Ronnie M. Cook
August 29, 1952 ~ January 9, 2018
Ronnie M. Cook
Ronnie was born August 29, 1952 in Hamilton, Ohio to Marvin and Bonnie (Shortridge) Cook. He passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on January 9, 2018. Ronnie is survived by his lifelong soulmate – Doni Jean Pearson. His children Nicole Marie Hanson (Paul), Timothy Marvin Cook, and Christina Ann Green Cook. Grandchildren Curtis James, Jesus Antonio, Ryan Aaron, and Dylan Jeremiah.
The following "Chronological History"
was personally written by Ronnie:
Chronological History
1963 to 1969: I played drums for this entire period. I started in rock n roll then in 1965 I was slapped with a traffic violation for “unlawful riding” (in the trunk of a ’58 Chevy). The manager of the NCO at Fitzsimons Army Base told me that his son was a country singer and needed a drummer. I needed the steady work so Lee Sims and I got hooked up at that time. At the grand old age of 13, I was working almost every weekend.
1970 to 1980: I moved to guitar because we couldn’t find anyone that could play worth a toot, and since I graduated high school in ’70, I was now free to play anytime and anywhere. Lee decided to pursue another career at that time and off I went. Show bands with comedy routines and dance moves, to Nashville, to concerts, back to rock, back to country, back to Tom Jones / Englebert Holiday Inn circuits, Oklahoma with recording artists, and most of this five years was spent on bass guitar. Gibson EB O….I felt like I was in the Animals! I backed up hundreds of top 40 country artists during this period on guitar. I had $5 in my pocket and was in Memphis TN. Lee Sims wired me $35 and I drove straight back to the Platte River Band in Denver…..THAT NIGHT!! We played a lot of Beatles and Bakersfield and were considered more of a show band than a dance band. We blitzed Nevada and the rest of the U.S. in 1974 and finally came home after a year of casinos, show rooms, and dives. In 1976, we booked the Zanza Bar in Denver for 50 weeks a year, six nights a week. The Z Bar was the #1 country-western club in the U.S. at this time. This went on for NINE years. In 1980 I started playing extensively in the studio recording jingles, soundtracks, and corporate promotional songs. That was a great time….I was part of the Denver Wrecking Crew and spent many, many hours in the studio. I also bailed out of the Platte River Band for a year and played with a band called All Over the Road: Gene Chalk (Soul Survivors), Myron Pollack (Sugarloaf) and John McKindle (Beatlemania). HOLY SMOKES did we rock n roll!!!! I couldn’t take the high energy more than a year and went back with Lee at the “Z” bar.
1980 to 1990: A relatively boring decade for me. We ended our stay at the Zanza Bar and moved on to the Trail Dust Steak House, a classic “show up and shut up” gig. Look like a cowboy but don’t let anyone hear what you’re playing. I must say that this was my “bread and butter” for many years and it stole much of my soul and chops. I did get ‘em back after leaving, though. This was also my worst period of alcohol and drug abuse. I barely survived.
1990 to 2000: Recording and clubs. Back Trackin’ with Lee Sims was huge on the relatively new internet format for music. I had one song that I had written on that album, “Don’t Rock the Boat” and it stood pretty well on its own. I didn’t do it intentionally, but it was a good time to write a line-dance song when line-dancing was becoming popular. I joined a band called Wild River in the mid 90’s and my whole musical experience was lifted. Harmony, difficult chord changes, and working with a soulful woman singer all changed my perspective from “guitar” to “painting a picture” musically.
2000 to 2016: I joined Cactus Jack in 2001 and it was back to serious work—club work. We played all over Colorado and Wyoming and did every Saturday at Rocky’s Autos, outside in the lot. I was playing more than sleeping during these years! I have slowed down now, and survived major surgery. I am still playing every weekend, but my days of sleeping on the bus are over. I’m still active in recording, doing several projects including an instrumental album from me. Bankruptcy slowed down the process and I don’t have the building to resume that album. I will find a place and I’m looking forward to finishing, mixing and mastering that collection of recognizable tunes.
A Celebration of Ronnie's life will be announced soon.
Family and friends are encouraged to share stories and photographs of Ronnie here on his website (click appropriate tab on the left side of this page).
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Love you Jimmy. Thank you for being there for Ronnie
Rest In Peace Ronnie. Sending white light and and love for you and your family. 💜
Ronnie and I made a lot of music. He played lead guitar on most of my original music. We spent a lot of time in the truck as well talking to and from gigs, and one time returning from a gig out east of brush we hit a major snow storm. And he kept me awake and shared stories, and all Long he kept saying just 20 more minutes Jim even though we still had hrs to go. I love and will always miss you Ron , especially on the next CD that you were going to play on.
I did not know Ronnie personally but heard so many great things about him from my Bubba, Jon Stull, and sis-in-law, Lori that I truly feel a loss. Rest in peace and keep an eye on us. Sincerely, Pam
I met Ronnie when I was playing at the Zanzabar myself with Dave Toland.
He was the best guitarist I ever played with and an incredible musical mind, as well as a very funny and extremely smart individual. I went by "kid keys" at the Zanza and I was a kid compared to everyone in the scene at that time.
Ronnie never treated me as an inferior and always acted excited about playing with me and liked my ideas about writing and playing. I went to work for a locksmith that I had met at the Zanza Bar when I left Dave Toland and tried to play at the same time (impossible) so for a very short time I played with Lee Simms with Ronnie playing guitar, Gary playing drums, Lee and me. It was awesome and I felt terrible leaving but I felt I needed stability so I stuck with the locksmithing and got married.
