Ron Thaler

Ron Thaler is a record producer, recording artist, drummer, composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist and MusicAL director based in New York. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, Thaler released an instructional program for drummers called Phraseology And Individuality On The Drumset, and has appeared at international drum festivals and music colleges.

Best known by fans as the drummer on Alicia Keys' double Grammy-award winning No One and on NBC TV’s Lipstick Jungle, and with two Producer-of-the-Year Grammy ballot nominations and six Artist Grammy ballot nominations, Thaler has been a member of a large number of bands and ensembles, and spent a significant amount of his career backing recording artists as a sideman as well as a session player in recording studios, while continuing a busy schedule as a record producer.

Biography

Early Years

Thaler was 11 years old when he first picked up drumsticks, after playing piano for three years. He joined the high school jazz-band, and played his first professional shows at age 16 with jazz saxophonist Gordon Clements and with The Island Big Band. In his late teens, Thaler moved to Vancouver, Canada and toured with electronica band Moev in support of their release Yeah Whatever (Nettwerk/Atlantic Records) which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard and Rolling Stone music charts, also appearing on three other albums with the group, In and Out (Rebel Records/SPV), Alibis (Nettwerk/Atlantic Records),and the compilationBrave New Waves(CBC/RCA). Thaler worked as in-house drummer and percussionist for various emerging artists on Nettwerk Records, Arista, Sony/ATV, Warner Canada and Atlantic Records, recording at Mushroom Studios, Greenhouse, The Armoury, Little Mountain Sound, and Curryhouse Studio. Thaler recorded with Sarah McLachlan(Arista Records)on her follow-up toTouch, and performed with Ultramarine (Rough Trade/Sire), Mark Hasselbach (Smooth), and Ian McDougall (Concord).

New York and Blondie Boy

In 1993, Thaler moved to New York and recorded at Envy Music House & 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 Paul Simon/soukous artist Dominic Kanza. In 1994 Thaler recorded the east coast sessions for Arista Records artist Jonathan Robbins album "You Got Me", with drummers Jeff Porcaro and John Robinson tracking drums on the west coast sessions. Ron recorded drumset, percussion, and drum stool on the title track.

As a touring drummer, studio drummer and multi-instrumentalist Thaler has appeared on 400+ recordings, having recorded and performed with Dweezil Zappa, DJ Logic, Bethany Joy Lenz, Taylor Dayne, Sophie B. Hawkins, Jonathan Robbins, Taj Mahal, Simaku, Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, Ashlee Simpson, Mercedes Ferrer, Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Judie Tzuke, Yoko Ono, Diana Krall, Mike Stern, Rufus Reid, and Hiram Bullock. In 2004, producer Arif Mardin exclaimed "...Blondie Boy..." upon Ron's arrival to a recording session (in reference to Eli Wallach calling Clint Eastwood's gun-for-hire character "...Blondie..." in the movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly), and the professional name stuck.

Thaler performed with Willie Nelson, Los Lonely Boys, Hank Williams Jr. and 5th Of July at Alltel Stadium during the 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2011, Thaler toured the USA with Anita Prime, Robbie Dupree, Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple) and members of Orleans as part of the 2011 All Star Rock Tour.

Thaler has appeared on CTV's Canada AM, City TV's Out There with Melissa DiMarco, NBC TV's The Ellen DeGeneres Show, TV1 and TV3 New Zealand, Lounge Radio Budapest, Muzic 'N Me Radio (Australia), England's Hot 102.7, CBC TV, MTV and MuchMusic, and has been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine, JazzTimes, Jazziz, Talking Drums, France's L'Est Republicain, New York Times, Pulse Magazine, Canadian Musician Magazine, Batteur Magazine, Australia's DrumScene, Drums Etc., Le Délit Magazine, Rip It Up, Experience Hendrix Magazine, Drum!, NewsBeat, and others. Thaler was also featured in the hardcover book "Sticks "N Skins" about drummers from around the globe.

Producing career

Thaler is a multi Grammy-Award nominated producer and arranger, and is a credited songwriter on Kelly Saint Patrick's In The Margins (2009 Grammy ballot for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal, Producer of the Year), Project Grand Slam's Play (2009 Grammy ballot for Best Pop Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist, Producer of The Year), Jason Yudoff's Tragic Hero (2008 Grammy ballot for Best New Artist, Album of The Year, Producer of The Year), and also appearing on Alicia Keys No One (2008 Double Grammy winner, #1 Billboard). Thaler credits his time working with producers Phil Ramone, Matt Knobel, Frank Fillipetti, Jerry Wexler, Bruce Fairbairn,, and Arif Mardin for teaching him the art of music production, for helping him develop "sonic landscapes... (that are) equal parts analog confection and digital sweetening", and for what the New York Times calls "a virtuosity that touches great depth, eliciting that special emotion from listeners well beyond the mere consideration of technical mastery".

