Ron Richardson was born on November 6th, 1959 in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. The youngest of seven children, Ron was exposed to music by listening to records with his father on Friday nights, after a long work week.Ron became familiar with the music of such artists as James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Jackie Wilson, and the entire Motown family. By age 12, Ron had developed a love for the sound of the electric bass.It was while listening to The Jackson Five's " Darling Dear" that Ron decided to ask his parents to buy him an electric bass.In April of 1972, Ron recieved his first electric bass. He began teaching himself to play by ear, listening to different records and picking out the bass notes one by one. Over the next several years Ron would be greatly influenced by the man who actually played Darling Dear, Motown's legendary bassist James Jamerson. Ron was also greatly influenced by session bassist Chuck Rainey, Bootsy Collins, Verdine White, Robert "Pops" Popwell, Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham and Jaco Pastorious. By age 16, Ron was forced to join "Local 802" American Federation Of Musicians in N.Y.C. because he was playing in bands that often played for wedding receptions, lodge dances and concerts that were either in union venues or affiliated with the union. It was also around this time that Ron began to develop his songwriting skills. In 1984, Ron and a group of musicians did a recording with alto saxophonist Eric Wyatt that was used as the theme for a N.Y.C. T.V. news program called "Black News". Ron and two of the other musicians, drummer, Darryl Chalmers ,and guitarist Greg Sam, formed the nucleus of the New York based jazz-funk-fusion band "Axium". Ron composed the majority of the group's material from it's inception to it's end.(1984-1989). In 1986, Ron landed his first touring gig; with R&B/Jazz vocalist Phyllis Hyman. This gig would last for 8 years and 8 months; until the day that Phyllis tragically committed suicide. During the last year and a half of her life Ron also served as Phyllis's musical director. During Ron's association with Phyllis he also had the opportunity of working with such artists as the late jazz violinist Noel Pointer,whose mother was his second grade music teacher. Ron also worked with Bill Withers, Ronnie Laws, and jazz legend Dr. Billy Taylor. In 1987, Axium recorded a song written by their saxophonist, Mark Gatz, called "Too Small".When the band recorded the tracks Ron wasn't present because of a prior obligation with Phyllis. Ron laid down his track the next day. When completed, the song was entered into the Downbeat Music Poll contest and won best song by an unsigned band. In 1991, Ron played on a jazz-explosion tour which featured Jean Carne and Roy Ayers. In 1996, Ron did a short stint with Will Downing. Two years later, Ron was recruited by Roy Ayers to join his band "Ubiquity" Ron's association with Roy lasted for 6 and 1/2 years. During his time with Roy, Ron also worked with Tom Browne, Bobbi Humphrey, Angela Bofill and jazz legend James Moody. In 2001, Ron completed his first CD, which is a production concept called "Project Grapevine - Waiting For Daybreak". Over the last couple of years, Ron has worked with such artists as Jean Claude Toran, Marlon Saunders and Angela Johnson.One of the latest projects that Ron is involved with is the Tokyo Flash Band. Check out their site at www.myspace.com/thetokyoflashband. Ron currently gigs around the tri-state area regularly, playing all kinds of music. He often plays with a R&B clubdate/wedding/corporate band called Total Remix. You can also check out videos of me performing with Phyllis Hyman,Roy Ayers, and Marlon Saunders.Check the links on my Facebook page.
