Ronnie Penque (New Riders of the Purple Sage; Panama Dead) chats about “Family Business CD”
Written by Sister Sylvie on September 7, 2019
Ronnie Penque will be coming live on the air Saturday, Sept. 7 on the Homegrown Music Show to discuss his new album/CD “Family Business.” See below for more info,
Homegrown Music Show with Sister Sylvie is on SAT. & SUN. noon-3pm Eastern Time.
From https://www.ronniepenque.com/ronnie-s-bio
Ronnie Penque
BIO
Ronnie Penque is a singer, song writer, bassist, best known for his long career with The New Riders of the Purple Sage. When not touring with the New Riders, Penque spends his time working in various music projects including Panama Dead, a band dedicated to the music of The New Riders. Ronnie also plays shows with his band The Ronnie Penque Band and many other local musicians.
In recent years, The New Riders have recorded two CDs of new material (“Where I Come From” and “17 Pine Avenue”) some of which was co-written with Robert Hunter, famed lyricist for the Grateful Dead. Original Penque compositions appear on these releases.
On November 2, 2010 Penque released his solo debut album “Only Road Home“. The album features 11 songs written and produced by Penque. In early 2011 Only Road Home made it to the top of the college radio charts in the Jam Band category. It climbed to number one in February 2011. Only Road Home contains a version of the song “Olivia Rose”, which was originally recorded by the New Riders of the Purple Sage on their 2009 album Where I Come From.
The NEW CD: FAMILY BUSINESS
On August 30th 2019 Penque will release his second studio album titled “Family Business”. This new CD features 9 new songs written and produced by Penque, including the hit tune “Wookie Kids”. Penque also covers “The Fugitive” made famous by Merle Haggard. Family Business is a rock album with a cross over country flare. The album also features many artists in Penques world including all of the current New Riders of the Purple Sage, David Nelson, Buddy Cage, Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski, Mark Karan, Mookie Siegel, Clay Cassell, James Saluzzi, Mike Flynn, Chris Penque, Jeff Pearlman, Katie Pearlman, Drave Taylor, Mark Diomede, Kenny Harten, Arnie Brown, Sandy Mack, Kevin Johnson and Ronnie Penque.
Ronnie started his music career as the original bass player in the popular New Jersey Grateful Dead cover band, Ripple. Ripple was formed in 1978. During the Ripple years Penque would also moonlight with other bands like Wig Jam and Splintered Sunlight. After Ripple retired in 2003, Ronnie was asked by keyboardist Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band to join his band, “Melvin Seals and JGB”. Ronnie toured with Melvin and JGB for three years as lead singer and bassist. Penque then joined up with Buddy Cage and Johnny Markowski in Stir Fried which led to the reforming of The New Riders of the Purple Sage in 2005. Penque has been a member of The New Riders from 2005 until the current time. NRPS stopped touring in 2016.
If the name Penque is familiar, Ron’s uncle the late Romeo Penque was one of the most famous woodwind and flute players in the music industry who was best known for his work with Miles Davis. At age 12 Ronnie was taught to play bass by his father Ron Penque Sr., an accomplished session bass player for 20 years, who gave Ronnie his 57 Precision bass (Dads Bass) upon his retirement.
Discography:
– Family Business – Ronnie Penque – Bayland Records 2019
– 17 Pine Avenue – New Riders of the Purple Sage – Woodstock Records, 2012
– Only Road Home – Ronnie Penque – Bayland Records 2010
– Where I Come From: Radio Mixes and Live Bonus, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, 2009
– Where I Come From – New Riders Of the Purple Sage – Woodstock Records, 2009
– Wanted: Live at Turkey Trot, New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2007
– Live New Year’s Eve 2006, New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2007
– Jerry Jams -Jersey Cares , Stir Fried, 2005
– Mallory, Music Video– Ronnie Penque/Neon Gods- Bayland Pro.Inc.,2006
Some of Ronnie’s musical influences are The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, NRPS bass player Dave Torbert, Donald Duck Dunn, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney and Jack Casady, among others.
Through the years Ron has also played with many other bands and great musicians including Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, Vassar Clements, John Dawson, Steve Kimock, Steve Austin, Jorma Kaukonen, Jesse McReynolds, Peter Rowan, Melvin Seals, Robert Hunter, Wig Jam, Splintered Sunlight, Jeff Austin, Neon Gods, Stir Fried, John Popper, Jeff Mattson, John Dawson, Tony Trischka, Pete Sears, Buddy Cage, David Nelson, Barry Sless, Keller Wiliams, Donna Jean Godchaux, Jeff Pevar, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski, Tony Rice, Mark Karen, Jack Casady, GE Smith, Mookie Siegel, Pinetop Perkins and Tex Logan, Oteil Burbrige, Jeff Chimenti, John Kadlecik and many others.