Ron Thaler
Ron Thaler is a record producer, touring and session drummer, and 360 immersive sound entrepreneur.
Ron Thaler | |
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![]() Thaler in 2010 | |
Background information | |
Genres | Jazz fusion, pop, rock |
Occupation(s) | Drummer |
Instrument(s) | Drums |
Years active | 1988–present |
Labels | TP, Hotwire, JVC |
Website | ronthalermusic |
Thaler is active in music licensing and publishing through his firms RTP Music Ltd. (Canada) and Soda Box Music (New York City and Florence).[1][2] He is the CEO of Soundsphere Studios, a spatial sound studio.[3]
Biography
Early years
![](../I/Thaler_at_Rhythmbase_in_Glasgow_Scotland_for_a_drum_clinic%252C_2008.jpg.webp)
Thaler was 11 years old when he first picked up drumsticks, after playing piano for three years.[4] He joined his high school jazz-band and played his first professional shows at age 16 with jazz saxophonist Gordon Clements and with the Island Big Band.[5] In his late teens, Thaler moved to Vancouver, Canada,[6] and toured with electronica band Moev in support of their release Yeah Whatever (Nettwerk Records). Thaler performed with trumpeter Mark Hasselbach (Smooth), and trombonist Ian McDougall (Concord).[6]
In 1993, Thaler began recording at Envy Music House and Ludlow Productions on music jingles for the Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and ESPN, and performed in Latin-jazz group Conosur along with Manolo Badrena and Al Di Meola, and with soukous artist Dominic Kanza.[7] In 1994 Thaler recorded the East Coast sessions for Arista Records artist Jonathan Robbins' album "You Got Me", tracking drums on the West Coast sessions. Thaler recorded drumset and percussion on the title track.[8]
In 2011, Thaler toured the US with Anita Prime.
Producer
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In 2010, Thaler produced Anita Prime's Destiny album. The next year he produced Anita Prime's single "Complicated" reaching number 33 on Billboard's Dance Club chart in November 2011.[9]
Solo projects
In 1994 Thaler began performing under his own name, showcasing his original compositions, and he recorded ...Works (TP Records/OMD) with jazz musicians Ray Anderson, Hiram Bullock, Rick Margitza, Rufus Reid, Adam Rogers, and Oskar Cartaya. The group performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Jazz Fest, the Zebrock Festival, and other venues in Canada and France.[10]
In 1997 Thaler formed "The True Story Band", with jazz musicians Mike Stern, Chris Clark, Ron Bertolet and Jeff Carney. Thaler toured "The True Story Band" through Europe, Canada and the US in support of the group's two releases, 1997's Medium Rare Grounds (TP/Factor) and 1998's Grain (EFA/JVC).
In 2000 Thaler took to reworking the music of Led Zeppelin for an instrumental context. Thaler recorded Jazzed & Confused: The Led Zep Project (TP) in 2001. The album includes Led Zeppelin compositions "Kashmir", "Whole Lotta Love", "The Rain Song", "The Ocean", and "Dazed & Confused", and 25 musicians including guitarists Mike Stern and Dweezil Zappa, violinist Miri Ben Ari, turntablist DJ Logic, harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens, trombonist Dave Panichi, trumpeter Vinny Cutro, and flamenco vocalist and dancers Amparo and Racquel Heredia. The album was produced by Thaler and Goo Goo Dolls/Maroon 5 alumnus Michael Landolt.[11]
In 2008, Thaler formed the experimental music group Elimotion, with bassist Matt Garrison, turntablist DJ Logic and guitarist Elijah Steele. The group's first release, Elimotion 1, was recorded at Manhattan Center Studios NYC, and released in 2014.[12]
Seminars
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Thaler has delivered many drumming clinics, seminars and educational workshops internationally. He has performed at the 1996 Montreal DrumFest,[13] the 2003 TUDW Ultimate Drummers Weekend International Drum Festival (Australia),[11] the 2004 KOSA Drum Festival (solo performance and trio performance with drummers Johnny Rabb and Steve Smith),[11] the 2006 Fort Myers Drum Festival,[6] the inaugural 2010 Victoria Drum Fest,[5] the 2010 National Association of Music Manufacturers (NAMM) International Music Fair,[6] the MIDEM Music Conference in Cannes France,[12] the 2011 CMW Music Conference in Toronto Canada,[12] the 1998 Music West International Music Conference in Vancouver,[14] the 2004 Paris Zebrock Music Festival,[7] at Drummer's Collective New York City,[12] Music Academy International (France),[15] University of Victoria,[7] University of British Columbia,[14] Music Arts Academy (Geneva, Switzerland),[7] SAE College (Auckland New Zealand, Barcelona Spain),[12] Prime Music Academy (Wellington, New Zealand),[12] and others. Thaler has been featured on Drumeo TV,[16] and on four segments for the Daddario/Evans Educational Webcast Series.[8]
In 1998, Thaler released an instructional drumming video called Phraseology And Individuality On The Drumset.[17] The video was voted one of the "Top 25 Must-Have Instructional Drumming Videos of All Time" by readers of France's Batteur Magazine in 2007.[15]
References
- "Blondie Boy | Music Producer, Drummer & Entrepreneur Ron Thaler". BlondieBoy '20 Final. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- "Home". sodaboxmusic.com.
- "SoundSphere | 360º Spatial Sound & Technology Company". SoundSphere Studios. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- [sticksnskins.com "Sticks “N Skins"]. Follett Publications, 2009. ISBN 978-0-615-28288-6
- "Oak Bay/Victoria News", article in Victoria BC Canada newspaper June 10, 2010 titled "Drumfest Builds On Local Legacy".
- "Sabian Cymbals Newsbeat 2003", publicly distributed yearly catalogue of Sabian endorsed drum artists.
- "Drums Etc." (Canada), feature interview, April 2004 issue.
- "Drum Stool Diaries", Daddario/Evans Drumheads video, 2006.
- "Dance Club Songs". Billboard.
- "Batteur" (France), interview and clinic review, July 1996 issue.
- "Drumscene Magazine" (Australia), feature interviews, March 2003 and September 2003 issues.
- "Drum!" (USA), update section Oct 2010 issue, and clinics & events May 2014 issue.
- "Modern Drummer Magazine" (USA), "NAMM 2013 in Photos", Jan. 28, 2013, and "Montreal Drumfest Roundup", May 1997.
- "Canadian Musician Magazine", feature interview, October 1995, November 1997, May 1999 issues.
- "Batteur" (France), readers poll results, June 2007 issue.
- "Talking Drums Magazine" (USA), feature interview, Pearl drums artist website.
- "Pharseologie et Creation" instructional drumming video, published by Editions-Connections France and distributed by Play-Music (https://www.play-music.com/fr/product/092_02_video_batterie_creation.html). Retrieved November 14, 2020.