Ron Hope

Ron Hope began playing drums under the instruction of Master Drummer Tony West at age 10 in the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Center for African Study. While studying with Mr. West, Ron began performing with Dance Instructor and choreographer Leeland Johnson, who was engaged with an Afro Caribbean dance company at the time. And as a result, Ron spent much of his preteen and teen years working with African, Caribbean, and jazz dance troupes. At the age of 16, Ron began to branch out by performing in jazz clubs with local musicians in the Columbus, Ohio, area, including the Taj Mahal and the Oasis Lounge. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- In 1977, Ron joined the U.S Army as a logistics technician, and during his off duty hours, he formed his own band named Collage, made up partly of musicians from the 5th Infantry Division Marching band. This band performed in clubs in and around Louisiana and Texas. After his honorable discharge in 1979, Ron began playing with dance troupes in and around Columbus, and soon, he became lead drummer in the African Dance troupe, the Uhuru Dancers. Ron also worked with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the Pittsburgh Contemporary Dance Company, the Olu Mekinde Dancers, Tony West and Imani, and Is said and Advance Party. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- During the early 1980’s, Ron performed and recorded with Bobby Taylor (who worked with Barry Gordy and the Timeless Legend) in a group that included the bassist Foley (who performed with legend Miles Davis). In the mid 1980s, Ron played with Arnett Howard and the Creole Funk Band, performing just about every day of the year for adoring central Ohio audiences. Since then, Ron also worked with Umberto Rameriz, Gali Sanchez, Los Munez Quitoes of Cuba, April Berry & Ballet Met, Dr Glory Van Scott, Victor Casanova of Peru, and jazz guitarist Wilbert Longmire. Ron is former co-leader of Sambateria and has performed with Yumbambe and Bobby Floyd. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------- Ron is currently the artistic director of the Short Stop Youth Center Drum Dance and Theater Ensemble. And he recently formed his own band named .... Ron Hope. He also performs these days with Magrugada,Talisha Holmes,Dejavu, Dav Julca, Yumbambe, The Jazz Poetry Ensemble, Jamnesia and Smooth......the sounds of Santanna