The One-Four-Five’s of Ron Spencer
For over 25 years Ron Spencer has been a mainstay of the CNY blues scene. He has lent his fiery blend of blues, and roots-based guitar playing to some of the area’s premier bands including Grammy nominated Joe Whiting, The Kingsnakes’ Pete McMahon, Tom Townsley and blues diva, Kim Lembo. 
In 1996 Ron brought his four piece combo to national attention with their CD, Ron Spencer & The Nite Crew, Burnin’ Desire. In May of ‘98 Blues Revue declared them “the best-unsigned act” He has shared the stage with dozens of national recording acts such as Rod Piazza, Charlie Musslewhite, Johnny Copeland, Kenny Neal, Son Seals and Little Charlie & The Nitecats. He has been invited on stage to engage in head to head guitar duels with such heavyweights as Duke Robillard, Anson Funderburgh, Bob Margolin and Rick Holmstrom. He has also toured with Chicago’s queen of the blues, Big Time Sarah and Blue Wave Records diva, Kim Lembo.
Formed in 2000, the seven piece Ron Spencer & Jumpstart featured a swingin’ horn section, poundin’ keyboards and a blues shoutin’ frontman. In 2002 the band paired up with rock & roll and r&b legend, Jimmy Cavallo. Their CD, Jimmy Cavallo – The Houserocker with Ron Spencer & Jumpstart on Blue Wave Records was nominated in 2003 for the ultimate recognition in the blues field … a W.C. Handy Award! In 2006 their Blue Wave Records CD Livin’ Low won a SAMMY Award for best blues recording. Jumpstart’s next Blue Wave collaboration with Jimmy Cavallo, You’d Better Believe It! won them a second SAMMY Award in 2007. Ron and Jimmy have performed together three times to sold out shows at England’s premier r&b festivals as well as the largest festival of it‘s kind in the world, Wisconsin‘s Rockin’ ‘50‘s Fest.
In ‘09, now a four piece group, they released Roller Coaster Blues an original collecton of blues & American roots music, winning them Blues Review’s ‘Sponsor The Bands’ contest!
Chuck Schiele: You’ve have —what I imagine to be— a very satisfying music career. How did it all start out for you?
Ron Spencer: As a teenager I was into the Rolling Stones, Animals and the Yardbirds, etc., singing and playing harmonica. I was a late starter on guitar and didn’t take it seriously until my late twenties (I wasn’t one of those kids who saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan … ). I got one for Christmas when I was twelve!
CS: What moved you to play?
RS: Early on I would say Mark Doyle when he was in Jukin’ Bone. Once I gravitated more towards blues, Jimmy Thackery of the Nighthawks became a favorite. Working my way back to the originators like B.B. King, T- Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Albert King and Albert Collins, I gradually built a foundation for my playing. Like everyone else during the blues boom of the ‘80s, I was influenced by the Vaughn Brothers —Jimmy for his tra
ditional approach and Stevie for his more blues-rock style. I was also drawn to the swing or jazz side of blues and I went through a lengthy West Coast “jump blues” phase and drew from swing masters like Jr. Watson, Hollywood Fats, Kid Ramos, Alex Shultz and Rick Holmstrom.
CS: A paramount of the blues thing is the voice of the instrument. The distinction and personality of the player as it is expressed through the artist’s chosen gear. When it’s right, especially in the blues form, player and gear become one. What gear keeps you blue?
RS: I’m definitely “old school” when it comes to equipment! I found that the best way to get that “vintage sound” is to use vintage gear. I run a Fender Reverb unit into an old Silvertone tube amp from the mid ‘60s and a 15 watt Fender Pro Jr. for small clubs. My workhorse guitar is a “frankenstrat” that has two Gibson P-90 pickups and can give me whatever sound I’m looking for. I also have a guitar repair business, so I’m always experimenting with the pickups and electronics. For recording and slide playing I have a bunch of old Silvertone and Harmony guitars that I use.
