Ron Cornelius

Ron Cornelius started in the music business with The Coasters, The Drifters, Chubby Checker, The Vandellas, Jan and Dean and Glenn Campbell. Ron played lead guitar for music legends as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Marty Robbins, and Earl Scruggs. Ron performed on five Platinum and gold albums of Bob Dylan. He performed lead guitar roles for four Leonard Cohen albums, on six world tours and a movie.

As a teenage guitarist in California, Ron Cornelius cut his musical teeth backing an array of artists that reads like an industry Who's Who from the 50's and 60's. Chubby Checker, Martha and The Vandellas, Smoky Robinson & the Miracles, Jan and Dean, and Bobby Rydell were among those that young Cornelius shared a stage with, in addition to many other major artists, such as Glen Campbell, Sonny & Cher, Jackie Wilson, The Sherrells, Gene Chandler, and Mary Wells - as they toured his home state. At 16 Ron had a major record deal with his own group 'The Untouchables' on Dot Records, a major label at the time!

Cornelius formed the group WEST, which would bring him his first national recognition. WEST appeared in numerous national showcases across the country which resulted in bids from 8 major record labels. In 1967, 'WEST' signed with Epic Records and appeared in Las Vegas at the CBS Convention.

Two albums were cut for the label, both in Nashville. A single, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (a Bob Dylan composition) climbed to #17 on the national charts. The group went on to record a third (final) LP for Paramount Records before dissolving. Altogether Ron Cornelius has had 5 major record deals as an artist, others include A&M Records and Polydor Records. Cornelius returned to backing other acts as a lead guitarist, but this time as a supporting artist on a remarkable chain of hit albums with some of the biggest names in the country and popular music industry, such as Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Hoyt Axton, Loudon Wainwright III, and many others. Most notably, Cornelius supplied lead guitar work on five multi--platinum albums by the legendary Bob Dylan. Also during this period, Cornelius helped assemble a band for world renown singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen, remaining as band leader for six major world tours, four albums, and one movie - for which Cornelius won rave reviews for his guitar stylings. The albums were among Cohen's best - Songs From A Room, Leonard Cohen Live, Songs Of Love and Hate, and his Greatest Hits album (all certified Platinum). The film, Bird On A Wire, produced during his tenure with Cohen, was filmed during a tour that started on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland and ended in Israel. While there, Cornelius composed a song, "Jerusalem", which was recorded by leading Israeli artist Esther Ofarim, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. "Jerusalem" was also featured on her live album in concert with the Tel Aviv Philharmonic.

Ron Cornelius' next move was to Nashville where, in 1980, he pursued a career as a producer, songwriter and publisher in addition to his work as a major guitarist. Joining forces with another industry legend Pete Drake, he served as Professional Manager and Producer of Drake Music Group's Nashville publishing administration service, and later rose to take charge of and Produce for ATV Music Corporation's Nashville office. At that time ATV was the fourth largest publisher in the world administering the works of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, as well as a 6000 song catalog of country music greats! In 1986, Cornelius formed The Cornelius Companies, an independent Nashville based Production and Publishing entity. Cornelius has represented and administered catalogs for Cabin Fever Entertainment, Inc., Charlie Daniels/Miss Hazel Music, and The Lowery Music Group out of Atlanta, GA. Songs from the Cornelius catalog have been recorded by the likes of Faith Hill, Confederate Railroad, David Allen Coe, Alabama and many more! In 1993-1994, he signed two Cornelius acts to major label recording contracts with Warner Brothers.

In 1995 Ron Cornelius created the record label called Gateway Entertainment, Inc., a division of The Cornelius Companies. Initially directed at the increasingly popular Positive Country format, 1995 saw Cornelius with his own Gateway label rack up an impressive collection of hit songs, Eleven top 10's, Eight top 5's, Six #2's and Two #1 singles, all produced by Ron Cornelius. Gateway Entertainment was honored with the Top Label Award by Cashbox Magazine in their 1995 Year End rank and figures. In 1996, 1997 and 1998 Gateway Entertainment acquired more #1 and top 5 singles than any label in the 'Positive Country' music format.

The Cornelius Companies and Gateway Entertainment continue their success under the guidance and expertise of owner Ron Cornelius, because of his knowledge and vast experience in the music industry, not to mention a lot of hard work and integrity!.

www.corneliuscompanies.com

 

Chuck Weber	Roxanne Weber	Ron Cornelius	Ray Peterson	Maggie Cavender	Hal McCrery	Jimmy Velvet	Otis Blackwell	Joe Yates	Jimmy Brent