Rockin’ Ron Ruedi
Red Light, Green light.
Rockin’ Ron Ruedi steps on the gas. The acceleration is physical. He moves, and the audience moves with him. He gets under your skin, fast. He is an old-school Portland guitar player, of note, living and breathing the definition of a one-man band. He has his own light show too. There is more, a lot more.
“He is a Portland icon. Impressive guy. Ron is certainly one of Portland’s lead entertainers year after year, and a friend too,” said Jim Conway, a retired Portland radio personality with the likes of KGON 92.3, KSGO 1520 am, and KISN 97.1, but the list goes on.
It’s not just the music with Rockin’ Ron Ruedi; he’s a storyteller. The beauty of Ruedi is he plays covers with a story behind the songs he plays, including his music. He envelops audience members in story and song. One comes away with a sense of musical history after listening to him. He does a lot for one guy. His music history enriches.
“It’s about someone in the audience being intrigued when I recount the history of the song’s writers, performers, culture, and times. It’s about reliving and reminiscing those yesteryears that, as time goes by, we find more enjoyable in memory than when we lived them,” says Ruedi.
Ruedi brings a nice feel to his performances. He connects with his audience both on and off the stage. He pumps life into the audience; there is no slowdown throughout both sets. His vocals are good, sometimes great, depending on the music. His setlist included musical luminaries such as Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Chuck Berry, and Wilson Pickett, and the list continues.
“Makes my heart sing, my feet dance, and my face smile. Wow! He’s jamming and hopping; I cannot sit still while listening,” said audience member Christine Pennel seeing Rockin’ Ron Ruedi for the first time. It won’t be her last.
Ruedi has done his solo act since 1975. He operates the light show song to song. In addition to singing, his left foot plays a Drum Tech foot trigger that triggers a snare drum and hi-hat, while the right foot plays a Roland kick drum, plus a separate ride cymbal trigger. The guitar is wired, so he can get both bass and lead guitar simultaneously. Impressive.
Ron Ruedi is a patriot. He is an ex-marine who serves his community at various Gresham conventions. His community involvement includes:
- Conducts Veteran Day and Marine Corps Birthday Celebration programs.
- Task Force member in the design and development of The Gresham Heroes Memorial.
- Sings at the Gresham Heroes Memorial for their Memorial and Veterans Day programs.
- Raised $10,000 to purchase Christmas presents for Under-privileged Children of Baltimore, Maryland. He took kids to Toys R Us to buy what each wanted.
The list goes on.
Rockin’ Ron Ruedi plays monthly at Mr. J’s Bar and Grill. According to the owner Mark Joesph, the frequency Rockin’ Ron Reudi plays there may become more frequent.
Mark Joseph has a history of success as the former owner of Lydia’s for twenty-six years. Mr. J’s Bar and Grill is a spacious venue with a 112-seat capacity. It is a liquor bar with reasonably priced comfort food, two pool tables, numerous big screens throughout the venue, and video games. There seems to be something for everyone. Comfortable.
Since Rockin’ Ron Reudi doesn’t have a website or Facebook page, he does have an email he will answer at, RonaldC.Ruedi@hotmail.com for venue updates. There is also Ron Ruedi and the Hurricanes, a thunderous band in their own right.
Do yourself a favor and pick yourself up and check this guy out. He’s that good.
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