{"id":1404,"date":"2015-08-13T00:00:39","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T00:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/?p=1404"},"modified":"2016-12-27T18:36:17","modified_gmt":"2016-12-27T18:36:17","slug":"ronnie-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/ronnie-king\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronnie King"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pLxxDjURD70?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/ronniekingmusic.com\" target=\"_blank\">Ronnie King<\/a> is a &#8220;Multi-platinum, Oscar and Grammy nominated, Diamond Certified (more than 10 million units) producer, composer, arranger, musician and philanthropist&#8221;. \u00a0He has worked with some of\u00a0the greatest recording artists of our day including Mariah Carrey, The Offspring, Tupac Shakur, the infamous gangster rap group N.W.A including members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dog just to name a few. \u00a0Having grown\u00a0up in Southern California he is an\u00a0integral\u00a0part of the &#8220;OC&#8221; music scene. \u00a0He is a classically trained keyboardist\u00a0having received training\u00a0through the prestigious music program\u00a0Theory at Berkeley. \u00a0He has toured with numerous bands performing\u00a0at some of the largest venues around the world including Tokyo Dome in Japan. \u00a0He is also heavily involved in philanthropic work and is playing a role in introducing local and indigenous music with its roots in the Southern\u00a0<\/strong><b>California region to the rest of the world. \u00a0Ronnie King is someone who &#8220;relentlessly and effortlessly feels the heart and soul of the artist&#8230;&#8221; \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong>Hello Ronnie King! \u00a0It is so great to have the chance to talk\u00a0to you. \u00a0You have had a long and multi-faceted career.\u00a0 Performing yourself as well as producing acts from genres diverse as punk, rap, country, rock and R&amp;B.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-03-PM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1445 alignright\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-03-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 32 03 PM\" width=\"350\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-03-PM.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-03-PM-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-03-PM-300x300.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a>1.\u00a0 I\u2019m curious to know about your early life &#8211; before coming to LA.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I grew up in a small town called Indio, which is next to Coachella where they have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coachella.com\" target=\"_blank\">Coachella Festival<\/a> now.\u00a0 Boy&#8230; things have changed.<\/p>\n<p><b>2.\u00a0 I have heard from your previous interviews that you come from a musical family.\u00a0 What instruments did your family play and did they write music?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, all of my 6 brothers and sisters play music and instruments and write music.\u00a0 We used to write all kinds of ballads and love songs, we come from a pretty quiet upbringing.<\/p>\n<p><b>3.\u00a0 Can you tell us about your early influences?\u00a0 What kind of music were you listening to as a kid?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I was listening to Barry Manilow, Shic, lots of R &amp; B and, of course, the Beetles.\u00a0 Probably my biggest influences on the piano was Chick Coroa and McCoy Tinner &#8211; some pretty heavy Jazz virtuosos and let&#8217;s not forget the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n<p><b>4.\u00a0 I heard your brother was a performer?\u00a0 What kind of music did he play?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I started at an early age with the family band and then moved on to playing professionally with my brother, John Stanley, at the age of 14 playing at weddings, community functions and parties.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1452\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757.jpg\" alt=\"ronniekingmusic-cover-008\" width=\"321\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-008-e1439471934757-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 321px) 100vw, 321px\" \/><\/a>5.\u00a0 While most kids were out drinking with their friends you said you were making $300 a night.\u00a0 What inspired you to pursue this passion &#8211; it is amazing you had this maturity at such a young age.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, my friends were all out partying on Friday night and I was playing at the nightclub, but I come from a very wealthy environment with my friends, so in order to stay up with them, I worked.\u00a0 That way I would have money to play with all my friends.\u00a0 I have to thank my brother for my maturity, because he pushed me in to being a professional.<\/p>\n<p><b>6.\u00a0 You\u2019ve said you \u201cwanted to be a suit\u201d.\u00a0 Its obvious you saw the music industry as a business early on.\u00a0 What feeds your passion to develop people\u2019s musical talents?