Ronnie Jones is known as one of the most original and versatile singers
in Europe, discovered by Alexis Korner (biography by Harry Shapiro),
thanks to Dick Heckstall-Smith (Collesium), back in the 60's. And thanks
to his versatility, helped him gain the success and popularity he has achieved
in Italy, with the public and the media. He became known as the first foreign DJ
in Italy, both for radio and television.
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As an actor in the theatre, along with Renato Zero,
Teo Teocoli and Loredana Berté played in the cast of the
musical "Hair".
And almost all of Italy knows today that the
musical director for the show, was a certain Bill Conti, and
also arranger of Orfeo9 with Renato Zero as the
salesman, with Ronnie who sang the blues track!
(Rocky film
score).
One of the musician in the band was multi- instrumentalist
Gilbert Dhennin:
www.tomfiorenzaproductions.com
www.mansionmaze.com
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Il cast di HAIR |
Ronnie was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on the 14th of September
1937 and graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in Muskegon Michigan in
1955.
From then on he travelled thanks to the U.S. Air force, all over the world,
finally arriving in England in 1961 where his story really began.
His meeting up with Alexis brought in contact with Ronan O'Rahilly a young irish
manager and soon to be founder of the off shore Radio Caroline.
In the band of Alexis (Blues InCorporated), were young musicians like Cyril
Davis, Johnny Parker, Jack Bruce and a very young promising Ginger Baker. Many
were the singer who alternated on stage with Ronnie were, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, and a very
young Mick Jagger.
Here with these soon-to-be mythical musicians covered ,thanks to Alexis, "Money
Honey" recorded originally by the Drifters and "The Night Time Is The
Right Time" by Ray Charles.
His days of glory were about to begin.
After leaving the military, Ronnie returned to England on Ronan's request
where he teamed up with Mick Eves and young John McLaughlin to form the
Nighttimers, but remained with Ronnie only six or seven months.
His successive band were the Blue Jays with Roger Dean, not yet the cover
designer for Osibisa and Yes. Roger was a very good guitarist.
The band toured half of Europe including France and Germany.
The Blue Jays were:
Colin Davies (drums)
Roger Dean (Guitar),
Pat Donaldson (Bass)
Chris Dennis (Hammond).
You’ll find an not and interesting photo in the photo gallery.
When the band band broke up, Ronnie was introduced to Chester Simon, bass
player with his own band called the Q-Set which had Tony O'Malley,
www.tonyomalley.com
playing keyboards.(Kokomo).
The band had taken it's name as house band of the Q Club in Paddington,
London.
Known for is Jamaican background music culture. Q means qeue or to stand
in line.
 The Q -
SET
The band toured all of England and many parts of France staying
together 3 years, but a 3 month tour of Italy broke things up again. Left alone
with only Chester and not knowing which way to turn auditioned for the part of "Hud"
in "Hair".
And won it.
Hair lasted 10 months, but no more musicals or possibilities to
sing came about. So he tried his hand as a club DJ which took him to
stardom.
Ronnie worked for State owned radio RAI for almost five years,
after leaving went on to work for the new commercial radios cropping
up all over the country; radio Milano International (101),
Rete 105, RTL 102.5, and 105 Classics.
Later in 1980 he was called to host on television Canale 5
along with Augusto Martelli and Tiziana Fiorvelluto, Popcorn.
Maurizio Costanzo called him to co-host the Sunday variety
show Buona Domenica in 1985.
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POP CORN |
a BUONA DOMENICA |
Now let's get into the disco music of the eighties.
He recorded four albums with German producer Jurgen S. Korduletsch and
collaborated with Claudja Barry in making the European and Canadian charts with
It Takes Two.
Ronnie's big success came with "Soulsister" in Canada.
The above cited albums were "Looking for Action", "Me and Myself",
"Fox On The Run" and "Games2",which included "Video Games"
from Popcorn fame.
The first Italian band which brought Ronnie back to live singing were, Blues
After Dark (BAD) with Italian musicians:
Roberto Testini - Guitar,
Paolo Manzolini - Guitar,
Enrico Ferraresi - Drummer,
www
Roberto Zonca - Bassguitar,
Max Pellegrini - Percussion.
The keyboard player was Antonio Aguzzi.
The second band was Seven40 who also recorded the CD "The Man",
produced by Al King Music.
Angelo Corvino - Drums,
Emilio Foglio - Guitar,
www
Dario Estrafallaces - Bassguitar,
Fabio Agatea - Keyboards,
Max Pellegrini - Percussion,
Julia St. Louis - Vocalist.
www
See their FOTO
The last of all the bands is SoulSyndicate:
Damiano Marino - Guitar,
Emilio Foglio - Guitar,
www
Marco Mangelli - Bassguitar,
Miki Fazio - Keyboards,
Mino Petruzzelli - Drums,
www
Max Pellegrini - Percussion.
See their FOTO
Writer Ronnie likes to say that he's written more than 200 hundred titles,
affirms that he has only sold two!
One for Zucchero Fornaciari's "Bambino io bambino tu" and the other to
the Band of Jocks' "Let's All Dance".
But there were many more, like "The Man", "I Wanna Make A Vow" and
what about "Welcome To The Party" for BBM.
Ronnie also collaborated with Paolo Manzolini when he wrote the lyrics to "Corinna's
Blues in G".
And most recently the publicity clip for the Fiat Doblo's success in
Germany and Holland composed by Flavio Ibba, "Wake Up Reggae".
Is that enough, I'm sure there's more to come…
This well mature man, but also a real soul-bluesman, returns to the scene
with his new CD AGAIN, which contains six
original tracks in collaboration with Emilio Foglio, musician and
co-producer along with the Nicolosi Brothers (Novecento) and executive
producer Dario “Gold” Broglia, put together.
In this CD there’s his excellent warm voice and the modern sounds of today’s
black music, taking advantage of prestigious colleagues on the international
music scene. Names like Steve Lukather (Toto), the drummer Billy
Cobham, the saxophonist Bill Evans and the trumpeter Fabrizio
Bosso.
Ronnie does his own inspired renditions on storical tracks like Rainy Night
in Georgia with an inspired Steve Lukather playing intensely, an
interpretation that will be remembered. Do It Again, comes on with a new
swinging version complete with double-bass and Bill Evans making it even
better. Play That Funky Music from George Clinton milestone hit, even
gets funkier than ever. And a sofisticated, beautifully sang Waiting In Vain of
Bob Marley, comes off fine, and last but not likely to be forgotten, What A
Wonderful World from Sam Cooke, takes you from yesterday to a modern day
sound of tomorrow.
The other great musicians, well known on the international scene, are
Fabrizio Bosso who plays along with Billy Cobham on the original I Am
Who I Am, Mimmo Campanale (drums), Marco Fadda (percussion),
Riccardo Fioravanti (double-bass), Rossana Nicolosi (bass guitar),
Pino Nicolosi (keyboards), Joyce E. Yuille (vocals) and Emilio
Foglio (guitars).
Ronnie’s back AGAIN… but there’s more
to come
THE END
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