Ronnie Nelson

 

A Denver native, Ronnie majored in theatre. He has created and performed in improvisational groups, and performed in national touring bands.  He’s written, produced, and performed in music videos, on radio shows, TV, and in films.  He’s also written comedies satires, screenplays, books and poetry. 

 

Ronnie has been very active in the art community since the early eighties.  Performing in dramas, comedies, and children’s theatre.  Ronnie was awarded Best Actor, and Best Thespian in Colorado 1981.  He performed in and created the improvisational group, No Joke.  Performances included Gabriel’s Dinner Theatre, The Comedy Works, and Elitch Gardens.  He has also participated in the CU Boulder Film School, and The Colorado Institute of Art.

 

Ronnie is an accomplished Musician/Bassist/Singer and Writer, and has appeared with several bands.  He played with The Trees from 1982-1986, and The Westword Music Association nominated them for a Best Of Westword in Colorado in 1984. 

 

In 1987 he played a role on local TV soap opera, The Denver Soap.

 

Ronnie has written, directed, and performed in music videos, which have appeared in major motion pictures such as Robert Altman’s Short Cuts, and Independent films, Trailer Park Love, and snowboard videosDCTV, Denver Community TV, has certified him in Video Production.

 

From 1991- 1997 he played in the alternative rock band, Sympathy F. The Westword Music Association and the RMMA voted his band the Best Band In Colorado in 1996, and receiving radio play on collage radio stations across the country. Ronnie’s bands have played with many other great bands such as Oasis, The Church, 311, Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms, The Call, Frank Black, The Verve, Belly and many others. Performances include, The Mammoth Event Center, ESPN’s X-Games, Mile High Stadium, Fiddlers Green, Whiskey A Go Go, The Galaxy and many other national performances.  Radio performances include the Peak Lounge, KTCL’s Big Adventure, and TV performances on KBDI and KWGN.  He was signed to Caustic Fish Records in 1992. From 1981 to present Ronnie has recorded over 160 original songs resulting in 10 CD’s.  Currently Ronnie is a member of ASCAP.

 

For 21 years he has entered a float into the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  This is the 2nd largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in America.  In 1999 he won Best Decorated Float.  In 2000 he won Best Decorated Float and Best use of Theme.  In 2001 Best Musical Float and the Honorary Eli McGuire Award, “For Having The Most Fun.”  In 2002 he was awarded Best Decorated Float, The Eli McGuire Award, and Best Of Parade the Honorary, James P. Eakins Memorial Award.   In 2003 he was awarded the Eli McGuire Award and in   2004 again he was awarded Best Decorated Float, Best Musical Float and Best Of Parade.   In 2005 his float won the honorary award for Most Unique and again for Best Decorated Float. 2006 two more awards were added to the list, Best Decorated Float and The Honorary Eli McGuire Award. In 2007 he received the Honorary “Heart and Soul” award.  In 2008 he was awarded The Honorary Eli McGuire Award again! There were over 360 entrants in 2008 St Patrick’s Day Parade. 

 

Ronnie has co-written a handbook entitled, The Drinker’s Handbook To Drinking, which will be released in February 2009. He has also written, and is currently producing a satire called MILKMEN.  Ronnie has performed stand up comedy, hosted comedy shows and currently working on releasing a Comedy CD entitled Talk Radio~ Nobody Gets Hurt, which was recorded from national radio talk shows

 

In 2001 he co-created a variety show, which won Best Live Comedy Variety Show voted by The Best of Westword in 2002.  Entitled, The Love Show, it was filmed by the Animal Planet in March 2001, and aired on Emergency Vets the following October.   Fox News reported on it in March of 2002. Ronnie has had fourteen consecutive sell out performances at the Comedy Works, and two sold out performance in August 2002, and August 2003 at the Denver Zoo that raised $25,000.00 for the Rhino House. 2007 Love Show raised over $18,000 for Children’s Hospital cardiology wing.

 

Lapis Cut, a Techno Dance band that he co-created in late 2002, was voted Best Live Techno Band by CUMA, the Colorado Underground Music Association in December of 2003. His record label, Lapis Cut Records released a self tilted CD in 2003.

 

As of May 2004 Ronnie’s new band project is an Exotic Electronica dance band named Bhakti Rasa.  Ronnie is the Vocalist and plays the Bass guitar with a Roland VBass Synthesizer; Percussion and special audio effects with the Roland Hand Sonic Electric Hand Drums. His sequences and beats are created using the E-MU XL-7 Command Station, Roland MC-909, with a Korg EM-1.  He uses the Oberheim OB-12 for lush synthesizer sounds and dreamy strings. Performances are listed on their web site www.BhaktiRasa.com Bhakti Rasa Records nationally released debut CD, Bhakti Rasa, Nectar Ov Devotion on June 21st 2005 and their second CD Madhurya ~ The Purest Love was released June 21st, 2006.

 

In October 2006 Temptation of Belly Dance was created. He is credited as a Producer / Music Director and Performer. The World Premier February 3, 2007 at the Oriental Theatre in Denver, CO.

 

Ronnie composed the theme song for the 2nd largest home builder in America, Pacific West Companies and will be featured on their site summer of 2008. `It’s The Life debut on June 21st, 2008.

 

Ronnie served as the Musical Director for ArTown ~ Drum, Dance and Didgeridoo Finale July 27, 2007 Reno, NV.

 

As of February 2006, The Burning Man Project appointed Ronnie as the Regional Contact for Denver Colorado. He has been awarded a membership in the Black Rock Art Foundation and is eligibility to serve on its Grant Advisory Committee. In March of 2006 he was elected to the board of Apogaea in an advisory position. He has written recorded, produced and performed two Rock Operas for the Burning Man festival, with well over 150 performers and over 10,000 in attendance. His 3rd Rock Opera ~ In my Dream ~ took place Friday August 29th 2008 on the playa. Information is posted on his web site. www.TheRockOpera.net He is also a founder and director of Playa Go Round an Esplanade Theme Camp that receives thousands of visitors during the Burning Man Project and is celebrating its 11th year as an Esplanade Theme Camp! While in the studio recording his next CD, ~ A Day In The Dream~ release date January 1st, 2009, his 4th  The Rock Opera for Burning Man 2009 ~Evolutionary Dreams~, Constructing his 22nd Float for SPD, releasing a CD with Sympathy F in the summer of 2009 and  Producing Playa Go Round in August 2009. Ronnie’s new screen play, ‘Once Upon A Dream’ is currently in progress and will be released in September of 2009. His book of poems, “Heart Beat” is soon to be published and available in the spring of 2009.

 

I Believe That Art Should Be Lived And Life Is Art.

Live and Burn!

 

Ronnie Nelson

P.O. Box 44412

Denver, Colorado 80201

303.809.7009

Ronnie@BhaktiRasa.net