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, this is a business of music for me there is no doubt.\u00a0 I wanted to be a suit because I hung out with some of the best businessmen in my career and I really liked that positioning.\u00a0 In developing artists, I always try to encourage that side of the business as well as the creative.\u00a0 People don&#8217;t just become stars, you have to work at it.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-1434 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image.jpg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image.jpg 720w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a>7.\u00a0 Can you tell us about your time studying theory through the Berkeley music program?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>In ninth grade I got accepted to study Berkeley Theory at our local college.\u00a0 Not a lot of people wanted to know about music theory, so my brother, Glen, got me into the program.\u00a0 The rest is basically music history.\u00a0 What a great program.<\/p>\n<p>8.\u00a0 <b>Who was Joanna Hodges?\u00a0 What were some of the lessons she taught you during your studies? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>Joanna Hodges was my piano teacher in college.\u00a0 She was very strict and organized the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vwipc.org\" target=\"_blank\">Virginia Waring Piano Competition<\/a> &#8211; which is a very prestigious piano competition throughout the world.\u00a0 She was the one that really gave me the ultimatum of really buckling down and taking piano and classic music seriously or go into the music field.\u00a0 It was very demanding, so I picked Rock n Roll.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image1-e1439390370521.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-1436 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/image1-e1439390370521.jpg\" alt=\"image\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" \/><\/a>9.\u00a0 What were your plans when you went to LA?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The only plan I had was to just play on as many records as possible and to play with as many artists as I could.\u00a0 That started happening rather immediately &#8211; I met a gentleman named Ritchie Rich from the LS Dream Team that promoted me all over South Central and Watts, California.<\/p>\n<p><b>10.\u00a0 Soon after you arrived in LA you began working with the <a href=\"http:\/\/offspring.com\" target=\"_blank\">Offspring<\/a>.\u00a0 How did you meet this band?\u00a0 What role have you played with the group?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, about two years after I got to LA I was on tour with Timmie T &#8211; we had a number 1 hit in the country called <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fr02Ahz0lT4\" target=\"_blank\">One More Try<\/a>.\u00a0 I began touring with him, my brother Bobby and Ritchie Rich.\u00a0 My keyboard technician at the time told me I needed to get out of hiphop and come meet his friend, Jack Grisham, of <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/H63JTHXhmyE\" target=\"_blank\">TSOL<\/a>.\u00a0 From then, the rest is history &#8211; Jack took me under his wing, we got signed to <a href=\"http:\/\/epitaph.com\" target=\"_blank\">Epitaph Records<\/a> in the heyday of independent record companies and that is how I met the <a href=\"http:\/\/offspring.com\" target=\"_blank\">Offspring<\/a>.\u00a0 I started touring with them a few years later after the Joykiller had taken a break and started recording with them in the studio at the same time.\u00a0 All the boys in the Offspring have been kind to me and we continue working together.\u00a0 Playing keyboards for the band has definitely been a highlight in my career.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VrZ4sMRYimw?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><b>11.\u00a0 How about the punk rock band <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/artist\/the-joykiller\/id44042752\" target=\"_blank\">Joykiller<\/a>?\u00a0 Did you perform with the group?\u00a0 What is your relationship with the band?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The Joykiller was a band <a href=\"http:\/\/jackgrisham.com\" target=\"_blank\">Jack Grisham<\/a> and I started back in 1996.\u00a0 We wrote all the songs together and toured the world and had a great run.\u00a0 We just completed a new record after 15 years.\u00a0 Jack found cassette tapes in his garage and we decided to make a record.\u00a0 It is on ITunes and it is called <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/album\/music-for-break-ups\/id955066841\" target=\"_blank\">Music for Breakups<\/a>.\u00a0 Jack and I are not performing together at the moment, but we plan to in 2016.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ylmt2XNjoPk?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>12.\u00a0 <b>I\u2019ve seen it quoted that you see yourself as \u201cThis generation\u2019s Billy Preston\u201d.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Funny thing is that I didn&#8217;t quote that, that was a quote given to me by my publicist and it has stuck around because I play with as many bands as Billy Preston did in his career &#8211; that is the parallel.