician.
“He told me I better cancel my danceŠ because I was going to be dead,” Ray Rubenzer told the court.
Ray said he hung up the phone, but later called Ralph back to try to smooth over the rift.
Ray told the court that during the second call, Ralph used vulgar language on the phone. He once again told Ray to cancel his dance because Ralph was going to kill him, court records state. On several occasions, Ralph repeated the death threat, Ray Rubenzer alleges.
“I am scared for my life,” Ray Rubenzer states in court records. “I got out my deer rifle because I was so scared he would harm me.”
Ray alleges that Ralph's threats come from many years of jealousy over Ray's success in the music industry. He believes recent stories in three area newspapers highlighting the success of his 50-year career led to Ralph's rage.
Ray Rubenzer still plans to commemorate his 50 years as a performer tonight with a dinner and dance at the White Pine Pavilion in Bloomer. On Jan. 4, the day a permanent restraining order will be considered in Chippewa County Circuit Court, Ralph will appear at the Heyde Center for the Arts with three generations of the Rubenzer family, playing a benefit to help the center pay its winter heating bills.
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