Raised in Norfolk, Virginia, Ron Hedland began his career in
the mid-sixties Virginia Beach music scene. Graduating to tours from Florida
to New York, he opened for the likes of Taj Mahal and Jerry Jeff Walker.
Moving to Toronto in the early seventies, Hedland became a charter member
of the Yonge Street lounge scene with Slyfox - soul, sin, rhythm and dues
eleven hours, six days a week complementing exotic dancers at the Bermuda
Tavern. It was there, for economic reasons, that Ron introduced his triple-threat
signature trademark combining drums, keyboards, and singing simultaneously.
As a jingle singer and voice-over pitchman for national advertising
campaigns, he established a blue collar industry image. The countless solo,
sideman, and group gigs led to the formation of RH Positive under his leadership.
Ron had a voice that could warm a room in winter. That distinctive tone
found a home as house announcer at the infamous Le Strip. The nineties
saw Hedland as an active member of the Beaches community performing at
both the Beaches Jazz and the Harbourfront Soul and Blues festivals.
In the tradition of Ray Charles, Hedland embraced all Southern sounds
- the themes that affected and directed his life. Balancing with integrity
the full musical spectrum, it was with ballads that he found strong satisfaction.
"Most vocalists can handle uptempo, but not as many can deliver and sell
a ballad", he once commented without bravado. Tragically, Ron Hedland was
murdered in November 1998, right outside his home in Toronto.
On Sunday, December 13th, 1998 more than four hundred friends of the
slain musician met at Toronto's Brunswick House to acknowledge and celebrate
his music and his life. The generous contributions donated on that evening
allowed the publishing of the "Someday" retrospective recording. "Someday",
a fifteen song compilation CD revisits two decades of recordings by the
late Ron Hedland, a fixture of the Toronto music scene for over 30 years,
and expresses a key essence of Southern roots music - that soulful search
when someday could be today. The compositions found in "Someday" explore
the vulnerable nature of relationships and private frailty with the open
warmth and humour he characterized.
Hampered by failing health, the last years of Ron's life became personally
difficult and professionally erratic. This testament documents a brighter
era when it was the music itself that represented him. It says a lot about
a man when his peers and the music community that he was a part of pool
their resources to produce a CD that was never brought to life while Ron
was alive, but should have been. Obviously this was their way of paying
homage to a gifted musician/songwriter whose music they felt should not
remain a secret.
Ron's memory and unique style "live on" every time a track from "Someday"
is played. Here are a few of the comments by Ron’s musical friends: Gary
Kendall - bass player, Downchild Blues Band Ron Hedland's reputation always
preceded him. In the midseventies I heard about a band called "Sly Fox"
that had a steady gig at the Bermuda Tavern on Yonge Street in downtown
Toronto. I first met Ron in 1978, Ron & I were the rhythm section in
one of Mike McDonald's many bands. Ron & I hit it off right away even
though at first I was a little intimated because of his reputation as a
heavy duty player.
This was the start of Ron turning me onto his talent as a songwriter.
I was amazed at the quality of the demo's he and his producer/partner Dave
Mayle were making on what I think was a four track reel to reel machine.
For the next 20 years until his death in 1998 , Ron sent me a copy of everything
he recorded, even jingles.
Danny Marks - guitarist, radio host, BLUZ.FM Ronnie Hedland wasn't a
big guy but he sure had a big presence, booming his voice out of that barrel
chested physique, he'd call your name loud and warm. Ron had a real "lived
in" voice. 100% Human. Our history began when I first walked into the Bermuda
Tavern on Yonge Street to check out the gig situation. The most striking
sight on that stage, (even more than the go go girls), was Ronnie at the
Wurlitzer, soloing with one hand, drumming with the other hand and both
feet, and all the time singing like Ray Charles. All the while, smoking
tons of Export A.
Ronnie was a machine, all limbs akimbo, a one man show within the trio.
It's also true he had a great sense of humour, and he was a very personable
host for the guys who where there to see the girls. The secret however
was the musicianship, and we all knew that. Greg Anzelc - drummer "He was
my mentor - he was the first guy I played with in clubs and he taught me
how to listen to the music and then just play it." Robbie Rox - singer/composer
for The Monster Horn Band Ron had a smile that could warm up the whole
Beach area of Toronto. He was a very tasteful player and had a very warm
low voice with a nice touch of raunchiness.
In conclusion It says a lot about a man when his peers and the music
community that he was a part of pool their resources to produce the CD
that was never brought to life while Ron was alive, but always should have
been. Obviously this was their way of paying homage to a gifted musician/songwriter
whose music they felt should not remain a secret. Ron's memory and unique
style live on every time a track from the CD "Someday" is played.