<\/p>\n<p><b>13.\u00a0 Is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.billypreston.net\" target=\"_blank\">Billy Preston<\/a> a major influence for you?\u00a0 Did you listen to his music growing up?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes I did &#8211; it was hard not to as he played with the Beetles and I was really in to R&amp;B<\/p>\n<p><b>14.\u00a0 What kind of equipment have you used while performing over the years?\u00a0 Do you have a favorite instrument, a type of keyboard for example?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I do have a favorite and that is the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Minimoog\" target=\"_blank\">Mini Moog<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rhodes_piano\" target=\"_blank\">Fender Rhodes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>15.\u00a0 I also know you use the <a href=\"http:\/\/hammondorganco.com\" target=\"_blank\">Hammond organ<\/a>.\u00a0 What is the Hammond?\u00a0 Can you describe it for us?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Hammond is a church organ that actually Billy Preston made very popular.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OrlLcb7zYmw?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><b>16.\u00a0 While working in LA you became involved with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/N.W.A\" target=\"_blank\">N.W.A<\/a>, the hip hop group responsible for the infamous album <a href=\"http:\/\/www.straightouttacompton.com\/#\/\" target=\"_blank\">Straight Outta Compton <\/a>released in 1988.\u00a0 How did you meet <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eazy-e.com\" target=\"_blank\">Eazy E<\/a> and become involved with N.W.A and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ruthless_Records\" target=\"_blank\">Ruthless Records?<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>I got signed to a management deal with Morey Alexander and Jerry Heller.\u00a0 Jerry was the manager of NWA as well as owner of Ruthless Records in 1991.<\/p>\n<p><b>17.\u00a0 Can you tell us about the role you played with the group and how you contributed to their albums?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I started making records with Eazy through Tony G, producer and DJ Julio G &#8211; one of my first records released with them was N.W.A and the rest is history &#8211; we recorded so many songs that were never released.<\/p>\n<p><b>18.\u00a0 How important do you feel this group was to popular music culture in the United States at that time?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I know it was very important &#8211; it gave white suburbia accessibility to the streets of LA &#8211; the culture, the music, the food.\u00a0 That is how west coast hip hop was developed and made.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mb1ZvUDvLDY?rel=0&amp;controls=0&amp;showinfo=0\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><b>19.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to talk about your association with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/artists\/tupac-shakur\/biography\" target=\"_blank\">Tupac Shakur<\/a>.\u00a0 What I find interesting about the man is his lyricism.\u00a0 There was even a book of his poetry published.\u00a0 Early on, when he was in high school he was writing poetry.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I started making records with Tupac through record producer, Johnny J.\u00a0 I got signed on as a staff keyboard player at <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Death_Row_Records\" target=\"_blank\">Death Row Records<\/a> and worked exclusively with Tupac and Johnny J.\u00a0 Tupac was the lyrical genius of his time and I really loved working with him in the studio for many years making some of his biggest hits.<\/p>\n<p><b>21.\u00a0 You have said that Tupac \u201ctook a bullet for the human race\u201d.\u00a0 Tupac himself, in one of his raps says \u201cI was born not to make it but I did\u201d. \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Tupac was a voice of a generation and the controversy of that remains.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1424 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ronniekingmusic-cover-009-e1439323881685.jpg\" alt=\"ronniekingmusic-cover-009\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>22.\u00a0 Do you see a relationship between your own personal trajectory within the music industry and\u00a0his rise to national recognition?\u00a0 Do you think your career is different than it may have been if you had never worked with Tupac and N.W.A?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m lucky because I have gotten to work and continue to work with the biggest artists of my generation.\u00a0 Yes, my career would be different if I hadn&#8217;t worked with Tupac and Eazy E<\/p>\n<p><b>23.\u00a0 Can you tell us about working with music mogul <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jerry_Heller\" target=\"_blank\">Jerry Heller<\/a>?\u00a0 How did you make his acquaintance?