In 2010, Thaler produced and co-wrote Anita Prime's Destiny, Lewis Copeland Roots at Sony/Tree, Oh Hello's One Trick Pony, and Heavy Road's Everything Changed.

In 2011 Thaler produced and co-wrote Anita Prime's single Complicated reaching #3 on Billboard, The Royal Canadians Lonely Whale, a VIMA Album-of-the-Year nominee, Mahavishnu Redefined's Timeless, and Isunray's Balancing Act.

In 2012, Thaler produced and co-wrote Gareth Barker's Hello World, and Project Grand Slam's Spring Dance.

In 2013, Thaler produced Traum Diggs Major Journalism and Martin Rybak's Live For The Day.

In 2014, Thaler produced Darren Hodson & Southern Companion's 1000 Days Of Rain, Eran Phillips' The Beatles Lullaby, and produced and co-wrote several songs on Robert Miller's Twenty.

Thaler has also produced albums The Led Zep Project w/Dweezil Zappa's Jazzed & Confused, Eric Hill's Second Sight, Elimotion's Elimotion 1, Jeff Fiorello's Jeff Fiorello, Nika Brightn's Television, and others.

Lipstick Jungle

Thaler appeared on NBC TV's Lipstick Jungle, a primetime series about New York City socialites with Brooke Shields, Andrew McCarty, Lindsey Price and Kim Raver. He played the drummer in character Shane Healy's (Paul Blackthorne) music band. Thaler had a speaking role as himself, and performed music from Project Grand Slam's Play (see "Producing Career") along with the band, who served as Shane's on-camera band. The show aired for two seasons before being cancelled in 2010.

Solo Projects

In 1994 Thaler began performing under his own name, showcasing his original compositions, and would record ...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 Festival, The Zebrock Festival, and other venues in Canada and France.

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 USA 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 is produced by Thaler and Goo Goo Dolls/Maroon 5 alumnus Michael Landolt.

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.

Clinics & Masterclasses

Thaler has delivered 500+ drum clinics, seminars and educational workshops internationally. He has shared festival stages with leading drum figures Dennis Chambers, Steve Smith, Virgil Donati, Thomas Lang, Giovanni Hidalgo, Johnny Rabb, Mike Portnoy, John Blackwell, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Anton Fig, Ignacio Berroa, Jojo Mayer, Jimmy Degrasso, and Vera Figueiredo. He has performed at The 1996 Montreal DrumFest, The 2003 TUDW Ultimate Drummers Weekend International Drum Festival (Australia), The 2004 KOSA Drum Festival (solo performance and trio performance with drummers Johnny Rabb and Steve Smith), The 2006 Fort Myers Drum Festival, The 2010 Victoria International Drum Festival, The 2010 National Association of Music Manufacturers (NAMM) International Music Fair, The MIDEM Music Conference in Cannes France, The 2011 CMW Music Conference in Toronto Canada, The 1998 Music West International Music Conference in Vancouver, The 2004 Paris Zebrock Music Festival, at Drummer's Collective New York City, Music Academy International (France), University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, Music Arts Academy (Geneva, Switzerland), SAE College (Auckland, New Zealand), Prime Music Academy (Wellington, New Zealand), and others. Thaler has been featured on Drumeo TV, and on four segments for the Daddario/Evans Educational Webcast Series.

In 1998, Thaler released an instructional drumming video called Phraseology And Individuality On The Drumset. 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.

Film & Television

Thaler has participated on Film and TV projects as a soundtrack composer, music supervisor and sound-design content developer. In 1993, Ron teamed up with Envy Productions on music jingles for The Cartoon Network, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, ESPN, MTV, and the Bravo Network. In 1994, Thaler created music publishing company RT Type Music Publishing (RTTM), and secured music placements for his compositions and those of production clients on internationally syndicated TV programs including The OC (Fox), One Tree Hill (WB), Lipstick Jungle (NBC), Rodzinka (PLN), Laguna Beach (MTV), Sweet Sixteen (MTV) and Auckland Daze (TVNZ). Thaler has composed music for films Tilt, [...] Chronicles, Three Vignettes, La Tropical, Bright, All Summer Long, and Contact. Thaler has contributed executive production, logistics planning and storyboarding to music videos of several production clients, including Anita Prime's Serenade, La La La, Destiny and Live At Galatos DVD, Kelly Saint Patrick's Shame On You, Gareth Barker's Making of Hello World, and Traum Diggs' Off The Floor.

