Soulchoonz

Album Artwork What do Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, The Four Tops, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendrick, Kim Weston, L.J. Reynolds, Kirk Whalum, Rena Scott, Rene & Angela, Carrie Lucas, and Theo Peoples have in common? Well, Ronnie McNeir has produced, recorded with, written for, and/or played keyboards behind this all-star soul list. Despite his impressive resume, Ronnie McNeir is virtually unknown… in the United States. Across the Atlantic, he enjoys a high level of acclaim and his records go for thousands of dollars on the elite UK soul scene. As a vocalist, keyboardist, producer and songwriter in his own right, he has consistently had a hand in creating superb soul music since his debut on an obscure Detroit soul label many years ago.

His mellow tenor voice epitomizes smooth. His grooves, though always funky, define smooth. His songs are intensely personal , alternating between the sensual style of Marvin Gaye to the pointed social commentary of Curtis Mayfield. Like yet another great soul man, Stevie Wonder, he is a pioneer in using synth instrumentation to create funky and soulful grooves.

Album Artwork McNeir has been heard alongside Teena Marie on the classic 80s soul ballad, “We’ve Got To Stop Meeting Like This” from Marie’s “Starchild” album. He also lent backing vocals to Smokey Robinson’s “Love Breeze” LP. Currently, he sings tenor with the Four Tops, a position he has held for the past years, hand-selected by best friend, songwriting partner and original Four Top, Obie Benson.

Today, McNeir returns to the scene with his tenth album, Ronnie Mac & Company. With 14 smooth soul tracks, the album is a must-have for those who crave a contemporary spin on classic grown folks’ music. Ronnie Mac & Company is the singer’s invitation to get to know Ronnie McNeir. Ronnie Mac has seen and done it all and he shares his rich life experience in tracks such as Ain’t It Good To Know You’ve Got A Friend and his honest commentary on the state of the world, It’s A Shame People Have To Live This Way.

Album Artwork Just when you thought the brother was getting too deep, he serves up steppers’ grooves like Summertime Medley II and In The Mood to take your mind off such troubles. He invites listeners into his own confessional chamber with the painfully beautiful “Personal Testimony” which features Theo Peoples, his fellow Four Top and friend. The album portrays Ronnie in all his human complexity, sinner and saint; profound and playful all at once.

An updated version of McNeir’s Down In The Neighborhood will be a welcome surprise to fans of his last album, of the same name. Neighborhood portrays a gritty tale of life in the inner city with stark detail. From the troubles of the world to the troubles of love to the joys of summertime, Ronnie Mac & Company portrays a complex man: profound, playful, sensual and painfully aware of shortcomings – of himself and the world around him. A bonus track is his spoken word personal tribute to his best friend, original Four Top Renaldo “Obie” Benson.

BLUES AND SOUL’S BILL BUCKLEY GETS TO GRIPS WITH UK SOUL FAVE RONNIE McNEIR AND TALKS ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES, THE NOT –SO-GOOD-TIMES AND - MOST IMPORTANTLY - A BRAND NEW SOLO ALBUM!

To say Ronnie McNeir’s a soul veteran is like saying the Pope’s a Catholic! Ron’s sweet and distinctive style’s been wooing audiences for over thirty years, yet he still has fond memories of how he was first bitten by the music bug, “Yes, it was way back”, remembered Ron. “Dad bought mum a piano and it came with free lessons! Mum got the piano and I got the lessons … and then dad kind of took me under his wing and started putting me into talent shows – in between singing in Church, of course.”

Those talent shows led to a first single on the Deto label – ‘Sitting In My Class’ (still a Northern favourite), then, after relocating from Pontiac, Michigan to Los Angles, a young Ronnie became involved with a local church choir and through that he got to know Motown songstress Kim Weston. Kim helped Ronnie get a deal with RCA but the eponymous album didn’t mean much, though on re-issue in the UK in 1978 it did sell well. After RCA, ambitious Ronnie soon set up his own label, Setting Sun. But money was a problem. Ronnie:- “I had this fine silver ring that I was about to pawn for $150 to buy some studio time, but my friend , Lloyd Tyson stepped in and made me a loan”. With the cash Ron cut the oh-so-catchy ‘Wendy Is Gone’. Its instant, finger-click appeal attracted the attention of ex Motown exec Barney Ales who bought the song and subsequent album for his Prodigal Records. Then things got complicated, as Ronnie explains. “Unbeknown to me, Barney went back to Motown and gave them my record – which I wasn’t happy with’ cos I’ heard how easy it was for artists to get lost at Motown. But I was contracted to them and cut another LP, ‘Love’s Comin’ Down’, but after that Berry Gordy agreed to let me go. People say a lot of things about Berry Gordy but I really respect him for that. We both knew it wasn’t going to happen for me at Motown”.

Album Artwork After that Ronnie admits that he just floated around the edge of the music biz. He worked with people like Don Davis and Bunky Sheppard and his sporadic recordings included a fine duet with Rena Scott (‘A Different Kind Of Love’), a four track EP called ‘The Ronnie McNeir Experience’ and producing David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick’s’ I Couldn’t Believe It’. Ronnie also worked with Little Milton, Rance Allen, Carrie Lucas and Bobby Womack – working on ‘Caught Up In The Middle’ with him. However by the 1990s McNeir’s main living was playing the lounges of Las Vegas. Some of those earlier sporadic recordings, however, eventually turned up on British soul labels and their classy, sweet, sweet sound sealed Ron’s reputation as a bona-fide cult soul man. Sadly though it was a tough time for McNeir and he saw very little for his efforts – “with those records and all those deals, financially it just didn’t happen. I was surprised ‘cos I knew I was selling…. And maybe one day…one day, I’ll get what’s owed to me.”