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Like I said earlier, I got signed to a management deal with Morey Alexander and Jerry Heller.\u00a0 As the years went on I stayed very close to Jerry and his business.\u00a0 At one point, he started a record company called Streetlife Records and I was very involved in production and writing for the company.\u00a0 I would bring artists such as the Pointer Sisters and many others to the label.\u00a0 Shortly after that, Jerry got me a big time producer job at <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/DreamWorks_Records\" target=\"_blank\">Dreamworks<\/a> \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oblivion_Records\" target=\"_blank\">Oblivion Records<\/a>, where I learned a lot about the music business.<\/p>\n<p><b> <a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Jerry-heller-and-eazy-e.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1431 alignright\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Jerry-heller-and-eazy-e.jpg\" alt=\"Jerry-heller-and-eazy-e\" width=\"290\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Jerry-heller-and-eazy-e.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Jerry-heller-and-eazy-e-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>24.\u00a0 You have called Jerry Heller\u00a0\u201cThe Hammer\u201d and credit him with offering advice and wisdom during your career in the recording industry.\u00a0 Can you tell us about his creative involvement and how he has influenced your career?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Jerry is a music business master.\u00a0 He sees things that normal people do not see not only in business, but in talent.\u00a0 Jerry Heller has an eye for talent first.\u00a0 His business practices are revolutionary and 10 steps ahead of everyone else.<\/p>\n<p><b>25.\u00a0 Jerry Heller held Eazy-E in high regard and was impressed with his business intuition and ability to influence people to his advantage.\u00a0 Can you tell us about his role in managing the N.W.A act and how he cultivated the N.W.A brand?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Watch the movie &#8211; it says it all.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-22-PM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1447\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-32-22-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 32 22 PM\" width=\"180\" height=\"253\" \/><\/a>26.\u00a0 What was your role when working in the studio at Ruthless?\u00a0 What was it like spending long periods of time in the company of heavily armed rap stars whose creative output was so flagrantly violent and controversial?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I choose not to talk about my studio experience if you don&#8217;t mind and my affiliation with Death Row.<\/p>\n<p><b>27.\u00a0 Can you tell us about some of the tracks you were involved with creating?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The album Better Dayz, Tupac &#8211; Thug Life Outlawz Chapter Two, artist Thug Law &#8211; Paid to be the Boss, Snoop Dogg &#8211; Thug Angel, Tupac &#8211; Fantastic Voyage, Coolio &#8211; Until the End of Time, Tupac &#8211; Still I Rise, Outlawz &#8211; See You When You Get There, Coolio &#8211; Heavenz Movie, Bizzy Bone &#8211; Eastside Story, Frost &#8211; N.W.A, N.W.A \u00a0There are many more, but this should get you going.\u00a0 My involvement was producing, writing, keyboards.<\/p>\n<p><strong>28. \u00a0I heard <a href=\"http:\/\/icecube.com\" target=\"_blank\">Ice Cube<\/a> had a few things to say about you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My first recording session with Ice Cube. I was called to the studio at midnight by a producer friend of mine named Richie Rich. I walked into a recording studio called Echo Sound which was in Hollywood. I walk in with the Mini Moog under my arm and the whole studio went silent. Ice Cube was sitting there with members of the Eastsiders a rap group from South Central. He looked right at me and said \u201cwho and the hell call the police\u201d. So the engineer who I had worked with before on many rap records, his name was Vachic, and he looked at Cube and said \u201coh this is Ronnie King he plays on everybody&#8217;s records\u201d. Cube said \u201cwhat&#8217;s this white boy gonna do\u201d. So a couple of the other guys came in and gave me a big hug shook my hand and everyone was very excited. I plug my Minimoog in and went to work. After the session was over Cube\u00a0came over and sad \u201cyou are a bad ass white boy\u201d. And we&#8217;ve been friends ever since. He said he was a little confused because he thought they said Rodney King was going to come play the keyboards.\u00a0 And some years later I went to work with the Eastsiders again and had a good laugh.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Ronnie-King-mix-board.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1451 alignright\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Ronnie-King-mix-board.jpg\" alt=\"Ronnie-King mix board\" width=\"293\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Ronnie-King-mix-board.