07/02/2024
Ronny Drayton (1953-2020)
Let the magic begin
“The musical highlight of my life was when I realized that I could say things with my instrument that I couldn’t say otherwise, and touch people with my music. I treat this as the greatest resource.”
Ronny was raised in South Jamaica, Queens NY. He first played the drums and started playing guitar at the age of 14, and went into it hardcore at 17.´
The guitar my grandma gave me, I still have it. There is a great connection between the human voice and the guitar. I fell for that, the guitar was the pitch for me and the tone. I love listening to guitars combined with singers.
“What matures an instrumentalist is personal development, the development of character.”
“ I played in many bands, and had the pleasure to meet Jimi Hendrix, my mentor. There was a band called The Exciters who lived and played in a house on my block, and their house was the place where everyone went when they came through town. Jimi was there, Buddy Miles Express, Little Richard, Wilson Picket. Ike & Tina Turner. Otis Redding. All of them were friends with The Exciters. We had such a great time!
“It is amazing for the listener as the guitar sounds like its hovering ongoing backward.”
”Ronny studied Composition and Arrangement in Kingsborough, and played with Edwin Birdsong, Albert King, Roy Ayers, Atilla Zoller, James Blood Ulmers, Janet Jackson, Meshell N’degeocello, Alica Keys, Defunkt, Bernard Fowler, Todd Rundgren, just to name a few.
My journey continues, it feels like painting as I dig deeper into the algorithms. Moving things to my ears liking and feeling instantly the joy of the sounds that harmonize.
I can’t wait to use this pedal on the next tour in the fall and with my own band " Fire In The Sky ". Let the magic begin….
Thank you for putting this paintbrush in my hands Monica.
Ronny "Head" Draytone
Photocredit: Getty Images/Al Pereira
Ronny Drayton (May 19, 1953 – February 7, 2020)
guitarist