Thankfully, however, things started to turn around. Ronnie recalls, “It was like a Cinderella story. It was in 2000 and I wasn’t working, when I got a call from the 4 Tops to stand in for their musical director who was ill. When he got better the Tops asked me to stay as a kind of safety valve ‘case the man got sick again. Then one night just as they were going on stage Levi Stubbs was sick and they asked if would step in for the night Wow! You know, I ditched the MD's tuxedo and Levi’s stage suit fitted just perfect… and, you know, I’m still there now! “

Ronnie’s association with the 4 Tops, of course, goes back long, long before 2000. Founding member of the Tops, Obie Benson had a hand in Ron’s two ground-breaking Motown albums and the pair soon became firm friends. Since meeting him, Ron always saw Obie as a second father – a trusted mentor.

Album Artwork Ronnie now tours constantly with the Tops and is working with them on a new album -watch for the first single ‘East Coast, West Coast’ in July’ - but though very busy, Ron’s has still found time to record a brand new album on his own Jupiter-Island label. “I’d had enough bad deals from other labels so I went back to having my own. I ain’t gonna rip myself off.” The album’s called ‘Ronnie Mac and Company’ – Why? “Well we’re like a real ensemble – a company if you like . On the album there’s Kirk Whalum, Kathy Lamar, the Ridgeway Sisters Miki Brown and my colleague in the Tops Theo Peoples”. But Ronnie’ vocals and his cool piano playing leads the way. There’s a real soul jazz feel to the music harking back to the style of one of our man's big musical influences Les McCann. “Yes, says Ronnie, “ there’s a big company on the album but I lead on the piano” and though its over thirty years since Wendy Is Gone’ you can still hear those distinctive multi-note piano chords. All the songs on the album are written by Ronnie, and its clear that the album’s most poignant track is a spoken eulogy to Obie Benson. Ronnie describes Obie as “a dynamite person … who kinda adopted me and showed me around the music biz. He also showed me not to worry or fret about anything.”

Ronnie’s in the UK in the Autumn with the 4 Tops and he’s hoping to find time to promote the album too. But in the meantime he has a message for his UK supporters, “I’d like to thank all my friends and fans in the UK for sticking with me – you’re my consolation. No matter how many people bootleg me and rip me off, I know the fans still respect and love my music.”

Biography

Album Artwork Lewis Ronald McNeir was raised in Pontiac, Michigan, where exemplary sounds of "sweet soul music" were all around him. A gifted pianist, possessed of a smooth n' easy tenor, McNeir jumped into the music business when he signed with De-to Records and recorded "Sitting in My Classroom," which has gained cult status among true soul connoisseurs and today commands hundreds of dollars. After a few more years on the then-vibrant Detroit soul scene, McNeir set his sights on Los Angeles. His reputation as a multitalented musician preceded him, landing him a gig as Motown legend Kim Weston's musical director. He earned the respect of many Motown alumni, including Stevie Wonder's mentor and songwriter, Clarence Paul, and original Four Top Renaldo "Obie" Benson. Through his position, McNeir became known around town as a true talent and was signed to RCA records, where he began forging his own signature sound.

Album Artwork McNeir's sound involved blending romantic tales of love and loss with lush synth instrumentation and subtle funky grooves. He released three albums, including the underrated Motown classic "Love Comin' Down," in the 1970s, all of which are held in high regard by soul aficionados. In the 1980s, McNeir's signature sound was in full effect. In 1984, "The Ronnie McNeir Experience" album entered the Billboard charts and featured the hit single "Come Be With Me." It was around this time Ronnie also produced one of the greatest steppers' grooves ever, Carrie Lucas' 1985 hit remake of "Hello Stranger." The recording is one of the most compelling examples of what happens when a producer tailors a track to truly fit the singer. Lucas' easy and soothing vocals are perfectly buoyed by a smooth synth track. The brilliantly produced track with background vocals provided by Lucas' Solar label mates, the mighty Whispers, begs to be enjoyed with a tropical conco

Album Artwork In 1997, Ronnie released “Down In the Neighborhood.” “Neighborhood” is a slick concept album with a jazz funk and R&B groove which explores the sometimes gritty tales of life in the heart of urban America. The album tastefully blends the best elements of classic soul, smooth R&B and contemporary hip-hop sounds. In spite of his hectic touring schedule with the Tops, Ronnie continues to collaborate with many great talents, including fellow Four Top, Theo Peoples, a multitalented singer, songwriter and instrumentalist in his own right. The duo awaits the release of their collaborative CD, "Life's II Short" on Baytar Records. Citing, "no rest for the weary", Ronnie is currently back in the studio putting the finishing touches on his first solo CD, in ten years. Ronnie's longevity on the music scene and his impressive credentials have not made him a superstar but he commands the utmost respect from his peers. and loyal fans. He is cited as being an underrated pioneer in synth instrumentation, a prolific, song writer and producer with a smooth groove voice and easy smile.