Ron Thompson - May 2007 Bluesletter

Vacation time is upon the horizon and high time it is! Ron often says, "I play the music for free. They pay me to GET THERE."

Ron will be getting to a lot of "there's" in the next few months. If your vacation plans do not include California this year (where Ron appears frequently), perhaps he will be performing in your city--or even better, you might catch him during your vacation out of town.

Ron will be performing in Colorado, the Midwest, Mexico, and the Pacific Northwest. Other concerts are in the works--stay tuned!

Here are a few of the places where you can catch Ron during the next month. Check his online calendar for more dates, and check back often to see what new cities Ron has added to his itinerary.

From the Rockies to the Great Lakes!

If you live in Colorado or the Midwest, you are in luck. Current dates for Ron's upcoming Spring tour include:

May 26 & 27
Beaver Creek Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
Avon, Colorado
Also appearing: Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers & Joe Bonamassa

June 1
Dubh Linn's
Duluth, Minnesota

June 3
Bev's Jook Joint
Superior, Wisconsin

June 6
The Zoo Bar
Lincoln, Nebraska

June 7
Blues on Grand
Des Moines, Iowa

June 8
Famous Dave's
Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 9
Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Festival
Minneapolis, MN

Ron will return to Colorado in September to headline the Belvedere Blues Festival .

Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise!

Ron will be cruising again in October, as a "special guest" on the incredible Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. The cruise will depart from San Diego and visit the "Mexican Riviera," with stops planned in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Manzanillo. An all-star line-up will be onboard to provide more great blues in one week than most people experience in a lifetime!

Cabins are still available. Book now and join Ron and his many musician buddies for the best vacation you may ever have.

Maui, Music and Mick

Mick Fleetwood, one of Ron's closest friends for many years, recently visited the San Francisco Bay Area where Mick was promoting his new premium wine offerings. Ron and Mick got to hang out a bit and decided it was time to join musical forces once more.

Mick and Ron plan to perform together in Maui quite soon. The dates are still being discussed and have not been confirmed, but if you are planning that Hawaiian vacation, do check Ron's online calendar before you make travel plans. You might be able to catch one of Ron and Mick's celebrated performances while you are enjoying the Islands.

Recommended Reading

Ron was pleased and honored to contribute his recollections about one of his greatest musical heroes--the late Jimmy Reed--for the recently published biography of Reed, "Big Boss Man: The Life and Music of Bluesman Jimmy Reed," by Will Romano.

Ron performed with Jimmy Reed in the 70's and the experience remains one of the personal highlights of Ron's musical career. To this day, Ron still studies Reed's music and considers him to be one of the finest musicians ever.

Romano interviewed Ron for "Big Boss Man." Ron provided some fascinating memories and his thoughts about Jimmy Reed.

"Big Boss Man" is a superbly written and well-researched book by one of today's premiere music writers. You can order your copy through amazon.com. Enjoy!

More News

Ron will be teaming up with soul bluesman Johnny Rawls in late summer for a few performances in Northern California. Check Ron's online calendar soon for the dates and venues.

Shhhhhhhh! Ron will be making several big announcements in the very near future, but we are sworn to secrecy for the time being. But think television, radio, books, big cities....lots of fun is on the horizon!