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Artist
Ronnie Burrage
12+ albums
drumsjazz
about
Ronnie Burrage (born James Ronaldo Burrage October 19, 1959) is an American jazz drummer. His style draws from jazz, funk, and soul. Career: He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Burrage sang in the St. Louis Cathedral boys' choir from age seven to eleven and performed with Duke Ellington at the age of nine. He was introduced to jazz by listening to music every day from uncles and grandparents. He played drums, percussion, and vibraphone and sang in funk, R&B, and jazz groups, including The Soul Flamingos, Fontella Bass, Oliver Sain, Third Circuit & Spirit, Rainbow Glass, and Expression Jazz Quintet. From age 15 to 17, Burrage was a member of No Commercial Potential with Mark Friedrick on keyboards, Darryl Mixon on bass, and Richie Daniels on guitar. They were the opening act for George Duke and Gino Vannelli. Burrage played in clubs, concerts, and venues, including the annual Afro Day in the Park in St. Louis. When he was 17, he moved to New York City, and played with Lester Bowie, Defunkt, Teruo Nakamura, Roland Hanna, and Major Holley. In 1978, on a full music scholarship, he attended North Texas State University. As a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Jazz Quintet in the early 1980s, he worked with musicians coming through St. Louis, such as Arthur Blythe, Andrew Hill, Jackie McLean, and McCoy Tyner. After working with Woody Shaw, he founded an avant-garde jazz group named Third Kind of Blue with Anthony Cox and John Purcell. In the 1990s, he recorded w
