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Ron Small launched his career as a vocalist while in the US Air Force. Following a transfer from his hometown of Chicago to the McChord Air Force Base in Washington, he became involved with the vocal group the Fabulous Pearls, a talented ensemble that went on to win top prize in the military talent show Tops in Blue. As a result, they were featured on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. The widespread attention and acclaim enjoyed by the Pearls eventually brought them north of the border to perform in Vancouver, where Small decided to stay following his discharge from the military. Here, he became an integral part of the local music scene, and was a prominent performer at both Isy's Supper Club and the Smilin' Buddha, where he worked for six years as an emcee. Small's abilities as a performer were valued by the owner of this East End club to such an extent that he declared Ron to be his "talisman."

"People would be going to work, we're coming out at 5 or 6 in the morning still in our evening wear." - Ron Small

Small cites the "girl singers" of the jazz era as his most important musical influences, noting that they were not only the best singers, but also the ones that got to sing the songs with good lyrics, "songs you could cry on." However, Small had much more to offer Vancouver than a melodious voice. He became the owner of "Ronnie's Riverqueen," which presented "some of the best jazz Vancouver had to offer in the late '60s and early '70s" ("Ron").

"Along came the Beatles singing "Yeah, yeah, yeah" and my career went out the window." - Ron Small

The pressures that the explosion of rock 'n roll exerted on the Vancouver music scene put the squeeze on local musicians. Fortunately, Small was able to get work in film, stage, and television, and, beginning in 1974, spent a fruitful twenty years in Toronto. In 1993, he was cast in Garth Drabinsky's revival of Show Boat, with which he toured extensively. Small returned to Vancouver following a six month engagement in England in 1998. However, singing the same music night after night had taken its toll on Small's instrument, and he found that his voice had become accustomed to performing in a limited range. It took a stint in Vancouver's Good Noise Gospel Choir, with whom Small continues to sing, to rediscover the full span of his abilities.

"Thank you, Jesus, you've given me my voice back." - Ron Small

Today, the seventy-year old musician is enjoying such success that he finds himself "waiting for the other shoe to drop." He assures audiences that, as long as Tony Bennett is around, he will be too, and cautions the powers that be not to try and take him yet. Small says that he will insist that the angels "turn that light off, and close down that tunnel," because he still has work to do.

FOR MORE INFO

Ron Small Official Website
www.ronsmall.org