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Ronnie-King-mix-board-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><\/a>29.\u00a0 Your connection with such tragedies continued with the unfortunate early departure of producer <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mtv.com\/news\/1596433\/tupac-producer-johnny-j-jackson-dead-at-39\/\" target=\"_blank\">Johnny J<\/a>.\u00a0 Can you tell us a little about your relationship with Johnny? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Johnny J was a great guy.\u00a0 The first time I met him we got along so good we went right to work and I really do feel I was his right hand man in creating music for many years until his early departure.\u00a0 He made amazing beats on the SP1200 drum machine like no one else I had ever seen before.\u00a0 He is survived by two beautiful children and a wife.<\/p>\n<p><b>30.\u00a0 Johnny had been using samples frequently in his recordings.\u00a0 During that time the sampling laws were changed making a lot of what he was doing impossible. Were Johnny\u2019s samplings responsible for the changes to the law?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, the sampling laws changed a lot at that time.\u00a0 The use of original recordings was getting harder and harder so we replayed everything.\u00a0 No, Johnny was not responsible for law changes.<\/p>\n<p><b>31.\u00a0 Did those sampling laws effect your own participation in the songs being recorded, and in the role you were playing in the music industry generally?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>No it actually made my business better because I was the guy who would play all the original samples &#8211; that was a leg up for me and launched my career in the studio.<\/p>\n<p><b>32.\u00a0 You talk about \u201cPunks and Thugs\u201d and their commonality as being \u201crejects from society\u201d.\u00a0 Both groups represent communities on the fringes of society.\u00a0 Can you talk about these communities and your efforts to give them a voice in the larger musical arena?\u00a0 What are some of the reasons we have a punk and rap genre in the musical world? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I coined the phrase Punks and Thugs many years ago when I was with the group <a href=\"http:\/\/rancidrancid.com\" target=\"_blank\">Rancid<\/a>, so one day I put Rancid and Thug Life together in the studio and it dawned on me that we were all in the same game &#8211; there was no black or white, east or west, we were all part of the same coin.<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1440 alignright\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-16-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 31 16 PM\" width=\"430\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-16-PM.jpeg 597w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-16-PM-300x199.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100vw, 430px\" \/>33.\u00a0 Beyond their commonalities, what do you see as unique within each community.\u00a0 What is the significance of rap and punk in the larger context of the musical world?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Music is music &#8211; it is expression &#8211; its what brings us all together.<\/p>\n<p><b>34.\u00a0 Do the artists see their music as having an influence that is broader than their fans and the records they are able to sell?\u00a0 Are people like Tupac trying to give voice to something beyond themselves?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>We are all creative people and just speak what is in our heart.<\/p>\n<p><b>35.\u00a0 Do you see yourself as having motives beyond simply promoting band\u2019s acts and selling records?\u00a0 Do you see the influence they have had on popular culture as a byproduct of music promotion or as an intended goal that has been pursued during your career?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>No &#8211; I just play music<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-42-PM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-1437 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-42-PM-e1439472595719.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 30 42 PM\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/b><b>36.\u00a0 More generally, you have established yourself as an integral part of the OC music scene.\u00a0 Generally speaking, what are some of the characteristics that make music being produced in the OC unique?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>In OC we have the beach and surf culture.\u00a0 The atmosphere here is\u00a0 one of nature, the ocean and a spirit of the good life.\u00a0 That is different than\u00a0any other inner cities I have made music in.<\/p>\n<p><b>37.\u00a0 What are the people like there?\u00a0 What kind of music are they listening to as they grow up and begin to take up instruments themselves and start bands?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>People in OC are chill &#8211; it is a beach community.\u00a0 We\u00a0 are listening to a lot of Raggae &#8211; Pepper, Seedless &#8211; most of the Reggae music is coming out\u00a0of my friends studio, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.17thstreetrecordingstudio.com\" target=\"_blank\">17th Street Studios<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>38.