I also always enjoyed talking to Donnie and we had a lot of laughs.
I am crying as I write this.
He was my friend and I don't have a lot of them. I hadn't seen him for many, many years as happens in the music world but I'll never forget.
I loved him.
Rick Oliphant
The closest we can get to expressing our heartfelt compassion for you and your family were written by a friend:
"We are with you all in prayer and in spirit. May the blessings and peace of God's unbounded love be closer than your tears, deeper than your sorrows, greater than your emptiness, warmer than your memories." (L. Johnson-Holt)
We're thinking of you. Prayers that the Holy Spirit surrounds you and brings you peace. We love you.
We met Ronnie Cook in 1995 after relocating to Denver from Northern Arizona. Jon nicknamed Ronnie "Ron Denver" because Ronnie knew a LOT about Everything ! :-))) We were learning our way around this new city, Denver, and who better to ask. Jon would say……."I'm going to call Ronnie, he'll know what to do." That became our saying in our household from '95 to current day, when we had questions about…..do it yourself home improvements; what plants and trees to plant or grass to grow in the Denver environment, where to get musical equipment, where to get the best deals on computers. When he told me what his favorite coffee was…. "Chock Full o' Nuts." Well, I'd get it for his birthday, and on occasion, if I saw it on sale I would buy him a can, or save the Kings coupons for him. He had many loves: Music, his motorcycle, his guitars, his cat, (sorry Ronnie….I'm "blanking" on the kitty's name) recording music, playing music and his family. Not in that order I am sure, and probably a whole list more of things. I also had the pleasure of Ronnie giving me a ride on his motorcycle in my hood back in the day ! "OOOOHHHHHH YEAHHHHHH!!" If I can ever find that picture to document that event, I will share ! Rest in Peace to our friend Ronnie M Cook. Ronnie's spirit is all around his family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to to ALL who loved Ronnie.
Brothers always and forever
Here's a funny story that Ronnie LOVED !
Ronnie and I were playing with Cactus Jack at the Old Dillon Inn – some years ago – there was a blizzard – and there must have been a foot of snow – and more was coming down –
There was a guy at the bar that was TOTALLY wasted – and he got 86ed – so – when we went on break – Ronnie and I headed for the " banned " house – and this guy was outside almost falling down – and I saw him and I said something like " how's it going ? " – " what's happening ? "
and that pissed him off – and he put his hands up and said " Come On Pussy Motherfuker !!!!! " –
and we just went into the " banned house " – and Ronnie LOST IT – he was laughing and couldn't stop – saying " all you did was say hello and this guy …………………… " –
and that phrase became part of our lexicon !!!
Last words Ronnie said to Rick "You taught me to play guitar from my head to my fingers to my heart"
Rest in peace my brother. I love you and miss you.
Lee
Thank you Eddie and Ginger
Thank you for always being with me and Ronnie.
Thank you Rick
That was our Ronnie
After a Ronnie and I met he started talking music. He was telling me about the band he was currently playing in. I asked him if the band did any Dire Straits and if he could play Sultans of Swing. He said something like "with my eyes closed." Several months passed and I went to see his band play. The very next song they played after my husband and I walked through the door was Sultans of Swing. He had remembered!! I loved Ronnie's sense of humor and his authenticity. Ronnie was a wonderful person and he will be greatly missed.
After Ronnie and I met we began talking music. He told me about the band he currently played in and I asked him if they did any Dire Straits and told him Sultans of Swing was my favorite. I asked him if he could play it and he said something like "with my eyes closed". Several months later my husband and I went to see his band play. He saw us walk in the door and the very next song the band played was Sultans of Swing. He had remembered!! I loved Ronnie's sense of humor and how kind he was. He was special and he will live on in our hearts. He will be greatly missed!
Everyone knows how Ronnie liked to wear his jeans extremely baggy. His reasoning was if you pull the front of your jeans away from your body you have to see the floor. My wife who is five foot tall and about 100 lbs, at the time, took a pair of my jeans 34 waist and 34 inseam and embroidered "Ron Cook Designer Jeans" and wore them over her own cloths. We danced if front of him until he saw them and he started laughing during the song. He kept them on stage behind him for a long time. GOOD TIMES!!
HAHA I have to think of the time of Ronnie telling me to call you by your birth name. I got into so much trouble!!!
Kelli…you were his favorite doctor!!!
I miss you so much daddy!!! I hold you every night before I go to bed!! You've been the best father in the world…. you never gave up on me, and never judged me for anything!!! You were always so proud of me, and I saw and felt it all the way until you left me. As much as I wanted you to stay here on Earth, I know that you needed to go because you weren't feeling good. But I know you're in a better place where you can see without glasses… feel without pain… I am really glad that I was laying with you when you left this world!! I love you so much daddy!!!!
I miss you so much….My days are so lonely without you. I know you are no longer in pain, and I know your eyes are perfect. I am selfish…I want you here with me. I love you Ronnie.
So many nights spent mesmerized by Ronnie's skills at the Zanza Bar, I often didn't hear Lee's voice or his witness his brother's shenanigans. No one here will know me as I drifted away from that crowd to pursue other musical interests. Still, Ronnie taught me a lot about how to play and for that, I am forever grateful. Sadly, I only learned of his passing today and the memories rushed back. Peace man.
Missing you so much today. I love you