Ontario’s Country Music Pioneers
Ronald Norman Dann

Ronald Norman Dann was born in 1947 in Lachine, QC. In his teenage years he became a big fan of the steel guitar and was soon learning how to play the instrument by watching and listening to his Montreal-based mentors Neil Flanz and Buddy Ackers (aka Andre Shedeger); performing nightly at The Country Palace in Montreal. At the time Ron was “studying”, and graduated, from a formal Music Course at McGill University during his day-time hours.

When Neil Flanz left the scene to play steel for the famed “Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels” band, Ron Dann filled his spot as the local “steel” player. Ron was also called upon to work on recording sessions in Montreal studios. His steel guitar can be heard on early career recordings by Ginette Reno, Jean-Pierre Ferland, and many of the Quebec-based Country artists of the time, produced by Dougal Trineer.

Ron Dann was quickly becoming an in-demand instrumentalist and was featured on a weekly TV show headlined by Willie Lamothe. In 1973, he became the Music Director of “The Cliff Edwards TV Show”.

Nashville came calling in the mid-70s, and Ron Dann was hired as the steel player for a U.S. tour by singer/songwriter Lee Clayton, best known for his “Ladies Love Outlaws” hit recording by Waylon Jennings.

Following the Nashville stint Ron Dann settled in Toronto, where he first worked behind the late Roy Penney at The Concord Tavern, and where he first teamed-up with guitar star Mike “Pepe” Francis. The Toronto scene at the time was also gifted with a bevy of steel guitar players, including Steve Smith, Bob Lucier, Al Brisco, and others. Ron’s music was heard with five of his original compositions featured on the 1977 vinyl LP “Air Mail Special”, a CBC project.

Ron continued to be on the road, touring extensively as a member of Ian Tyson’s Speckled Bird band, and playing steel guitar in support of Canadian-based singer/songwriter Jesse Winchester.

While touring with Jesse Winchester, Ron Dann had the opportunity to perform in many high-profile venues, including the “Midnight Special” TV Show and the “Austin City Limits” TV series.

By the early 1980s, after many years of travelling “the road”, Ron Dann opted for some steady work in Toronto, which included CBC sessions produced by Bill Garrett. He also played steel guitar on the Ronnie Hawkins “Honky Tonk” TV show in 1981 and the following year held the same spot on Sylvia Tyson’s TV series “Country In My Soul”.

Ron Dann was also the Music Director for the CBC-sponsored series “Six Days On The Road”, and the Ronnie Prophet TV series “Rocky Mountain Inn”.

In the recording studio, Ron Dann was the Producer of sessions by Wayne Rostad, Albert Hall, Debbie Post, Lynn Dee, Chris Whiteley & Caitlin Hanford, Bill Johnson, and many more.

Ron Dann’s steel guitar work has been featured literally on hundreds of recordings by Canadian artists – the list includes Murray McLauchlan, Jesse Winchester, Ian Tyson, Carroll Baker, Matt Minglewood, The Good Brothers, Willie P. Bennett, Michelle Wright, Even Steven, Joan Kennedy, Cliff Edwards, David Essig, etc., etc. !!

Friends remember Ron Dann not only for his musical genius but also for his remarkable sense of humour. He is famous for what became known as his “Dann-isms”!

Sadly, Ron Dann passed away from cancer on September 13, 1990, in Toronto. He was 43.