\u00a0 What are some of the traits you look for when scouting a new act? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Talent and commitment.<\/p>\n<p><b>39.\u00a0 What are some of the things you do to ensure the bands you are promoting have everything they need to find success recording their records?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I try to make them as great and comfortable as they can when recording in the music studio.<\/p>\n<p><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-1439 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-07-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 31 07 PM\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-07-PM.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-31-07-PM-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>40.\u00a0 You\u2019ve also been promoting metal acts.\u00a0 Are the metal acts you work with exclusively OC based or are you looking for talent from other regions<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes I am producing a lot of metal out of OC with bands like Core 10, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.texasjesusrecords.com\/atomflower.html\" target=\"_blank\">Atomflower<\/a>, Dirty Water, etc.\u00a0 I am very excited to have Ulrich Wild doing my mixing for me.\u00a0 He is amazing.<\/p>\n<p><b>41.\u00a0 Who is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.core10theband.com\" target=\"_blank\">Core 10<\/a>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Core 10 is one of the biggest metal bands coming out of OC &#8211; we are seeking management and a record deal.\u00a0 Keep an eye out.<\/p>\n<p><b>42.\u00a0 How about Atomflower?\u00a0 Can you describe their act?\u00a0 Where are they from?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Atomflower is the solo project from\u00a0Sean Michael Lenhoff from Huntington Beach.\u00a0 We drop the single this next week &#8211; gonna be fun.<\/p>\n<p><b>43.\u00a0 The OC has a unique style.\u00a0 The tattoos, the leather and plaid.\u00a0 Can you talk a little bit about the way the creative talent you work with choses to dress?\u00a0 What are some of the labels they are wearing?\u00a0 Do they have brands they prefer to wear?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>We wear everything from the local designers to the established brands.\u00a0 I particularly love <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sullenclothing.com\" target=\"_blank\">Sullen<\/a>, they make great tattoo cloths.<\/p>\n<p><b>44.\u00a0 The tattoo culture is part and parcel of the OC punk scene.\u00a0 Have you had any tattoos done yourself? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>No, I don&#8217;t have any tattoos &#8211; all my friends are tatted &#8211; it looks cool on them.\u00a0 It&#8217;s amazing I don&#8217;t have any.<\/p>\n<p><b>45.\u00a0 Can you talk to us about your philanthropic work?\u00a0 Recently you\u2019ve said you have been working with Native Americans.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, my life changed when I met a tribe called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.torresmartinez.org\" target=\"_blank\">Torres Martinez<\/a> &#8211; I have enjoyed their cultural native songs and getting to know their culture &#8211; changed my life.<\/p>\n<p><b>46.\u00a0 Can you tell us about the 40 Bird Songs?\u00a0 What are these and how are they important to the tribe?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The bird songs are their journey songs &#8211; they span hundreds of years passed down generation to generation &#8211; they are very important to their preservation.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/maxresdefault-e1439473004760.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-1450 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/maxresdefault-e1439473004760.jpg\" alt=\"maxresdefault\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a>47.\u00a0 I understand you have been recording these songs, the first time the traditional songs have been documented? \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, many of them were never recorded before, ever.<\/p>\n<p><b>48.\u00a0 And can you tell us about the way you have been combining these songs with reggae? \u00a0Who are\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/ze8w8r4\" target=\"_blank\">Higher Heights<\/a>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, we just combined native chant with our local desert Raggae band Higher Heights &#8211; it is an amazing combination.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u00a049.\u00a0 Who is Mike Miralez?\u00a0 How has he been influenced by the Bird Songs and what is he intending to do with them?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Mike Miralez is a leader in the community with the teaching of bird songs throughout the world.\u00a0 I am excited to bring his record out soon.<\/p>\n<p><b>50.\u00a0 What is Desert Reggae?\u00a0 I usually imagine reggae as coming from island locales like in the Caribbean.