Ronnie Barron born 9 October1943

Ronnie Barron (October 9, 1943 – March 20, 1997) was an American actor, musician, and blue-eyed soul singer during the 1970s. Little known in his country, this singer and pianist nevertheless reached a international reputation. The list of artists with whom he has collaborated is enough in itself to understand that Ronnie Barron did not get the recognition that his talent should have allowed him! 

He was born Ronald Raymond Barrosse in Algiers, New Orleans. At the age of fifteen, the young Ronnie was already singing and playing the piano in The Fideliries, a band that played at the Orchid Club in West Bank, where Professor Longhair also performed. The latter would become his main influence. It was with Mac Rebennack (the future Dr. John), who he met at the Specialty Records offices on North Claitrbone Avenue, that he began to visit Cosimo Matassa's studio. He then attended the recording sessions of Huey Smith, Smiley Lewis, Earl King and Fats Domino, in the hope that an impediment of a musician will give him an opportunity to play. And that's indeed how he did his first session, replacing Huey Smith! 

Mac Rebbenack

Mac Rebennack, who, as an A&R man was in the New Orleans, working for ACE Records, proposed Johnny Vincent to sign Ronnie Barron who had replaced Roland Stone in his group, the Skyliners. Ronnie’s first single, "Bad Neighborhood / Keeps Dragging Me On", credited to Ronnie and The Delinquents was released on JC, a sub-brand of ACE led by Joe Coronna. Mac Rebennack had Ronnie play on some of his productions, including Jimmy Clanton and Sagar Boy Crawford. Then, he released “The Hip Parade”by Ronnie on the Soundex label in 1963. That same year Rebennack and Barron released Talk That Talk under the name Drits & Dravey. Then in 1964 Ronnie recorded Did She Mention My Name on the Michelle label. 

Disillusioned with the musical activity in New Orleans, Ronnie moved to Houston, Texas. There, he played in a club in which Huey Meaux had interests. However, after a year in Texas, he returned to New Orleans to learn that Mac Rebennack had left the city for Los Angeles! He did the same in December 1965. Again thanks to Mac Rebennack, He was able to find work in the studio. He also formed his own group, The Prime Ministers, and signed with RCA in 1967. It was at this time that Mac Rebennack and Harold Battiste were creating the concept of Dr. John. Mac wanted Ronnie to play the role of Dr. John, but his contract with RCA did not allow him to do so. Mac became Dr. John as the Prime Ministers parted ways before they could even finish their first album! Barron then began an engagement at The Factory, in Hollywood, where he was noticed by Louis Prima.

                                   

Louis Prima hired Ronnie Barron as an arranger and integrated him into his orchestra permanently installed at the Sands Hotel, in Las Vegas. Ronnie stayed with Louis Prima for three years. It was during this period when he created the character of Reverend Ethel. In 1971, he published an album of the same name on Decca, produced by Charlie Greene, the manager of Dr. John. However, instead of taking to the road to promote album, he preferred to join Dr. John's orchestra which was going on tour in Europe and North America. Later, Jerry Wexler, Atlantic Records, engaged him on several recording sessions and wished to sign it under his name. Despite a few demos made to Muscle Shoals, the contract was never signed! 

Paul Butterfield's Better Days

In 1972 Barron went to Woodstock to be part of Paul Butterfield's new band, Better Days. Barron made two Bearsville albums with them, and remained in the band until it disbanded in 1975. Back with Dr. John, he was featured on the album Hollywood Be Thy Name. He was then approached by John Mayall, with whom he toured Europe and appeared on the album Banquet of Blues. In the last half of the 70s, he multiplied his collaborations. All first with Canned Heat, then Tom Waits, B.B. King, Ry Cooder, John Lee Hooker and Big Joe Turner, among others. 

In 1978, he signed with Columbia/Japan and recorded Smile Of Life. This album was recorded partly in Japan with Japanese musicians, and in New Orleans with Mac Rebennack and the Meters. In 1979, he released Blues Delicacies on Sunshine Records, a cool New Orleans rhythm & blues album. produced by Fito of the Para and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat. 

At almost forty years of age, in 1980, he launched an acting career, starring in Stoney Island, Angel, One From The Heart, Above The Law, Code Of Silence and Comeback. However, music remained his main interest and he began to work on several projects resulting in his last album “Bon Ton Roulet,” released on the ACE label in 1983. 

In the early 90s, his health began to decline. He had to undergo a heart transplant and never regained the ability to play in public again. Although he continued to write new songs, he was never able to record them. He died in Los Angeles on March 20, 1997 from complications of heart problems. (Edited from Monola.net)