Ron has spent the last 20 years performing and recording mostly original music in and around N.Y.C. with bands such as Atomsmasher, Rooftop Cowboys (n/k/a Mad Cow Town), Third Stone Singer's Collective and Chasing Sunday.  He had an epiphany while watching friends joyfully playing with a cover band in a local bar a few years ago: it was time to dedicate his playing time to the music he loved most, the Grateful Dead.   Within days he stumbled on a Westchester appearance of Half Step, and within months he was honored to take over the drum chair.  Ron approaches the music of the Grateful Dead by playing with the feel of Billy Kreutzmann, infused with the dramatic flair of Mickey Hart. Now in his fourth year with the band, he has never been happier to play with such fine, kind and "Dead-on" musicians.

For you drummers and other gearheads, the drumset Ron plays with Half Step is an early 1980's Tama Superstar kit in Cherry Wine finish (see photos below).  When space allows, the drums are as follows: 8" x 14" Tama Artwood Snare Drum, 14", 10", 12" and 13" rack toms, 16" floor tom, (Remo Pistripe drum heads on top, Clear Remo Ambassadors on bottom), 22" kick drum (Aquarian SuperKick 2 heads, logo head by DrumArt.com), High Octobans (pair), all mounted on a Gibraltar Rack.  The cymbals are "A" Zildjian 14" New Beat High-Hats, 16" Medium Crash, 10" Splash, 20" Ping Ride, 18" Medium Crash, 18" Paiste China type, 6" Latin Percussion Ice Bell (not pictured); and finally, the industry standard, an LP Cowbell.  The full set-up is insipired by and blends elements of Billy and Mickey's drum sets in the late 1980's. 

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