Ralph Towner (born March 1, 1940) is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader. He is a central figure in jazz and world music. Best known as the guitarist and main composer of the ensemble Oregon, he is admired for his creative use of the 12-string and classical guitar. He also experiments with unusual tunings and is equally skilled on piano and trumpet.
Towner was born in Chehalis, Washington. He began his studies on piano and trumpet before moving to the University of Oregon, where he focused on composition. Later, he studied classical guitar in Vienna, a period that strongly shaped his unique style.
In 1969, Towner co-founded Oregon with Collin Walcott, Glen Moore, and Paul McCandless. The group blended jazz, classical, folk, and world music into a groundbreaking sound. Beyond Oregon, Towner built a prolific solo career and worked with major artists such as John Abercrombie, Gary Burton, Jan Garbarek, and Keith Jarrett.