"Smooth Jazz," "Smooth Soul," and the "Funky Grooves" of a man in all his human complexity. Ronald McNeir, sweet soulful tenor of the Motown, legendary group the Four Tops, delivers life, love, pain and joy in his New Solo CD.
THE MAC IS BACK
Soul veteran and current Four Tops member Ronnie McNeir returns with what many are calling his tour de force. His latest release, Ronnie Mac & Company is a smooth mix of sensuality, romance, spirituality and social consciousness. From the stepper’s groove of “Summertime Medley II” to the redemptive “(Personal Testimony) I Really Need Your Help Father,” McNeir covers all bases with the help of talented friends like Kirk Whalum, Theo Peoples, The Ridgeway Sisters, and Las Vegas chanteuse Kathy Lamar. He uses his musical skills as a buttery smooth tenor, songwriter, composer, musician and producer to create a heartfelt and defining moment in smooth soul.
Ronnie is held in high esteem on the international soul scene in countries like the UK, Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden and beyond. During his stint with Motown Records, he was a pioneer in synth instrumentation. He has worked with Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Bobby Womack, Rene and Angela, Billy Griffin and many more throughout the years, earning accolades from some of the most acclaimed names in the business. He was hand-selected by his best friend, original Four Top Renaldo “Obie” Benson, to become a member of the legendary group.
As a member of the Four Tops for the past seven years and a veteran of Las Vegas’ renowned lounge scene, Ronnie is a consummate performer who can entrance any audience with his soulful and jazzy hybrid vocals.
Many of the greatest names in soul music know Ronnie McNeir… so should you.
MEDIA AND PRESS
SoulTracks
To look at the resume of artists with whom Ronnie McNeir has worked is like reading a who's who in soul music: from Bobby Womack and Smokey Robinson to the Whispers and Angela Winbush. Best known for his duet with Teena Marie on the 1984 classic "We've Got to Stop Meeting Like This," Ronnie has, for the last decade, been pleasing audiences across the globe as a member of the legendary Four Tops.
With the release of his tenth solo project, Ronnie Mac & Company, McNeir delivers 17 splendid tracks of straight-up grown folk's music. A spoken intro about an unfaithful companion sets the tone for the first track, "What Goes Around Comes Back Around." Kirk Whalum drops in to bless "I'm In the Mood" with his tenor saxophone as Ronnie tickles the ivories in true soul man fashion. Other highlights include "Funkin' In Las Vegas," "I Really Need Your Help Father (My Personal Testimony)," and "Down in the Neighborhood."
Ronnie Mac & Company is from the heart of a man who is all about making good soul music. His tenor voice resonates throughout the disc and his smooth voice is the epitome of cool. Recommended.
Christopher Whaley
Soul Express
This is, for this scribe at any rate, the best and most consistent album Ronnie McNeir has ever produced. It has been 10 years since "Down In The Neighborhood," so it is with immense pleasure that I have soaked up this album over the past few weeks. Ronnie is one of the greatest unrecognized talents of our time. This album lays any reservations to bed on that score. Joining Ronnie on this set are Kirk Whalum and the Ridgeway Sisters amongst others, adding extra spice. I would rather have seen this album titled "The Many Facets of Ronnie McNeir" as the master weaves a colorful blanket of sounds from jazz, quiet storm soul, funk to urban contemporary. Ronnie covers all aspects of life and love here, and shows that he is more than socially conscious – he is completely and utterly socially awake.
The proficiency of his observations set to music is a damning indictment of the way many live today. From this I see that Ronnie not only has a big heart, he cares enough to try and do some
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