Ronnie Wells: 1943 - 2007
A native of Washington, DC, Ronnie Wells is president and founder of the renowned Fish Middleton Jazz Scholarship Organization as well as director of the collaborating East Coast Jazz Festival. She has performed with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra for the Smithsonian Institution, Kennedy Center, Montpelier Cultural Arts Center, and many other concert venues.
Ms. Wells has shared the stage with Billy Eckstine, Lonnie Liston Smith, Oscar Brown, Jr., Jimmy Witherspoon, Al Grey, Clark Terry and Dorothy Donegan, to name a few. She has toured and performed in concerts and at Jazz festivals throughout the world including Holland, Switzerland, France, Norway, Montreal and South America and St. Thomas USVI where she was voted "Best Virgin Island Performer for 1993." Ms. Wells has recorded on the CBS/Columbia Record label with The Widespread Jazz Orchestra, and has recordings on Jazz Karma Records, as well as several other independent record labels.
Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland since 1983, Wells is the founder of the Jazz Vocal Studies program there, and has taught and mentored many of the vocalists on the DC jazz scene today.
LINKS TO ARTICLES & TRIBUTES TO RONNIE
The Washington Post announces Ronnie's "crossing over" as she used to say. Article entitled
Jazz Singer Ronnie Wells-Elliston, 64
Click here for Washington Post article about Ronnie entitled:
'I Only Have Eyes For You' How Ronnie Wells-Elliston Made 'Our Night' Magical by Michael Goodman
JazzTimes remembers Ronnie Wells:
Article by Zachary Herrmann
Click here for tribute webpage for Ronnie from JazzKnights.com:
JazzKnights & Blackberry Jazz Honor and Tribute the Life and Legacy of Ronnie Wells
An article that really touched on both Ronnie's commanding vocals and her class...I miss you dearly Ronnie - Chad. I found this article in East of the River in the Jazz Avenues section, entitled: Ronnie is Regal at the alley by Steve Monroe
From The American Prospect, Online Edition:
Ronnie Wells Has Passed by Adele M. Stan March 11, 2007