Ronnie Penque - Ronnie Penque Bio

Ronnie is best know as the bass player and vocalist of the world famous New Riders of the Purple Sage. When not working with NRPS Ronnie spends time with his solo project RONNIE PENQUE BAND which includes his brother Chris Penque on guitar, Andy Trister on lead guitar, Jeff Pearlman on keys and vocals, and Katie Pearlman on drums and vocals.
Ronnie started his music career as the original bass player in the popular New Jersey Grateful Dead cover band, Ripple. Ripple was formed in 1978. During the Ripple years Penque would also moonlight with other bands like Wig Jam and Splintered Sunlight. After Ripple retired in 2003, Ronnie was asked by keyboardist Melvin Seals of The Jerry Garcia Band to join his band, "Melvin Seals and JGB". Ronnie toured with Melvin and JGB for 3 years as lead singer and bassist. Penque then joined up with Buddy Cage and Johnny Markowski in Stir Fried which led to the reforming of The New Riders of the Purple Sage in 2005. Ronnie and the New Riders play over 100 shows per year throughout the United States and Canada.

If the name Penque is familiar, Ron's uncle the late Romeo Penque was one of the most famous woodwind and flute players in the music industry who was best known for his work with Miles Davis. At age 12 Ronnie was taught to play bass by his father Ron Penque Sr., an accomplished session bass player for 20 years, who gave Ronnie his 57 Precision bass (Dads Bass) upon his retirement. Some of Ronnie's musical influences are The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, NRPS bass player Dave Torbert, Donald Duck Dunn, John Entwistle, Paul McCartney and Jack Casady, among others.
Through the years Ron has also played with many other bands and great musicians including Bobby Weir, Mickey Hart, Vassar Clements, Peter Rowan, Melvin Seals, Robert Hunter, Wig Jam, Splintered Sunlight, Jeff Austin, Neon Gods, Stir Fried, John Popper, Jeff Mattson, John Dawson, Tony Trischka, Pete Sears, Buddy Cage, David Nelson, Barry Sless, Keller Wiliams, Donna Jean Godchaux, Jeff Pevar, Tom Constanten, Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski, Mark Karen, Jack Casady, GE Smith, Mookie Siegel, Pinetop Perkins and Tex Logan.

Ronnie Penque Facebook Page          Ronnie Penque - Wikipedia          www.thenewriders.com

The Ronnie Penque Band - Facebook      Ronnie Penque Band My Space page    Ronnie's My Space

Discoverory:
- Only Road Home - Ronnie Penque - Bayland Records 2010
- Where I Come From: Radio Mixes and Live Bonus, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, 2009
- Where I Come From - New Riders Of the Purple Sage - Woodstock Records, 2009
- Wanted: Live at Turkey Trot, New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2007
- Live New Year's Eve 2006, New Riders of the Purple Sage, 2007
- Jerry Jams -Jersey Cares , "Gomorrah" - Stir Fried, 2005
- Mallory, Music Video- Ronnie Penque/Neon Gods- Bayland Pro.Inc.,2006

GEAR.
Ronnie uses David Eden amps and Eden speakers.
Eden Electronics writes Ronnie Penque as Eden Artists in the News
Ronnie uses DR Strings
Alembic preamps

Photo on top this page by Barry Good