CS: Share with us your thoughts on the Blues, itself.
RS: To the uninitiated there can be a misconception that blues is sad or depressing, but to us it’s joyous, uplifting —even celebratory! The blues is an expression of the soul, of one’s life experiences, something that everyone can relate to. It’s real and honest, doesn’t depend on trends or fads and never goes out of style. And judging by the dance floor, it’s great music to dance to!
CS: Thats one of the best answers I ever heard to that question. The blues is its own deep history — it’s own deep mystery. What would you tell a kid who’s getting into the blues, today?
RS: That’s pretty deep, Chuck! Yes, there are lot of references to voodoo and the devil, but seriously, I’d tell them that the blues has been at the core of most American music. Also, you don’t really choose to play the blues —it chooses you! If you are drawn to it, consider it a gift and embrace it. Respect the music and the audience, play from your heart and there will always be someone out there that will feel what you are saying to them with your music.
CS: How about a brief history and status of the Ron Spencer Band?
RS: We’ve been together for over 11 years, which is a long time in this business! A kind of musical telepathy develops when you’ve been playing with the same musicians that long. It makes for tight arrangements that can also be flexible enough to have an element of surprise to them. Mark Gibson is a very soulful singer, one of the area’s most entertaining frontmen and he just kills it every single night! On drums is Ross Moe who has been with me for 16 years. Bob Purdy, who has played with just about everyone locally, joined us on bass earlier this year. Collectively we’ve got over 180 years’ experience! With that much playing comes a maturity and mutual respect for each other that translates well on stage. The audience can sense our enjoyment and that in turn gives them permission to have fun. We never take them for granted and are thankful for each and every person that has chosen to spend their evening with us. We take pride in our arrangements of cover songs, but we’re especially proud of the great response that we get from our original material.
CS: You must have some pretty good stories by now.
RS: I’ve been very fortunate to have played with such great musicians over the years, many of them local. Backing CNY’s cream of the crop frontmen, Joe Whiting, Isreal Hagan, Dugan Henhawk and Jimmy Cavallo. I’ve had the best seat in the house! Playing festivals over in England with Jimmy, the two CDs I did with him, two SAMMYS and winning Blues Revue Magazines’ ‘Sponsor the Bands Contest’ with fellow winner, Joe Bonamassa, certainly rank right up there! Years ago we played a Friday night festival warm up show. Studebaker John, one of the acts for the next day’s lineup, sat in with us while we were playing one of his own songs —from our set list— very bizarre!
CS: Ready? … Set? … Go! … Top three blues legend’s in your opinion. Top three blues players, today. Who’s carrying the torch of tradition and/or pushing the boundaries of the blues form itself?
RS: T- Bone Walker, B.B. King, Albert King were innovators that represent the basis for most styles of blues and rock & roll. As for contemporary guitarists I would say Jr. Watson for his originality and unpredictability, Duke Robillard for his command of so many styles and Ronnie Earl for shear soulfulness. Gone too soon were Sean Costello and Nick Curran, both who were both torch bearers and genre jumpers. Thankfully, with artists like Gary Clark Jr. tapping into to a new younger audience, the future of the blues seems to be in good hands.
CS: What’s in your music near-future?
RS: We’re signed to a national blues artist agency in Florida that has booked us into several out of state festivals and concert venues this year. So we’re looking forward to expanding our reach next year. We’ll be performing new songs along with material from our two CDs as part of an all original music series at the Apple Station Nov. 18.
CS: How can we keep track of your progress?
RS: Our web site: ronspencerband.com, reverbnation/ronspencerband.com and facebook/ronspencerband.com.
CS: Thank you, Ron for taking some time to bring the blues to Table Hopping/Sounds of Syracuse.
RS: Thank you, Chuck. My pleasure.
Chuck Schiele is an award-winning musician, art director, producer, editorialist, artist, activist, member of SaltCityChill.com and fan of the CNY music scene. To be considered for this column, please write chuck.schiele@gmail.com.
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