Professional Biography & Documentation

Overview

Ronnie Burrage is a world-renowned percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and producer. Currently serving as a professor at CUNY Brooklyn College, he is recognized as one of the finest jazz musicians on the international scene today, with an extensive discography spanning over 170 recordings.

Professional Credentials

Current Position

Performance History

Ronnie Burrage has performed with an impressive roster of jazz legends, including:

Orchestra & Ensemble Experience

  • Krakow Symphony

  • London Philharmonic

  • The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra

  • Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra

  • Gil Evans Orchestra

  • Jaco Pastorius Big Band

  • Julius Hemphill Big Band (Grammy Nominated)

Career Highlights

Recording Achievement

  • Featured on over 170 recordings as a master recording artist

  • Extensive discography showcasing versatile musical abilities

Global Performance Reach

  • Four continents of touring experience

  • Performances spanning from Siberia to South Africa to Japan

  • Over 52 years of professional performance since debut

Career Origin

  • Debut at age 9 when Duke Ellington invited him on stage in St. Louis, Missouri

  • Recognized as a child prodigy on drums

Educational Background & Teaching

Academic Positions

Professor Burrage has created and taught courses at prestigious institutions:

  • Pennsylvania State University

  • The New School NYC

  • University of the Arts Philadelphia

  • Berlin Conservatory

  • CUNY Brooklyn College (current)

Courses Developed & Taught

  • History of Jazz

  • Music of Global Cultures

  • World's Closer

  • Hip-Hop Music & Culture

  • The Art of the Jazz Ensemble

  • The Art of Improvisational Drum & Percussion

Private Instruction

  • Over 40 years of private instruction experience

  • Teaches drummers, percussionists, and musicians on various instruments

  • Specialized in developing versatile musical skills across instruments

Musical Development & Early Career

St. Louis Origins

Born in St. Louis, Ronnie was immersed in diverse musical environments from childhood:

  • Family musical background - began playing with family members

  • Church performances and school bands

  • Drum and bugle corps participation

  • Neighborhood ensembles

Genre Versatility

Early exposure and performance experience across multiple genres:

Mentorship & Early Recognition

  • Mentored by Black Artist Group (BAG) members in pre-teens

  • Youngest BAG member- guided by Floyd LeFlore, Julius Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett, and JD Parran

  • Youngest member of the prestigious St. Louis Metropolitan Jazz Quintet

St. Louis Performance Experience

  • Substitute drummer for Fontella Bass and Mae Wheeler

  • Extensive local performance opportunities managed by his mother

  • Venues included: incarcerated programs, park festivals, concerts, weddings, libraries, riverbank restaurants, and jazz clubs

  • Afro Day and Black Power events of the 1970s

Literary Influence

  • Grandfather, Allan David Mahr, was an internationally known poet in literary circles

  • Exposure to poetry readings with diverse musical accompaniment (European classical to Country and Western)

New York Transition & International Career

1979 - Move to New York City

Upon relocating to NYC, I immediately began:

Professional Recognition

Academic Excellence

Known as an innovative academic, composer, producer, and program designer who creates:

  • Dramatic musical programs that are deeply educational

  • Entertaining presentations combining virtuoso performance with scholarship

Performance Reputation

  • Virtuoso ability with all forms of percussion

  • Original musical approach to drumming

  • Versatile talent, passion, and skill are sought after by various artists and producers

Contact & Current Status

Current Position: Professor at CUNY Brooklyn College
Professional Status: Active performer, educator, and composer
Geographic Base: New York City (since 1979)

This documentation serves as a comprehensive overview of Ronnie Burrage's extraordinary career spanning over five decades of musical excellence, education, and international recognition.

"Music has healing properties," according to Burrage. “We have not yet begun to explore all that music can do for us, individually and on a global level,” he said. He believes music can provide one avenue to erase all the divisions and hate in the world (Examiner.com)

Prof. Burrage is known not only for his virtuoso ability with all forms of percussion, but as an innovative composer and program designer who can put together dramatic musical programs which are deeply educational and all together entertaining. "I am writing these things because I think more people need to know Ronnie Burrage, who has been on the scene, like they say, and has been saying something musically, at a very high level." — Amiri Baraka

“Mr. Burrage is articulate and interesting in my opinion because of his ability to communicate and entertain large and diverse audiences and I have followed and witnessed his work for many years.” – Broadwayworld.com (2013)

"Rainbow Glass" mid 70's before leaving St. Louis, with Mark Friedrick, David Boonshoft & Richie Daniels.

"Rainbow Glass" mid 70's before leaving St. Louis, with Mark Friedrick, David Boonshoft .

“The Jazz Network Worldwide is honored to be featuring such a legend in jazz. His musical offerings are well-suited for our jazz community, where worldwide music festivals and booking agents can learn about his amazing musical history and latest release. Ronnie’s music is not only for the avid jazz fan to be fed but for the up-and-coming artists that need to open their ears to a historical thread of jazz history through his music,” says Jaijai Jackson, creator of The Jazz Network Worldwide. https://notjustjazznetwork.com/

"Alexis" 1975/76 St. Louis with Tony Thompson, Ivory Mobley, Nick Brown.

"Alexis" 1975/76 St. Louis with Tony Thompson, Ivory Mobley, Nick Brown.


 

Early days on an East Village rooftop Ave A & St. Marks NYC, photo shoot for Paiste Cymbals. Photo by Colette Oswald

Early days on an East Village rooftop Ave A & St. Marks NYC, photo shoot for Paiste Cymbals. Photo by Colette Oswald