Ron Armstrong

Artist Information

Biography

Ron Armstrong Bio (www.ronarmstrongmusic.com)
by Jerry Raney

Ron Armstrong stands as a piece of Rock n’ Roll history, yet he is a recently opened
vault, chock-full of rockin’ Alternative Country/ Americana/ Roots Rock heart and soul.
The first time I laid eyes on Ron was 1965. I was a shaggy headed teenager living in San Diego. My band was playing at a teen club that was nestled in one end of a bowling alley complex. At the other end stood a hot 21 and up club called the Redcoat Inn. One night during a break, I strolled down to check them out. A group named ‘The Misfits’ were rockin’ the place. I couldn’t see inside but they sounded great…I was impressed! A week later, armed with my older brother’s driver’s license, I managed to slide past the doorman to actually view the band. The place was packed, the walls were sweating, and the music was pumped up. The rhythm guitar player/ lead singer was Bob Mosley, who later switched to bass and helped form ‘Moby Grape’. Behind the drums sat Ron…all confident and obviously enjoying himself. They were snarling their way through the harmonies of a blues-rock number and looking cocky as hell doing it. Yeah, ‘The Misfits’ were cool…cool enough to land the gig to open for ‘The Rolling Stones’ when they came to town. THAT ROCKED!!!

In 1970 Ron went on to join ‘Jamul’, (pronounce huh-mool), which was one of a few San Diego bands to enjoy national recognition. Through the power of Bob Desnoyers’ hard rockin’ version of ‘Tobacco Road’, and the Armstrong penned ‘Sunrise Over Jamul’, which was Ron’s first recorded lead vocal, the band received enough airplay and sales to reach #93 in Billboard’s top selling albums. It is well know among collectors today.
Rock n’ Roll Bands don’t last forever, and the members of ‘Jamul’ went their separate ways. Ron slid off his drum stool and stepped back behind his beloved piano. Whether he was on piano or drums, a distinctive sound was something that just came natural to him. People can practice forever and never achieve it. Since those days He has played with a few bands including the well known Cajun artist Joel Sonnier. He enjoyed playing live music but eventually became burnt out on the club scene. He worked days, saved money and bought recording equipment. Living like a hermit in the hills just outside of Los Angeles, with the help of friends Ron honed his production skills. He continued working on his music and has now produced his first album. What he loves most though is playing live and is very excited about his latest rehearsals. “I feel like a 21 year old kid…it’s all new, exciting and fun”.

The man has a unique vocal and keyboard style. He stands, closes his eyes and leads his guitar dominated band on keyboards. He sings as if he’s narrating a story. He gets so lost in it that it surfaces as a soulful melody as his life pours out before you in a song. Listen to his new CD release, ‘Just Around The Bend...Again’, and you can journey with him in the Oregon woods on the title track. You can hang out with Ron and his pals as they witness a gal from Newhall, CA. who leaves nothing to their imagination as she enters and wins an exotic dance contest…’Oh Suzie’. In ‘Fences’ he expresses his inability to find open land without fences. Ron takes you along with him and his dog, ‘Leroy’, for a drive in his old Chevy truck through San Diego County. When he covers tunes like Chuck Berry’s ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ or Bob Dylan’s ‘Just Like A Woman’, he makes the melody his own as he takes the song somewhere it’s never been before.
Ron Armstrong speaks and writes the truth. His music and lyrics establish an honest down home feeling that is hard to come by these days. He is what he is that’s all he is… that’s genuine… and that’s pure gold to me!

Jerry Raney (www.beatfarmers.com)

Instrumentation

ALBUM CREDITS FOR
"JUST AROUND THE BEND...AGAIN"

Guitar: Will Ray, Mark Christian, Jerry Raney, Cary Park, Tony Gilkyson, Gene LaMarr, Joel Scott Hill, Ed Gonzales, John David, and Cary Sharaf.

Bass Guitar: John Davis, James ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson, and Glen McKinney.

Drums: Jerome ‘Fatboy” Williams, Steve Riley, and Jack Pinney.

Banjo: Mark Christian, John David

Mandolin: Richard Podolor

Harmonica: Jimmy ‘Z’ Zavala, Steve Williams, and David McKelvy.


