John Gerardi, a.k.a. "Ratso," has been an enduring presence on the Fairfield County music scene for the past 20 years, both as a musician and a teacher. In 1976, The Chambers Brothers named him their rhythm guitarist. In 1995, he played blues guitar for Diana Ross. In between, for over two decades, he's been the driving force behind some of Connecticut's hottest rock bands. In 1995, Ratso's breakout year, he released the all-original blues record, "Whatever It Takes" (Riff Rat Music), produced by Ratso and Bob Greenlee of King Snake Records, and mixed by Steve Boyer (who mixed Eric Clapton's Grammy winning "Unplugged" album). Ratso's debut CD features a vocal appearance by Lester Chambers and the keyboard wizardry of Jeff Bova, a prominent studio musician (session work with Clapton, Michael Jackson, and Herbie Hancock). Ratso kicked off '95, a big touring year, with two weeks at the Shark Room in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands--"The greatest band that's ever played in my club!" said the owner--and next made stops at New York's Manny's Car Wash, LeBar Bat, and Downtime, opening for Al Kooper and Jimmy Vivino (guitarist for the Max Weinberg 7 on Conan O'Brien's TV show), and later for Duke Robillard. Ratso's searing guitar playing and love of performing are as memorable to local music aficionados as the excitement generated by his bands--Orange Sunshine (with Bova in junior high), Rise (a Northeast contender), Alligator (a short-lived flame of originality) and, perhaps, the biggest sensation--The Boys--an early-to-mid-'80s quartet that packed area dance clubs. Gerardi's first recording was The Boys' EP, "Drop Me A Line," which was produced by Bill Scheniman, the N.Y.-Power Station engineer who worked with Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and Aretha Franklin. John Gerardi was 7 years old when he bought his first guitar out of Woolworth's window and taught himself how to play it. It was 1959. By 9, he'd put together his first band, Yesteryear's Timepiece; by 11, played his first gig, a junior high dance. At 14, in 1967, he made his professional debut at Rapson's, a popular New York club where musicians liked to hang out, and bands like Lou Reed's Velvet Underground played. Ratso has performed at New York's The Ritz, CBGB, The Bitter End, Lone Star Cafe, and The China Club, and at New Haven's Toad's Place and the Arcadia Ballroom. He's also played with The Outlaws' Freddy Salem, Mick Ronson of The David Bowie Band, and Steve Hunter, sessionman for Lou Reed and Alice Cooper. In 1987, The Ratso Band, which succeeded The Boys, opened for Zebra and for The Fixx at N.Y.'s famed Capitol Theater. Between 1988-90, the band were regular guests on the national cable-TV show, "Variety Tonight," Kris Marsala's ACE award-winning program. Self-taught his first 15 years, Ratso began formal guitar study in 1974 with Jazz great Sal Salvador--an apprenticeship that would span more than 20 years. Soon after, Ratso became a guitar teacher himself. Over the last 22 years, he's taught several generations of students at his alma mater, Greenwich High. Gerardi's first book, The Blues Bible, which teaches the art of playing blues guitar, is due soon from Kanamar Publishing (New York). With the recent opening of Lenox Sound Recording Studios, a 48-track production facility behind his Stamford home, Ratso now has a new creative center: a place the singer/songwriter can produce his own music; his own, independent recording label, Riff Rat Records; and a newly assembled power lineup--John Gerardi Band, in rehearsals, readying for their live shows, and working on the second album of John Gerardi, a.k.a. "Ratso."