Ron Fox, trumpet
I was born 1960, LI, NY. I started trumpet in the fourth grade because my father played trumpet before becoming a chiropractor. I hold an Associate Degree in Music from Suffolk Community College, Selden, NY, a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami Fla., and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Dowling College, Oakdale, NY.
My musical influences are Maynard Ferguson, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Tower of Power, Chase, Blood Sweat & Tears and Chicago to name a few.
I am an original member of the Funk Filharmonik.
How I became a member:
After graduating college in Florida and moving back to NY, I met Paul Kendall, a baritone saxophone player, at a Big Band rehearsal. He told me about a funk band he had been rehearsing with, playing music by Tower of Power. He also mentioned that they needed a good lead trumpet player and asked me to come to a rehearsal. Having a love for, and a desire to play that type of music, I jumped at the opportunity. Ironically, while I was playing for a wedding at the Crest Hollow Country Club with a Top-40 band, Ozzie Melendez and Vinny Cinquemani were playing a wedding in the room down the hall. On a break they came into the room where I was playing. They heard me play and we met and talked about this funk band that they were rehearsing with; the same band I heard about from Paul Kendall, and was about rehearse with. I went to the rehearsal at a studio in Huntington and played with the band. We really clicked as a group. I was the lead trumpet player they were looking for. We rehearsed weekly and got along well, both musically and personally. When we had enough material to play publicly, we played our first gig at the Brokerage in Bellmore, LI, and the rest is history.
The most memorable gig was the very first one. We came into an empty club to set up and do a sound check. After the sound check, we all went out to a diner to eat and talk about the set list for the show. When we came back, the club was packed with people, especially other local musicians who were eager to hear the band that they had heard about for so long. Never before has there been a band on Long Island that had a full rhythm section with percussion, 5 horns, lead and back-up vocals, covering music by Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, and Steely Dan. When we came out to play, the crowd went crazy. They loved us. It was like playing at Madison Square Garden! That was something I’ll never forget.
Some notable musicians I’ve worked with include:
Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, The Spinners, The Drifters, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Valli, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Randy Brecker and Bob Mintzer.
In addition to playing with Funk Filharmonik, I perform regularly around the tri-state area with various ensembles and bands. I also teach music in high school. I am the director of the East Islip Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble, all of which have won prestigious awards. I also teach privately.
Equipment:
· Yamaha 6310ZS Trumpet
· Audio-Technica Pro 35X microphone
· Samson Airline Wireless System
· Series One Receiver