Born and raised in Winnipeg, Ron has been prominent on the Canadian music scene since the 1960’s. He is a multi-instrumentalist who has earned the respect and admiration of his peers on several instruments including guitar, pedal steel guitar, electric bass and dobro. He began his musical life at the age of seven as a student of the steel guitar and was playing professionally at the tender age of 11.
In his mid teens, he became a close friend and colleague of jazz legend Lenny Breau, with whom he worked for about 10 years until Breau left Winnipeg. Ron played electric bass on Breau’s first recordings (for RCA Victor) – “Guitar Sounds From Lenny Breau” and “The Velvet Touch” – the latter recorded at “Shelley’s Manne-Hole” in Hollywood. He has been a sideman on scores of other recordings with a diverse array of artists including “The Guess Who”, Steve Bell, Bob King, Andy DeJarlis etc.
In addition to his work with Breau, Ron has had a busy career as a studio musician at the CBC and various private studios. He has been a regular in the pit at Rainbow Stage and MTC and has performed in many other professional musical theatre productions in Winnipeg, Calgary and Toronto.
Ron has worked in the film medium as an arranger/composer for several National Film Board projects as well as feature length movie scores for private production companies. He has performed as a “casual player” with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra throughout his career.
In November of 2001, Ron received the “CanWest Global Jazz Award” for lifetime achievement in Jazz. In 1987, Ron received the “Golden Award” from MACA (Mb Association of Country Arts) for lifetime contribution to Country Music.