Ron Murray

During a function or club/restaurant date, I will perform music appropriate to the gathering, whether soft romantic background music, or energetic dance music, including requests made in advance by the client. My background enables me to offer all of the music needed for most functions, including wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours, as well as reception dance music. For corporate gatherings, themes can be chosen along similar lines to the concert presentations. We can do all-instrumental presentations as well, which are often preferred for background music situations. My solo act includes my own professionally-recorded backing tracks, excellent for small-budget situations where a full, danceable band sound would be desirable, and I also have excellent musicians on call to create a group of 2-6 pieces in Swing, Latin, Country and pop/rock styles, featuring the music of the 40s through current hits.

Full-time professional guitarist, background in classical, Flamenco, Brazilian, jazz, blues and pop styles, without or without vocals. Good reader, good ear player.
Play acoustic, classical and electric guitars, utilizing Bose L1 sound systems for high fidelity.
Performances in local venues, jazz festivals across the country, and with Boston Pops, Minnesota Symphony, Sergio Franchi, Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones, Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly, and many others. I taught at New England Conservatory's Extension Division for many years, and was also on the faculty or staff of Berklee College of Music, Wesleyan University and Boston Conservatory of Music. I have recorded 8 CDs, my latest being "Romanza" on the Whaling City Sound label.
My solo repertoire ranges from classical to Flamenco to Bossa and my arrangements of standards and pop hits. I sing in a soft Jobim/Knopfler style, covering swing era classics, oldies, calypso, country, classic rock and bossa-nova songs in Brazilian Portugese, Gypsy Kings in Spanish. I can work solo acoustic, with my own tracks, made in my studio, in a duo with percussion or sax/flute, or with a band of 3-5 pieces (my trio is called Vinyl Daze, and can be augmented by horns and/or keyboards). My wardrobe includes tuxedo, suits, calypso style, Spanish style vest and tux shirt, everything from formal to casual, but always looking like a pro performer. I use the Bose L1 sound system for most engagements, but also own battery-powered amplification for sailboat or garden gigs. My best situations are listening clubs/restaurants, weddings, corporate functions, house parties or other somewhat sophisticated, mixed-age audiences. I can play for dancing with tracks or a band, mostly well-known classics from the 1940s to 1970s.

We generally provide our own sound and lights for small functions (up to 200 guests), with the client supplying tech support for larger situations. We have worked in major casinos with full tech, as well as in aircraft hangars with hired sound and lights (Pratt & Whitney is one of our repeat clients); we work outdoors, on yachts and sailboats (battery-operated amplification is available when needed), and have performed for audiences of 12 (executive dinners) to 2000 (Mohegan Sun Annual Tribal dinners) and to as many as 5000 (opening for the Benny Goodman Orchestra at Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford, CT). As a solo performer, I often concertize in libraries and museums, and can provide my own sound reinforcement for audiences of up to 250 or so. We like to feel that we are easy to work with, and we don't make unreasonable demands, although we always are at the top of our game when everything works right. We will supply technical riders with contracts when warranted, but, again, they are generally quite reasonable. I have found through the years that a little bit of professional courtesy and trust goes a very long way.