Ronnie McNeir

Ronnie McNeir is an American singer and songwriter born on December 14, 1949 in Camden, Alabama, U.S.A. and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, where he first took a keen interest in the Motown Sound.

As a child McNeir was a gifted basketball player. This interest was soon curtailed, however, following a car accident. Ronnie took up the piano, on which he was quite proficient by the age of fourteen.

He won a talent contest in 1966, which led to a deal and his first 45, a tune called "Sitting In My Class." The song was later to become a huge Northern Soul hit. Ronnie conceived a personal approach to constructing his sound over the course of several albums (and one excellent EP).

He relocated to Los Angeles in 1971, where he struck up a relationship with Rene Moore and joined the local choir. Here he met Kim Weston, who employed Ronnie as her musical director. It was Kim Weston who helped Ronnie land his first record deal at RCA Records.

He initially released one album on RCA in 1972 entitled "Ronnie McNeir", followed by an album on Prodigal in 1975, also entitled "Ronnie McNeir", containing the much-sought-after "I'm Your Lover."

After an initial release on Motown, there were tracks recorded for a second album for the label, but they were never released.

Around this time, McNeir recorded two tracks with The Four Tops for their 1977 ABC album, "The Show Must Go On". He later became The Four Tops' musical director. McNeir appears on the Tops' 1995 Motown album "Christmas Here With You."

In 1984, a four-song EP produced by Horizon Productions was released by Capitol -- "The Ronnie McNeir Experience" featured a Rene (Moore) & Angela (Winbush)-penned song, "Come On Be With Me" as its first single. The popular single and album entered the Billboard's charts.

In 1985, McNeir made it to the upper half of Billboard's R & B charts as the producer and composer of "I Couldn't Believe It" (remixed by Nick Martinelli), a hit for former Temptations David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, who recorded as Ruffin & Kendricks for RCA.

McNeir is a prolific songwriter, session musician, vocalist and producer appearing on albums by Rance Allen (Fantasy), Dramatics vocalist L.J. Reynolds (Capitol), Carrie Lucas' version of "Hello Stranger" from "Horsing Around" (Solar / RCA), David Ruffin's "Gentleman Ruffin" (Warner Bros) and Bobby Womack's "Caught Up In The Middle" from his "Pieces" album, among others.

Ronnie McNeir also recorded "Good Side Of Your Love" on Tortoise International which is popular on the Northern Soul Scene.

The popularity of his albums, particularly his RCA debut and the Prodigal release, has led to concerts dates in the UK for McNeir.

In 1996, a compilation, "The Very Best of Ronnie McNeir", was released.

In 2002, Ronnie toured the UK as part of the lineup of the Four Tops, covering for Levi Stubbs, who was unwell at the time. He is now a permanent member of the group, singing alongside Theo Peoples, Lawrence Roquel Payton, Jr. and original member Abdul Duke Fakir.

Ronnie McNeir has produced, recorded with, written for, and/or played keyboards behind an all-star soul list, including but not limited to, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, The Four Tops, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendrick, Kim Weston, L.J. Reynolds, Kirk Whalum, Rena Scott, Rene & Angela, Carrie Lucas, and Theo Peoples.

His mellow tenor voice epitomizes smooth. His grooves, though often funky with a touch of jazz, define soul. His songs are intensely personal , alternating between the sensual style of Marvin Gaye to the pointed social commentary of Curtis Mayfield. Like yet another great soul man, Stevie Wonder, he is a pioneer in using synth instrumentation to create funky and soulful grooves.

McNeir has been heard alongside Teena Marie on the classic 80s soul ballad, “We’ve Got to Stop Meeting like This” from Marie’s “Starchild” album. He also lent backing vocals to Smokey Robinson’s “Love Breeze” LP. Currently, he sings tenor with the Four Tops, a position he has held for the past years, hand-selected by best friend, songwriting partner and original Four Top, Obie Benson.

Today, McNeir returns to the scene with his tenth album, Ronnie Mac & Company,17 smooth soul tracks.

Ronnie Mac & Company is the singer’s invitation to get to know Ronnie McNeir. Ronnie Mac has seen and done it all and he shares his rich life experience in tracks such as Ain’t It Good To Know You’ve Got A Friend and his honest commentary on the state of the world, It’s A Shame People Have To Live This Way.

Just when you thought the brother was getting too deep, he serves up steppers’ grooves like Summertime Medley II and In The Mood to take your mind off such troubles. He invites listeners into his own confessional chamber with the painfully beautiful “Personal Testimony” which features Theo Peoples, his fellow Four Top and friend. The album portrays Ronnie in all his human complexity, sinner and saint; profound and playful all at once.

An updated version of McNeir’s Down in the Neighborhood will be a welcome surprise to fans of his last album, of the same name. Neighborhood portrays a gritty tale of life in the inner city with stark detail. From the troubles of the world to the troubles of love to the joys of summertime, Ronnie Mac & Company portrays a complex man: profound, playful, sensual and painfully aware of shortcomings – of himself and the world around him. A bonus track is his spoken word personal tribute to his best friend, original Four Top Renaldo “Obie” Benson. For more info: www.ronniemcneir.com

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