Ragin was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Houston, Texas, and began playing trumpet in his early teens, taking lessons in classical music, and was a member of the Houston All-City High School Orchestra.

He continued his education in 1978 at the Creative Music Studio with Roscoe Mitchell.

One year later he performed with Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and the Creative Orchestra at the Moers Festival in Germany.

During the early 1980s he toured with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson.

[1] Source:[2] With Anthony Braxton With John Lindberg With A. Spencer Barefield With Roscoe Mitchell With The Art Ensemble of Chicago With David Murray With RACCA trio With SeFa LoCo With Fred Wesley