Fiddle: ‘Pinky’ Bracten

Sax Solo: Jimmy ‘Z’ Zavala

Percussion: Steve Duncan

BG Vocals: Teresa James, Billy Watts, Lynn Fanelli, Will Ray, Molly Passiti, Delbi Smart, John Davis, Alecia Morgan, and Dave Morgan.

Keyboards and Lead Vocals: Ron Armstrong

Mixed by Ronan Chris Murphy at Vento West, Los Angeles, CA

Mastered by Stephen Marsh at Stephen Marsh Mastering, Hollywood, CA.

Produced by Ron Armstrong

Discography

Just Around The Bend...Again CDR Advance Copy

Links

• www.myspace.com/ronarmstrongmusic

Audio

• Fences
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Just Around The Bend
• Listening To Jimmy Reed
• Fences
• J Marie
• Oh Suzie
• Movin' To The Country

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Blues News Magazine, Finland [+ Show ]
  

  Ron Armstrong's style of singing is without a doubt unparalleled and assuredly it brings about diffe...Ron Armstrong's style of singing is without a doubt unparalleled and assuredly it brings about differences of opinion. For the vocalist's honor it must be said that he really doesn't hesitate bringing forth his self-dependent style. Instead, he does exactly what he wants then transfers the responsibility for interpretation to the listener. Just Around The Bend’s genre is definitely one of those in-betweens. It can't be unambiguously categorized as Blues, Rock n’ Roll, Country or even a Country-Rock album. The clichéd term, 'Americana', is also far from illuminating in this case. Anyway, we are talking about a very delightful piece which is certainly worthy of checking out. Do we even need more characterizing?

• Indie Music Stop [+ Show ]
  

  For indie music fans that are ready to be wowed by covers such as Dylan’s Just Like a Woman, or Chu...For indie music fans that are ready to be wowed by covers such as Dylan’s Just Like a Woman, or Chuck Berry’s You Can’t Catch Me, then Ron Armstrong’s Just Around the Bend may be just what they may be looking for.
  This new CD release by Armstrong, aside from the aforementioned covers, is full of some of the most outstanding original material by an artist, performed by his unique vocals and keyboard style. He has lived what he performs in his music, and on this particular album, it certainly shows.

• Rock Evolucion Radio Show, Calexico, CA [+ Show ]
  

  "I like it,(the CD...Just Around The Bend ), very much. The blues feeling in his music is incredibl..."I like it,(the CD...Just Around The Bend ), very much. The blues feeling in his music is incredible"

• http://www.Kweevak.com Ringwood, New Jersey [+ Show ]
  

  The 10-track CD, Just Around The Bend, is a rocking mix of covers and originals and the team knocks ...The 10-track CD, Just Around The Bend, is a rocking mix of covers and originals and the team knocks it out with Oh Suzie sounding like Orbison era Wilburys. Armstrong honors the Glimmer Twins with a bluesy and authentic version of Little Red Rooster. Ron's rendition of Chuck Berry's You Can't Catch Me rolls along nicely and reveals Armstrong as one worthy of keeping up with. Hopefully the next bend in the road will come up a little faster with a new Armstrong release just around the corner!

• Michael Macdonald, Victoria, Australia [+ Show ]
  

  Since being directed to Ron Armstrong's CD, Just Around The Bend, it has become akin to a constant c...Since being directed to Ron Armstrong's CD, Just Around The Bend, it has become akin to a constant companion. It's a matter of simply loving Ron's music and groove. It's Rock, it's Blues, it's Country and there's Soul and R&B in evidence...what now is tagged as Americana. Anyone with the hipness to cover Bob Dylan, Jimmy Reed, and Willie Dixon gets my vote. But Ron's versions go way beyond imitation...it's interpretation. The originals are equally rewarding. Absorb the narrative sweep of Fences and let the lyrical thrust seep in. What emerges is almost a condensed version of Steinbeck's Travels With Charley, but with a Rock n' Roll groove. Ron has lived this stuff and it reflects in the music...an artist who writes and sings of real life and real things. Just Around The Bend is an opus aided by class players (Steve Duncan, Will Ray, Jerry Raney, John Davis and the always great Joel Scott Hill). And why not? Ron Armstrong is a class artist…the real thing indeed.

Setlist

N/A

Ron Armstrong Band (soon to be formed)

Basic Requirements

Calendar