Ron Hendee & The Ron Hendee Band
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Ron began playing trumpet at age ten. At age twelve he began studying privately with the late Cliffford Sproul. Ron expressed interest in jazz/blues music so Clifford introduced him to Robert Austin who was the director of the All City Junior High and High School Bands comprised of the best musicians in the area. Ron was placed into the All City Junior High School Jazz Ensemble. Upon entering high school, Ron had a place in the All City High School Jazz Ensemble. The family was relocated to Everett, Washington during the fall of Ron's sophomore year. Not knowing anyone, he auditioned for the high school stage band. Director, Ken Kraintz, immediately placed Ron into the solo trumpet position in the band. After a few months performing with the high school band, Ron found an all area jazz band directed by Jan Jessen. Jan also placed Ron into the solo jazz spot until graduation from high school. The day after graduation, Jan set up an audition, for Ron, with one of Seattle's touring bands (The Springfield Rifle). After about nineteen months with them, Ron joined Shirley Lorene & Rushour. After leaving that band, Ron joined up with another group and toured for a few years until joining the Air Force. He performed with the Air Force Bands and was a featured trumpet/flugelhorn/vocal soloist throughout his military career. After his stint with the service, Ron decided to go back to school where he met Fred Radke (stage band director at North Seattle Community College). Fred placed Ron into the solo trumpet chair for the duration of his time at the college. Ron began writing music and freelancing with many different Seattle area bands after college but, it wasn't enough. He ran into Randy Oxford who introduced him to The Legendary Blues Cruise. Randy told Ron that it was a networking opportunity of a lifetime. Randy encouraged Ron to go and experience the chance to play with some of the nation's best blues performers. Since that first cruise, Ron has shared the stage with such greats as Tommy Castro, Bernard Allison, Chico Banks, Marcia Ball, Eden Brent, Elvin Bishop, Lionel Young, Keith Crossan's Big Band, Lee Oskar & The Low Rider Band, Curtis Salgado, Lloyd Jones, and many more. He has performed with Northwest greats Polly O'Keary & The Rhythm Method, The Red Hot Blues Sisters, The Greg Marshal Band, The Randy Oxford Band, and The Mark Whitman Band. He currently performs with, not only his own band but, with Hot Rod's Blues Revue. Ron feels his new band is the best group of musicians around with Doug Kearney (guitars/vocals), Jim Cliff (bass/vocals), and Matt Williams (drums). They are currently booking gigs throughout the United States and foreign countries. Ron's new CD "Through The Arch" (from darkness to light) is getting airplay world wide. The CD features national/international artists Mike Rogers (drums), Eden Brent (piano on My Little Boogaloo written by for her), Doug Kearney (guitars), Darryl "Funky Z" Fields (bass), Scotty Harris (bass, saxes), and Lissa Ramaglia (bass/background vocals). Ron is a featured jam host on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. For the October 2012 Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, he was asked by Tommy Castro to write and arrange horn parts and play trumpet for the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue featuring Tommy, Deanna Bogart, Ronnie Baker Brooks, and Magic Dick. After the cruise, Tommy hired Ron to write and arrange horn parts and play trumpet for the revue featuring Tommy, Rod Piazza, Samantha Fish, and Kenny Neal for the January 2013 blues cruise.