Discography (selected)

As sideman

• Alicia Keys:

As I Am - No One (J/RCA 2008)

As I Am: The Super Edition - No One (J/RCA 2008)

• Sarah McLachlan:

Just As I Thought (Nettwerk/Arista 1991),

Rarities, B-Sides & Other Stuff (Nettwerk 1996)

• Jasper James: Vibrator (Thump 2008)
• Kacie Sheik & Rob Thomas: Anthem (TB 2004)
• Mahavishnu Redefined: A Tribute to John McLaughlin & The Mahavishnu Orchestra (ESC 2010)
• Bethany Joy Lenz: Preincarnate ( Sony/Epic, 2002)
• Jonathan Robbins: You Got Me (Arista, 1995)
• Mercedes Ferrer: Little Flame (Gasa/Warner 1999)
• Lizzy Mercier Descloux: T'As L'Air (Polydor, 1993)
• Stephen Patrick: Grunion Run (Hit Road/MTV, 2005)
• Moev:

Alibis (Rebel/SPV, 1991)

Brave New Waves (CBC/RCA, 1995)

Inside Out (Nettwerk/Atlantic, 1990)

• Brythonwen: Solus (Pagan, 2006)
• Don Kimenker: Blueberry Beer (Buzz 2012)
• Simaku: Echoes of Iliria (Reincarnate, 2006)
• The Unperson: Queen's Decade (Coldleaf, 2006)
• Bill Tonsaker: 5 Bucks A Lick (Brouhaha, 2001)
• Guitar Talk: First Come First Serve w/Joe Pass, Chuck Loeb & Barry Finnerty (EFA/JVC. 2000)

As producer

• Anita Prime:

Complicated *Smashmode & Blondie Boy Remix (Phull, 2011)

Destiny (Phull, 2010)

Destiny *Blondie Boy & Vince Harder Remix (Phull, 2011)

Destiny (Phull, 2011, video)

La La La (Phull, 2010, video)

Serenade (TP 2009)

• Royal Canadians: Lonely Whale (RCR, 2012)
• Gareth Barker: Hello World (JRNE, 2013)
• Traum Diggs: Major Journalism (623 Records, 2013)
• Project Grand Slam:

Play (Cakewalk, 2008)

Captain Of Her Heart (Cakewalk, 2007)

Spring Dance (Cakewalk, 2012)

He Ain't Heavy (Cakewalk, 2011)

• Lewis Copeland: Roots (Phull/SonyTree, 2011)
• Isunray: Balancing Act (ISR, 2012)
• Stephanie Macpherson: To You (SMR, 2009)
• Greg Merritt:

March Madness (GMR, 2012)

Everything Changed (GMR, 2010)

Heavy Road (GMR, 2009)

• Kelly Saint Patrick: In The Margins (KSPR/Hella Good, 2008)
• Jason Yudoff: Tragic Hero (JYE, 2007)
• The Led Zep Project with Dweezil Zappa: Jazzed & Confused (TP, 2000)
• Eric Hill: Second Sight (Hidden Drive, 2007)
• Jeff Fiorello

Jeff Fiorello (Vivid, 2006)

City Sessions New York (Vivid, 2007, video)

Solo artist

• True Story Band:

Works (TP/OMD/Universal, 1994)

Medium Rare Grounds (TP/Factor, 1997)

Grain (Hotwire/JVC, 1998)

• Elimotion Band: Elimotion 1 (TP, 2012)

Equipment

Acoustic drums: PEARL MASTERS MAHOGANNY CLASSIC LIMITED EDITION

• 16"x20" Bass Drum
• 12"x14" Tom Tom
• 8"x8" Tom Tom
• 10"x10" Tom Tom
• 10"x12" Tom Tom
• 11"x13" Tom Tom
• 5"x14" Wood Snare or Brass Snare

Cymbals: SABIAN

• Chinese: 16" HH China, 8" Pro China Splash, under 8" HH China Kang Brilliant, 12" AAX Mini China Brilliant
• Hihat: 13" AAX Studio Hihats Brilliant, 8" HH Splash, 13" AAX Stage Hihats
• Crash: 14" AAX Studio Crash Brilliant, 14" AAX Dark Crash, 15" AAX Studio Crash Brilliant
• Splash: 6" HH Splash Brilliant, 8" HH Splash Brilliant, 8" AA China Splash Brilliant
• Ride: 20" AAX Dry Ride or 21" Calhoun Ride
• Effects Cymbals: 8" CD Cymbal Disc, 10" Glennie's Garbage, 10" Calhoun Alien Disc, 7"/8"/9" Radia Cymbals

Drumsticks: VIC FIRTH

• Ron Thaler Signature model

External links

• Ron Thaler Pearl Drums Profile
• Ron Thaler Profile at Pintech
• Ron Thaler Profile at Pure Sound Percussion
• Ron Thaler Profile at Dualist Drum Pedals
• Ron Thaler Profile at Sabian Cymbals
• Ron Thaler Profile on D'addario/Evans Drumheads
• Ron Thaler Profile at Drummerworld online database
• Ron interviewed on New Zealand's TV3 "Nightline"
• Muzic in Me (Australia) radio interview
• Ron Thaler: Drums Website
• Ron Thaler: Record Producer Website