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Ron McClure was born November 22, 1941 in New Haven, Connecticut and started on piano at age five, later played accordion and bass. He studied privately with Joseph Ladone and, later, with Hall Overton and Don Sebesky. He attended and graduated from the Hartt School of Music in 1963.

McClure worked in the Buddy Rich Sextet the year he graduated, then joined Maynard Ferguson’s big band. This was followed by a stint with Herbie Mann in 1964; and then he assumed the bass chair in the Wynton Kelly Trio that was vacated by Paul Chambers in 1965.

From 1966 to 1969 Ron was a member of Charles Lloyd’s classic quartet alongside pianist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette, which was voted Group of the Year in 1967 by Downbeat magazine.

In 1970, with pianist-composer Mike Nock, drummer Eddie Marshall and violinist Michael White, McCkure co-founded the jazz-rock group The Fourth Way. He also recorded on Carla Bley’s album Escalator over the Hill and worked with saxophonist Joe Henderson.

In 1974, h joined Blood, Sweat & Tears, staying through 1975 and performing on three albums: Mirror Image, New City and In Concert. The Eighties saw Ron joining Quest, led by saxophonist Dave Liebman, and included drummer Billy Hart and pianist Richie Beirach. He recorded a duo album with pianist Michel Petrucciani. He would go on to record and/or perform with Lee Konitz, the reassembled Quest, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Vic Juris, Paul Bley, Richie Beirach, Paul Bley, George Cables, Julian Priester, George Russell, Don Friedman, Stanley Cowell and Randy Brecker among others. Bassist Ron McClure, who has taught at New York University, continues to compose, perform, record and tour.

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