\u00a0 What are some of the characteristics of the Desert Reggae that distinguishes it from other forms of Reggae?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Desert Raggae is more of a dirty dusty tribal approach at Raggae music &#8211; more sand and less water.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-50-PM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1438\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-50-PM.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 11, 10 30 50 PM\" width=\"399\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-50-PM.jpeg 499w, https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-11-10-30-50-PM-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/a>51.\u00a0 Music is being used as a source of guidance for young people growing up within these communities.\u00a0 Do you find that the youths you are working with are responding to the music?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Yes, youth respond to anything cool and different.<\/p>\n<p><b>52.\u00a0 You recently travelled to Orvietto, Italy to play piano for a live concert there.\u00a0 Can you tell us about the event?\u00a0 Who performed?\u00a0 How can we view the performance?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I had the privilege of performing with a 100 piece orchestra in the city of Orvieto &#8211; they played songs I had written with song writer and producer Marco Bosco to see the footage go to <a href=\"http:\/\/orvieto4ever.com.\" target=\"_blank\">orvieto4ever.com.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>53.\u00a0 I also see you are doing some work in Costa Rica.\u00a0 Can you tell us what\u2019s going on there?\u00a0 I heard you will be meeting with the president!<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I haven&#8217;t met the president yet, but soon.\u00a0 We are creating one of the largest entertainment companies in the country of Costa Rica.\u00a0 This will give artists all over the world a platform to share their music and bring awareness to how beautiful the music from Costa Rica is.<\/p>\n<p><b>54.\u00a0 Can you tell us about some of your experiences traveling in Japan?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I can.\u00a0 The first time I went there was touring with Rancid and we decided that trip would be a trip for us to take our wives.\u00a0 We had the best time traveling on the bullet trains, etc.\u00a0 We played some of the biggest venues in the country with TV and radio.\u00a0 That is when I got hooked.\u00a0 I love Japan.\u00a0 One of my best memories was taking my life to Nagoya and going to a temple with it snowing on us.\u00a0 A very awesome experience &#8211; one I will treasure forever.\u00a0 Some years later I toured with the Offspring there and performed at the biggest stadiums in the country, Osaka Dome, Budakan, Tokyo Dome and many more.\u00a0 We performed on the biggest TV shows around and drank lots of sak\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p><b>55.\u00a0 How can the Japanese people learn more about the performers you work with?\u00a0 What names should they be looking for when looking for some cool new groups from America to get into?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Man, just go to <a href=\"http:\/\/ronniekingmusic.com\" target=\"_blank\">Ronniekingmusic.com<\/a> for all music updates<\/p>\n<p><b>Thank you for talking to Ninjagirl Ronnie King!\u00a0 I\u2019m amazed at all the things you have done in your life!<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I look forward to meeting everyone very soon Ninjagirl &#8211; you are amazing.<\/p>\n<p>RK<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-09-8-42-27-PM-e1439323504197.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1422 aligncenter\" style=\"padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/File-Aug-09-8-42-27-PM-e1439323504197.jpeg\" alt=\"File Aug 09, 8 42 27 PM\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>edited by <a href=\"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/anthony\/\">Anthony Heller<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ronnie King is a &#8220;Multi-platinum, Oscar and Grammy nominated, Diamond Certified (more than 10 million units) producer, composer, arranger, musician and philanthropist&#8221;. \u00a0He has worked with some of\u00a0the greatest recording artists of our day including Mariah Carrey, The Offspring, Tupac Shakur, the infamous gangster rap group N.W.A including members Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1406,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,57,87],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-1404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-interviews","category-producers","tag-featured"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"ja","enabled_languages":["en","ja"],"languages":{"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ja":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1404"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2689,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1404\/revisions\/2689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ninjagirl.net\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}