Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron King. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Ron King is one of the finest trumpet / composer / arranger artists in the world today. A Grammy-nominated soloist, he is also one of L.A.’s top studio lead / jazz / improvisational trumpet players. He has received many awards from the IAJE, NAJE, ASCAP, and the RMA. Ron King grew up in rural southern California and began to play the trumpet at the age of 8. He quickly excelled at his chosen instrument, and by the time he was in the 6th grade, at only age 11, he was winning top awards and honors in solo competitions. This continued until he graduated from high school. He then went on to complete his college education, graduating with Honors from California State University Los Angeles with a Major in Music and a Minor in Musicology.
He has attained Gold Records for working with such artists as George Benson, Ricki Lee Jones, and Marvin Gaye. In addition to these artists, he has also performed and recorded with: “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno “The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra “, “Frank Sinatra”, “The Jimmy Kimmel Live” television show, ABC TV’s, “Tony Bennett”, “Johnny Mathis”, and featured on the “Grammy Awards”!! He also has performed and recorded with every jazz “Big Band” in L.A., including “Bill Holman”, “Clayton Hamilton”, “Don Menza”, and many others. He’s played for countless movie, television, and commercial soundtracks, including Academy Award Winner, “Children of a Lesser God”, and “Ocean’s 11”.
Since 2018 Ron has focused his efforts in Smooth Jazz. Working together with Paul Brown they came up with Ron’s first smooth jazz album “Downtown Mama”. Produced by and featuring Paul Brown. Six singles were released from the album and their campaigns ran for months. The album received rave reviews and had several “Top Ten” hits. “Mellow Out”, “Chicago Song”, “Groovin’ on Down”, and “You Move Me”, were amongst the front-runners.
Presently Ron has just completed his 2nd smooth jazz album, entitled “Cascade”. Debuting with the title track. This album was produced by and features Paul Brown. The album features nine spectacular songs, co-written by Ron King, Paul Brown, Shane Theriot, Bob Baldwin, Joe Wolf, and Bill Steinway. Ron King has been recording and performing with many of the Smooth Jazz artists for years, including Paul Brown, Jeff Lorber, Brian Simpson, and George Benson, to mention just a few.
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I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Since I have now been in the business 52 years, I have seen many things and many changes in the music business… Learning how to cope with these changes has been one of the most challenging things in my career. In 1982, synthesizers and drum machines took over the music business. We went from working all the time to not working at all. I had to get into home recording and make a new path. By 1990 people got tired of synthesized music and real instruments were back in. These types of changes have persisted to this day with the advent of technology.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional trumpet player and composer / arranger. I’m known for my being able to play lead as well as jazz trumpet and having reading skills that have allowed me to work in the studios and make a good living. I’m known as a soloist who also has a quartet as well as my 17-piece Ron King Big Band. I’m most proud that I’ve been able to survive in this business successfully. I’m also very proud I’ve performed in every media from television and movies to live stage shows, music tours and am heard on over 200+ top artists’ albums. My skills have made me desirable to employers/contractors since I am a great sight-reader, have super dexterity and am very versatile as can play in all genres.
Contact Info:
- Website: RonKingTrumpet.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RonKingTrumpet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90v7LrCfTe0 ….. and….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rStxOLg7Pg
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/smoothjazzglobal/ron-king-cascade
Image Credits
1st single photo: Doug MacKenzie Set of 4 photos: Left to Right, 1st Row: Selfie by Ron King (w/David Foster), Jimmy Emerzian Left to Right, 2nd Row: both by Alex Brown
