At the first glance of Ron Ebel, you will notice his electric blue eyes in contrast to his ever groomed white hair and decorum, that one could easily draw the conclusion, yes, he is a gentleman. Get a little closer and you will also discover his mild manner approach to surroundings, may it be friends, family or performing on stage, its easy to see why Ron has a loyal fan base that seek out his shows to dance to or maybe just hang out and sing along with that old familiar tune that may help us forget about our troubles of the week. Yes, The Gentleman Troubadour.
I was able to take a moment to speak with Ron about his beginnings, his inspirations, musical triumph and yes, his defeats at an old familiar stomping ground where he and I have played at for decades. This being my first interview for BackStage360, my maiden voyage at the writers helm, I didn’t want to sound cliche out of the starting gate, but Ron is my friend, and I want to know where and when it all began, and where it may ultimately lead.
I arrived at the venue at 7:50 pm and immediately noticed all of his instruments lined up. A sax, flute and harmonica all laid around his central command center, the keyboard. Ron is a genuine music man. The fact that he doesn’t have the Clash’s “God Save the Queen” on the set list doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have an appreciation for the impact it had on the contemporary music culture. He is flanked by a duo of outstanding musicians in there own right. Drummer Jamie Dixon, an accomplished rhythm section veteran both in studio and live, plays like he is joined at the rhythm hip with another superb musician and accomplished guitarist, Tomas Klein. (a.k.a. Tommy Gunn) of the popular group SOUL DIEGO. Together as the Bell Pepperz, a jazzy-pop trio, they tear through song after song and by the end of the first set, they covered everything from Jerry Lee Lewis to Steely Dan “working from one end to another….and all points in-between”.
Ron has a music company named Bell Music Services that has been providing entertainment and educational programs in San Diego and North San Diego County for over 10 years. Ron also offers instructions on a variety of instrument, voice, clinics and even band camp. And now, here’s the plug….”DJ, Karaoke and Live Bands are available for any occasion.
Ron’s first performance was in 1964 his was 8 years old. It was a piano recital and he recalls that moment in Indiana. “I was so nervous that my palms got so sweaty that it made my fingers were slipping off the keys”. Fast forward, Ron has worked the big stages in the USA and abroad with legendary groups such as the Coaster’s, The Platters. The Drifters and the Shirelle’s. Music directing behind these seasoned entertainers one can see why Ron can easily capture an audience and keep them dancing through the night. He steps up on the stage like he’s home. In fact, he may even seem a tad nervous but when the lights go on. Like most of us vets of the bar stage, he clicks into gear and settles into the set list like a “1,000 times before”. This evening’s line up “The Bell Pepperz.”
360: As we sit here five minutes before your gig, what goes through your head before a gig?
RE: Well, to be received well is important. This is the second time we’ve played here and the first time we didn’t know how we would be received because we are more of a jazzier-pop trio and this venue is known more for a rock environment. But it went over really well, we had a great crowd and people were enjoying themselves.
360: Have you kept your same music style throughout your career?
RE: I’ve worked with veteran entertainers in the oldies circuit like the Platters, Coasters, Drifters, Shirrelles, and these people were entertainers to the core. They could sing, dance, tell jokes, they had it all. I played with a pianist for a couple of years. We toured Japan and he was the intimate entertainer. While we were in Japan in, I think, ’85 we played the World’s Fair and there were at least 20-30,000 people in the audience. The Japanese were great hosts and they appreciate music. It was fun and it was all about the music.
360: At the risk of sounding cliché, who were your earliest influences in your teens and how has it changed over the decades?
RE: Okay, so do you remember Tom Cruise who slides out in his underwear singing Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock-N-Roll? Well, that was me except, I was singing Frank Sinatra songs in my underwear not Seger! (Laughs!)
360: Okay, now we’re getting somewhere!
RE: My older brother was my influence because, he was cooler than me. He had the Zeppelin, Stones and Beatles albums and I was gobbling it up. But I was playing clarinet at the time and I couldn’t figure out how to meld them together. But later in High School in (I?) got into Jazz ad started hanging out with Jazz players into collage. However, my Dad was my early influence because he played piano very well and at one point he was considering becoming a concert pianist but decided to become a doctor instead.
360: So, I take it you grew up with standards and whole variety music like, from Brubeck to Tchaikovsky?
RE: Yes we had Brubeck and George Shearing, people like that. But I also remember when I was young I had this snare drum that I use to to pound to (Iron Butter Fly’s) “Inagodadavivda” drum solo non-stop….(laughs!).
360: Didn’t we all…. (A? laughs!)
RE: Again, those were my early influences.
360: What was your first Concert?
RE: That was the Zombies in like, 1968 but my first real rock concert was Led Zeppelin in 1970, and that was the freakiest thing I’ve ever seen, I mean the lead singer (Robert Plant) didn’t have a shirt on, all of them had hair down to their ass and there was this funny smelling smoke wafting through the air everyone was screaming, half naked women running around, and I thought…….this is what I want to do!
360: So, that was your “oh shit” moment when you thought, I want to do this?
RE: Yep, that was Led Zeppelin for ya, more so, that’s rock and roll!!!
By Pat Raymond / BackStage360