Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he began studies at age 12 and 6 years later graduated from Boston's New England Conservatory of Music.

[2] Ralph Lyford assisted Claude Debussy in preparing his Le martyre de Saint Sébastien for its premiere.

He served as assistant conductor in the US for the San Carlo Opera Company under the management of Henry Russell.

[8] During his tenure, he produced and conducted 234 performances of 30 operas including Martha, Hänsel and Gretel, and Lohengrin.

[2][10] During his tenure at the Cincinnati Opera Company Lyford also mentored John Jacob Niles.