Ronnie Burrage

Ronnie Burrage (born October 19, 1959, St. Louis, Missouri) is an American jazz drummer. His style draws elements from hard bop, bebop, funk, and soul.

Burrage sang in the St. Louis Cathedral boys' choir from age seven to eleven and performed with Duke Ellington at the age of nine. He also played drums, percussion and vibraphone and sang in several funk, R & B and jazz groups including The Soul Flamingos, Fontella Bass, Oliver Sain, Third Circuit & Spirit, Rainbow Glass, and Expression Jazz Quintet. His introduction to jazz was formed from listening to the music almost every waking hour from uncles and grandparents. His uncles, Allen, Michael, Noel, Dale aka Ahmad and trumpeter Jan Mahr aka, Rasul Siddik were most inspirational to his pursuance in learning this music, as each had a love of jazz in all its forms and facets. Burrage played in the St. Louis Metropolitan Jazz Quintet from 1975 to 1977 and was considered a child prodigy to be playing with standing members of this particular quintet such as John Mixon, who played bass with Grant Green and Miles Davis, James "Iron Head" Matthews piano, Freddie Washington, Willie Akins saxophone and Ben Jones trumpet. He was also a favorite of vocalist Mae Wheeler's jazz group, featuring guitarist Marvin Horne.

From age 15 to 17, Burrage was also involved in a collective band called No Commercial Potential with Mark Friedrick on keyboards, Darryl Mixon on bass (son of John Mixon), and Richie Daniels on guitar that opened many fusion concerts for George Duke, Gino Vannelli and others. He played in many jazz clubs, concerts and venues including St. Louis' annual "Afro Day in the Park". Also while still a teenager, Burrage and his own band, Alexis, managed by his mother, Cosandra Burrage, worked with correctional institutions throughout St. Louis and Illinois in an outreach program to bring about positive change.

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