As
a teenager, Ron's dream of being a part of the new
popular music scene became a reality. He became lead singer with
'The Jury', joining legendary guitarist Albert Lee, bass player
Pat Donaldson and sax player Bob Xzavier. The Jury played the
2i's coffee bar, The Top Ten Club, The Breadbasket, Whiskey A
Go-Go and many of London's West End and Soho Clubs. Soon they
were on the road, gigging with acts such as Billy
Fury, Jimmy Justice, Sounds Incorporated and The Checkmates.
The Jury toured American airbases in the UK, tuning in to great
soul singers such as Clyde Mc Phatter, Ray Charles, Ben E King,
Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, artists that were to have a big influence
on Ron.
Ron's
ambition was song-writing and producing. Welbeck Music,
the publishing arm of PYE records and ATV, signed Ron as an in-house
writer and song plugger. Ron was commissioned to write the theme
tune for the TV puppet show, Rupert Bear. His song was recorded
by Jackie Lee and went straight into the pop charts. Rupert Bear
was seen in over 100 different countries and the song became a
children's classic, appearing on countless compilations of children's
music ever since. There was even a hilarious version by punk bank
The Toy Dolls. The theme song for kids TV show Inigo Pipkin (Pipkins)
was to follow.
Other
writers were being signed to the company, including Barry Blue
and Lynsey De Paul.
Ron and Lynsey's first collaboration, Storm in a Tea Cup
(the B-side of her first big seller Sugar Me) was covered by The
Fortunes and went right into the top ten in 1972.
Don
Kirshner Music, the American business behind the Monkeys, had
just merged with Welbeck Music and a new company was formed with
Sir Lou Grade's ATV, called ATV/Kirshner. Don Kirshner told Ron
to concentrate on song writing and record production and this
was a turning-point for Ron. Whilst looking for a music arranger
for his first production, Ron met Gerry Shury and they became
close friends and successful writing partners. Soon, Ron and Gerry
were writing and producing hits for many different acts.
Their
UK top ten hit Guilty was performed by The Pearls
and was later also a hit in the US, where it was covered by Philly
Soul girl group First Choice. Collaborating with Barry Blue, Ron
and Gerry created the hit record Do You Wanna Dance. The
trio also came up with Devil's Gun, which was covered by
CJ & Co in the States and spent 32 weeks in the charts, reaching
number 1 in the Disco Charts. Such was the success of this song
that many years later - in 2002 - hip hop artiste Redman wanted
to use the track, and together with Missy Elliot he recorded it
as Dat Bitch on his gold disc Malpractice.
A
collection of great songs for an album by ex-Picketty
Witch lead singer Polly Brown was created with producer Phil Swern.
Polly's version of Up In A Puff Of Smoke was a Stateside
smash and she was named one of the top girl singers by Billboard
Magazine. Other titles from this album - Special Delivery - were
to generate even more covers. S.O.S was picked out by producer
Richard Perry and recorded by Manhattan
Transfer. Dionne Warwick's
cover of Do You Believe In Love At First Sight, was used
as the theme song for the Dan Akroyd film Love At First Sight
and was the title of Dionne's next album, Love At First Sight.
Ron
and Gerry also
produced and wrote an album for Polly Brown and Tony Jackson,
whom Ron had put together as a new recording act under the name
Sweet Dreams. A song written by Bjorn and Benny of Abba - Honey
Honey - was produced by Ron and Gerry and released by Sweet
Dreams. It went top-ten in many countries. There were more covers
from this album, such as Ron & Gerry's That's The Way How Love
Grows, which was covered by ex-Supremes singer Jean Terrell.
The
disco scene was now well underway and Ron & Gerry were
working with Biddu who had produced Carl Douglas with Kung
Fu Fighting. Together, Ron, Gerry & Biddu wrote Dance Little
Lady Dance and Love Bug for Polly Brown. Tina
Charles also recorded these songs and they became worldwide
hits. Tony Hall, manager of the Real Thing, asked Ron & Gerry
to produce and write a single for the band and they came up with
Stone Cold Love Affair. Many other acts followed, such
as ex-New Seekers lead singer Lyn
Paul, Hot Cuisine and Bill Fredericks of the Drifters. Ron
& Gerry decided to form their own publishing company, Geronimo
Music. In 1976, following Gerry's untimely death in a car accident,
Ron closed the company and went on working both in the UK and
the US. Being busy helped Ron to recover from the sadness of losing
his best friend.
Here
are just some of the acts
that have recorded Ron's songs:
Soul
artists: The Drifters, Carl Douglas , Dionne Warwick, Geno
Washington, The Real Thing, Jean Terrel of the Supremes, Jimmy
James, First Choice, Leon Ware, Hot Cuisine, Inner City Express,
Johnny Darrow Moore, BT Express, CJ & Co, Redman & Missy Elliot,
The Three Degrees, Miquel Brown.
Pop
& Rock artists: Jimmy Justice, Cliff Richard, The Fortunes,
Blue Mink, The Shadows, Vanity Fare, Tony Head, The Tremeloes,
The Rocking Berries, Tina Charles, Polly Brown, Toni Basil, Lynsey
De Paul, Barry Blue, Lyn Paul of the New Seekers, Springfield
Revival, Toy Dolls, The Rubinoos, Mac Kissoon, The Pearls, The
Nolan Sisters.
M.O.R
,
Standard & Jazz artists:
Petula Clark & Sacha Distel, Manhattan Transfer, Anita Kerr Singers,
Sounds Bob Rogers, James Last Orchestra,The Biddu
Orchestra, L.S.O, Bill Tarmey, Eve Boswell.
Reggae
Artists: Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers, Count Prince Miller,
Del Davis.
Ron
is currently collaborating with
Joe Gillingham, keyboard player with the Tremeloes. Ron and Joe
have written and produced songs for the great comic, actor and
writer Roy Hudd O.B.E. and other celebrities have joined in this
album project too. Working with the arranger Pete Kelly, Ron is
developing another new album of songs for children which is due
for release later in 2008.
Voodoo
Man, the disco hit Ron co-wrote with Biddu, is receiving great
reviews as a dance floor hit in 2008. The song has been re-mixed
for Skylax Records and has been released in many countries, including
the US.
Many
artists have recorded Ron's songs over the years and he continues
to write and produce new works, enjoying this dynamic business
in all its guises. Ron's
career remains a work in progress!
