Tom Pacheco, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1946 was the son of a jazz guitarist and was playing guitar himself aged ten, recording his first album, a solo effort, in 1965. He then teamed up with Sharon Alexander who he met in Greenwich Village, New York. When Pacheco formed The Raggamuffins with Alexander, he brought in his younger brother Tony on upright bass and two other guys, Richard Hickman and Marshal Richards whom he met  through his father Tony’s guitar studio in his home town. After  creating a buzz for themselves with appearances at the Night Owl Cafe and The Bitter End in Greenwich Village, David Wilkes who was managing the latter took them to Seville Records.

They released two singles on Seville, penned by Pacheco , in 1967. Both can be heard on the box set New York Graffiti. Pacheco swiftly went on to carve a successful solo career as a performer, and as a songwriter with songs recorded by Jefferson Starship, the Band, Rick Danko, Richie Havens and many more.