Website Premiere Feature:

West Michigan’s ”Local Music Legend,“ Ronnie Fray

If a few of you critics are already wondering why we are featuring a Canadian-born musician as the West Michigan Local Music Legends featured artist of the month, continue by reading the article posted below about Ronnie Fray’s substantial local career and the years when he lived in Grand Rapids and played at the Shamrock Lounge. He has certainly received accolades on both sides of the American and Canadian border, sharing the stage with Gus Hardin, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Buck Owens, Bobby Bare, Delbert McClinton, Jack Scott, Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Leon Russell, Hank Williams Jr., David Alan Coe and  Ronnie Hawkins.

Ronnie Fray’s West Michigan Connection:

Compiled and Written by Ronnie Fray, Doug Taylor and Kim Rush

When Ronnie Fray made his first visit to Grand Rapids in 1966 to play at Bob Sullivan’s Shamrock Lounge at 286 Bridge Street N.W., he never imagined that he had taken the first step toward creating a second home town for himself, but this is exactly what occurred.

In 1966 Ronnie’s band was called The Capers, with Ronnie on guitar and vocals, Alan Clark on bass and Clay Highley on drums. The Capers were the first band to play at Pine Knob. A Detroit booking agent named Jerry Varga of ‘Var-Jac’ Agency’ booked them for their first Shamrock job. Ronnie recalls the bouncer at the Shamrock was Vern Carrier. The bartenders at that time were Diane (Boggs) Kanoza, Doug Taylor, Pierson Smith (the manager). The entrance to the Gerald Ford Museum ’s north parking lot is located where the Shamrock once stood, and Ronnie played for the museum’s grand opening ceremonies.

Ronnie played often at the Shamrock during the late 60s and into the 70s. He played at another bar on the same side of the street as the Shamrock that Bob “Sully” Sullivan and Jim “Blackie” Black owned, as well. It was named the Bavarian Inn, located at 300 Bridge Street N.W. He performed there both as a single act and with a trio format. Ronnie recalls, “I played there for a couple years until Clay Highley joined us and he was there for about six to eight years. Then we got Hal Beveridge to play bass. He was with us for four or five years. It was where we recorded our fourth album titled, ‘Live at the Bavarian Inn.’ ”

The first time Ronnie played in Grand Rapids, he stayed at the Royal Motel on South Division. Over the years, he established his local residency while renting various Grand Rapids area apartments. One was located above the Bavarian Inn. He also lived at the Ramblewood Apartments on 44th Street and for a few years on 3rd Street N.W.   Ronnie also lived in Sand Lake for three years.

He worked with local musicians like bassist Hal Beveridge and drummer Tommy Davis, and they accompanied him when they obtained engagements in other parts of the United States. While in Buffalo, New York, Ronnie met Dale Thomas AKA “Dusty Chaps” and pursuaded him to come to Grand Rapids to play music with him. Dale is still a popular musician in Grand Rapids.

Ronnie met his best friend while living in Grand Rapids, the veteran Grand Rapids disc jockey, Ed Buchanan, also well known as “Uncle Buck”. Due to Ed’s influence, Ronnie also worked for a couple years as a DJ at WJEF in Grand Rapids .

Ronnie adds: “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I realize that I never  talked about it much in any of my interviews…at any time. It was only for about two years (around 1967) and it was called WJEF (JEFF Radio) on Ann Street behind the Holiday Inn. We were playing at the Bavarian Inn at the time and I was living at Ramblewood Apartments.”

“There was an older D.J.. ‘Cuzzin Somebody’?  …  I would call and ask for requests like POCO, Commander Cody, The Dead, New Riders and music like that. Ed Buchann said they don’t have that kind of ‘Country Music’ at the station… why don’t you come down and bring your records and play ’em yourself ? … and that kinda started my DJ’n back then – I even interviewed Anne Murray one morning…she flipped out to hear a D.J. from Ontario (calling her from Grand Rapids)…He He!!”

“There was no one playing the kind of ‘Country Music’ we were into back then…so when I had the opportunity to do it myself  I jumped on it ….and I really did enjoy it …it was only a weekend gig for a few hours in the morning…9 to noon … Sat. and Sun. … not much pay, but fun, and I could play my own stuff. My bass player at that time was Hal Beveridge…and he also talked me into it.” Ronnie summed it up:  “It was a great experience.”

Ronnie became lifelong friends with many musicians in Grand Rapids , and helped provide the name for the “The Common People” (which was originally “Lin and the Invaders.” ) Lin clearly recalls how this occurred:  “Ronnie Fray had already played at the Shamrock several times that year (1967). I was working there as a barmaid, and totally dug his music. He became friends with Fred (Munch) and me, and we hung out after the gig, as often as possible, mostly listening to, and talking music. One of the songs that I really loved to hear Ronnie sing was a song written by Willie Nelson (called “Love of the Common People.”). One night as we discussed a new name for the band Ron said, ‘Why don’t you just call yourselves The Common People?… I know you like that song.’ …and that was it. We all knew it was the perfect name.”

Ronnie also wrote a song that Natchez Trace recorded, entitled “I Miss Mississippi ” the flip side of ”Ole 55”.

Ronnie kept very busy while he lived in Grand Rapids. He may be in the running for holding the record of playing at the most places in West Michigan. He performed at Westwood Ranch House, Barney’s, the parking lot at Granny’s Kitchen on 28th Street, Mr. President’s Inn, Hilltop Bar, with the Kingtones at Westgate Bowl, Harvey’s Bar, Jolly Trolly, Elbow Room, Russo’s, Paulo’s Living Room/Chez Ami, Brass Monkey, The Mouse Trap, Bow Tie, Thunderchicken, Windjammer, Eastown Saloon, OVER THE HILL (with Chuck Bob Carnes), PEOPLES , CHILLY’S , Lincoln Lake Pavilion, THE BASEMENT , THE PICK HOTEL, THE TOWN HOUSE , the DIRTY SHAME, the DRIFTWOOD Inn, BOB’S BAR, SUGAR FOOT SALOON (in Cedar) LITTLE BROWN JUG , the INTERSECTION (with Larry Ballard), the SAND BAR, Harvard Tavern (Sandy’s Place,) and Cedar Rocks, to name a few.

Beginning in the late 1980s, bar and nightclub jobs gradually became harder to find for musicians in West Michigan; and as their only child, Ronnie returned to Canada to care for his aging parents, who have since passed away.

Ronnie presently lives in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, but is eagerly looking forward to yet another trip to Grand Rapids to see his old friends and musical companions. He will most certainly find a welcoming place to stay and play, here at his second home.