A native of Baltimore MD., Ronnie Mack was born on April 18, 1954. From an early age he was impressed by the guitar. His grandparents were also very musical and influenced him greatly. That old Delco tube radio also was an important tool in Mack's development as a musician. This is where he first heard Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, and his hero, Ricky Nelson. The stage was set and the deep roots of American music were growing in the young, lanky adolescent.

As a teenager he was surrounded by the groovy psychedelic world that followed the British Invasion of the early 1960s. Finding this scene not to his liking, Ronnie devoted himself more and more to American Roots music. After high school he began thinking about moving to Los Angeles. Ricky Nelson's Stone Canyon Band was doing well; and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Poco, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Commander Cody and His Lost Airmen were all twanging' away, a much closer cousin to the rockabilly he loved so much more than what was happening in Baltimore.

Packing up and moving west to L.A., Mack broke into the diverse west coast music scene with a fury. The year was 1976. The punk rock aspect of the scene was open to anything, even Rockabilly. Ronnie put together a band, The Black Slacks, and followed the punk circuit, while also playing showcases with the Blasters and other roots rock bands. The payoff came in 1979 when roots music took off. Signing with the Rollin' Rock label, Mack recorded a series of singles; "You Make Me Wanna Rock" and "I Wanna Dance With You" were two of the most memorable, both co-written with partner Greg Loeb. He later went on to record a country track for volume three of the Town South of Bakersfield compilation and worked with Dwight Yoakam, Ray Campi, Rosie Flores, Buck Owens, James Intveld, Cliffie Stone, Marty Stuart, the Jordanaires, and D.J. Fontana.

On January 17, 1988 Ronnie Mack began the Barn Dance, a weekly showcase for big names as well as newer artists living and working around Los Angeles. Beginning at The Little Nashville Club in North Hollywood, Mack moved the Barn Dance to the world-famous Palomino Club 6 months later. Then a weekly affair, Ronnie was ahead of the curve. The Barn Dance was simultaneously broadcast live on KCSN FM Radio from CSUN, promoting California roots music to thousands over the air until shortly before the Pal closed for good in 1995.

As a fitting tribute, Ronnie Mack was inducted into the California Country Music Association's Hall Of Fame in January of 1991.

A brief fiery residence at Cahoots in Glendale was followed by a move to a new venue at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, breathing new life into the Barn Dance and the entire scene. Located at Jack's Sugar Shack, every Tuesday night was a celebration and a meeting place for local musicians as well as those seeking some companionship and a 'cold one.' Visitors like Connie Smith, Robert Reynolds, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Woodruff were not uncommon in the audience or on the stage.

With the run at Jack's Sugar Shack ending, Mack headed east and moved the Barn Dance over to Crazy Jack's in Burbank. Crazy Jack's eventually closed its doors and Ronnie again needed to find a home for the Barn Dance. After half a year at The Thunderbird Club (aka Blue Saloon), the Barn Dance moved to El Cid in North Hollywood for a 5 year residence. Eventually new ownership took over and the Barn Dance was no longer on the menu. Thanks to bandleader & promoter Mark Tortorici for his tireless efforts in preserving and marketing the Barn Dance brand, this venerable Southland Roots music tradition continues to thrive now at Joe's Great American Bar and Grill on the first Monday night of every month, attracting an intensely loyal and numerous audience 23 years later. BARN DANCE SCHEDULE...

Another aspect of Ronnie Mack's good standing in the community was his work with and for various charities. As the host of the annual Elvis Birthday Bash, Mack worked alongside local industry insider Art Fein to pull off the big show that featured a wide variety of acts all doing Elvis songs. Past guests include Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores, James Intveld, Big Sandy, Johnny Rivers, Lee Rocker, Dave Alvin, Wanda Jackson, and Florida Slim. The money raised from this event went to local charities for the homeless. In 1996 the Swedish SunJay label released a 28-track compilation built around the many singles he recorded for the Rollin' Rock, Lonesome Town, and SunJay labels between June 1981 and a live recording from the Palomino in 1994, including Mack's 1986 cover of the James Intveld hit " My Heart is Achin' for You."

With an emphasis on rockabilly, Mack's largess to that genre has kept rockabilly alive for millions of fans worldwide. Like many American artists that are overlooked at home, Ronnie Mack is a star in Europe, where his singles are hits that still merit airplay. His unerring and steadfast devotion to country and roots music proves an inspiration to us all and showcases a vibrant career that continues to benefit many a musician and singer to this very day.