Ron has been a professional musician since the 1970's. Touring the world with many top artist such as Barry Manilow, Ann Margret and Air Supply.
Ron is also a founding member of the band Combo and Uncle Festive.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE:
BARRY MANILOW: 1984-Present
Principal Keyboardist for all Tours
Music Director: 1988-1990
Core band member for 16 years. 14 world wide tours. As music director, responsible for orchestra rehearsal, conducting and arranging as well as rehearsing of guest artists.
AIR SUPPLY: 1998-Present
Pianist for Tours
On call band member. Touring such places as Barbados, Trinidad, and multiple US venues.
Also hired for outside projects produced by Air Supply's singer and song writer, Graham Russell.
ANN-MARGRET: 2003-Present
Principle keyboardist/accompanist for touring
KOMBO: 1999-Present
Extensive tours in support of Verve/GRP recordings of my own Smooth Jazz music. Appearances include: The Wave After Dark, Catalina Jazz Festival, and numerous performances nationwide. "Talk The Talk" off of KOMBO - The Big Blast CD reached the Top 10 for 4 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart listed in Radio & Records Magazine. KOMBO-"Cookin' Out" CD in stores now.
UNCLE FESTIVE: 1986-1998
(CDs still available! - Contact Ron )
Extensive touring in support of personal compositions of contemporary jazz music. Highlight appearances have included: Playboy Jazz Festival, Orlando Jazz Festival, Coconut Grove Jazz Festival, Milwaukee Summerfest, Mt. Charleston Jazz Festival. International club appearances including Ronnie Scotts of London, and extensive clubwork nationwide. Los Angeles area clubs including: The Baked Potato, Le Café, Bon Appetit, The Coach House, At My Place, etc. Numerous college and high school clinics representing Yamaha. Numerous live radio performances and interviews worldwide including KKGO, The Wave and the BBC. Radio & Records Top 10 charted group.
MAYNARD FERGUSON: 1981-1983
Keyboardist for Touring.
3 world tours. Performances at numerous Jazz Festivals and clubs worldwide. Recorded 'Storm' and 'Live in San Francisco' CD's.
OTHER: 1979-Present
While at North Texas State University, performed with and composed for 'The Zebras', a group featuring 5 keyboardists, Donald Byrd, Chuck Israels and in various Lab Bands and small groups. Performed or appeared with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, George Wein, Slide Hampton, Irakere, Stanley Clarke, Thomas Dolby, The Pointer Sisters, Stevie Wonder, Bette Midler, David Foster and numerous other musical luminaries.
RECORDINGS:
BARRY MANILOW:
1991 'Barry Manilow Greatest Hits Live' Arista Records
1990 'Barry Manilow Live On Broadway' Arista Records
1987 'Swing Street' Arista Records
1985 'Manilow' RCA Records
MAYNARD FERGUSON:
1983 'Live From San Francisco' Palo Alto Records
1982 'Storm' Nautilus Records
UNCLE FESTIVE:
1992 'Drive Down the Sun' Mesa/Bluemoon Records
1990 'The Paper and the Dog' Mesa/Bluemoon Records
1989 'That We Do Know' Denon/A&M Records
1988 'Young People With Faces' Denon/A&M Records
1987 'Say Uncle' Optimism Records
1986 'Money's No Object' Nova/En Pointe Records
KOMBO:
1999 'The Big Blast' Verve/GRP Records
2001 'Cookin' Out' Verve/GRP Records
Film Composing:
Nuevo Trova' Universiry of Florida student film
'Krumbach's Error' AFI film directed by Brian Root
'Slice & Dice' directed by Rod McCall screened at Sundance
TELEVISION & VIDEO:
1984-PRESENT:
Numerous appearances with Barry Manilow on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson/Jay Leno, Late Night with David letterman, Solid Gold, Arsenio Hall, Suzanne Somers Show, Donny and Marie (the newer one) Regis and Kathie Lee. ' Barry Manilow Live on Broadway' for Showtime, 'Manilow Country' for TNN, 'Barry Manilow' on Direct TV. 'Live By Request' on A&E. In addition to world wide video and DVD releases.
AWARDS:
1973&1977
Winner of The National Yamaha Organ Festival, Jr., Sr. Divisions. (Hey, I got to go to Japan!)
Various goofy piano competitions.
SCUBA Rescue certified.
SKILLS:
Composing, Arranging, Orchestrating, Synthesizer programming, Conducting, Teaching, Soloing, Sight-reading, Audio Engineering, Sound Design.
MUSIC EDUCATION:
North Texas State University, Denton, TX. Jazz Piano/Piano Pedagogy Major with a Minor in classical organ. 1979-1981.
Dick Grove School of Music, Van Nuys, CA. Composing and Arranging program. 1984.
COMPOSER RECORDINGS:
UNCLE FESTIVE:
1992 'Drive Down the Sun' Mesa/Bluemoon Records
1990 'The Paper and the Dog' Mesa/Bluemoon Records
1989 'That We Do Know' Denon/A&M Records
1988 'Young People With Faces' Denon/A&M Records
1987 'Say Uncle' Optimism Records
1986 'Money's No Object' Nova/En Pointe Records
KOMBO:
1999 'The Big Blast' Verve/GRP Records
2001 'Cookin' Out' Verve/GRP Records
SOLO:
2005 'Around' Independent Release
2008 'At Home' Independent Release
FILM COMPOSING:
Nuevo Trova' Universiry of Florida student film
'Krumbach's Error' AFI film directed by Brian Root
'Slice & Dice' directed by Rod McCall screened at Sundance
SKILLS:
Composing, Arranging, Orchestrating, Synthesizer programming, Conducting, Teaching, Soloing, Sight-reading, Audio Engineering, Sound Design.
MUSIC EDUCATION:
North Texas State University, Denton, TX. Jazz Piano/Piano Pedagogy Major with a Minor in classical organ. 1979-1981.
Dick Grove School of Music, Van Nuys, CA. Composing and Arranging program. 1984.
