The Singalong
grew out of a desire to honor the work of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly and many others. These songs grew out of the common experiences of the people: working on the Erie Canal, being an immigrant in a new land, the struggle for justice, love won and love lost. Many set the stage for the growth of other types of American music.
Most of the songs we learned in elementary school, many from the Weavers, Seeger, Odetta, and other folk giants of the 20th century. Many we sang around campfires, on back porches, and family gatherings. This music is very much a part of our everyday life. These are the songs at the heart of our country.
The Singalong is a time when audiences can relive the joy of singing these wonderful songs; This Land, Worried Man Blues, Goodnight Irene, Little Boxes, Circle Be Unbroken, Down by the Riverside and others.
There are also a number of Bob Dylan songs in the Singalong: Forever Young, On a Night Like This, and Blowin’ in the Wind.
The Singalong is woven into every Father Ron and Friends performance.
Father Ron (Ronald Clingenpeel)
Father Ron Clingenpeel, an Episcopal priest, has been a musician all his life, first starting in a Rock band in the 60s, and has played Funk, Zydeco, Cajun, Blues, and Folk music. Playing Top 40 hits in the 60s, led him to playing Folk, mostly influenced by the Folk Rock of the Byrds, Lovin’ Spoonful and others.
Over the years he has learned guitar, harmonica and ukulele. He has sung in bands, choirs, and was a member of Guild of Precentors in seminary.
In addition to playing, he has composed liturgical as well as secular music. The album, On My Way Home, is a compilation of his compositions. The music spans spiritual, Western, Folk and Blues. He has also won three Bronze Medals from the Global Music Awards- for “On My Way Home” and two for “Don’t Let the Fire Die”.
Barbara Smith-Davis
Barbara Smith-Davis made her professional debut in The Dallas Summer Musicals while she was attending S.M.U.
She went on to New York to study and perform with Boris Goldovsky, in productions of La Boheme, Don Giovanni, and Carmen.
She continued her music theatre career starring in South Pacific, Kiss Me Kate, Man of La Mancha, and Sound of Music, which she toured worldwide.
Barbara is thrilled to be part of Fr. Ron & Friends in this newest chapter of her life.
Robert Eustis
Robert Eustis is a New Orleans musician who embodies a sound as warm as the Big Easy.
Music has shaped New Orleans native Robert Eustis’ life since he taught himself to play the ukulele at age 10. That first taste of sharing fun through music created an indelible imprint. Over the past 2 decades, Robert has studied with New Orleans’ preeminent guitar instructor, John “Mr. Guitar” Rankin (Music Department at Loyola University), and traveled nationally and internationally as a student of music, attending guitar, and songwriting workshops and honing his skills.
His first album, “Flying High” (2011) was recorded with the help of New Orleans standouts Harry Hardin, Johnny Sansone, and Andre Bohren. For “The Tipping Point” (2022), Eustis’ second studio album (and Offbeat Best of the Beat Award nominee), Robert teamed up again with Andre Bohren as producer/musician.
David Schwartz
David Schwartz has been playing semi-professionally for about 20 years, in California with 60s and 70s cover bands, and now in NOLA with Fr. Ron & Friends. He plays keys mostly, but a few years ago started playing harmonica. A full case of harps weighs a lot less than the 50-pound keyboard!
He also loves singing harmony, and though he digs folk music, he also wants to play the 60s music he grew up with, especially The Beatles.
“Music is love.”
Max Valentino
Hailing from California, bassist Max Valentino worked as a studio musician on the West Coast for a number of years, as well as a hired sideman for numerous jazz, R 'n B and reggae groups. Heavily involved in the Northern California improvisational jazz community, (including stints with saxophonist John Zorn) he later became the house bassist at country music legend Buck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, before picking up and moving to New Orleans in 2020.