About The Ron Marenger Big Band

ron3While growing up in Espanola, Ontario, Ron Marenger played various musical instruments. He finally decided to teach himself to play the saxophone and read music. He formed his first band in 1959. An excerpt from the local newspaper in 1960 reads, "The annual Snowball Hop will be held in the Elks Hall and there will be dancing to the Ron Marenger Orchestra from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. . . .".

Ron's career took him to Montreal and Toronto where hecontinued to form and lead Big Bands. Ron's band played for dances, concerts and other events at many notable venues in the Toronto area such as The Old Mill, Harbourfront, Summer Music Series in Kew Gardens, etc. In 1979, Ron had bands in Montreal and Toronto which kept him busy commuting up and down Highway 401. In 2002,  Ron retired from his position with National Life and settled in Ennismore, near Peterborough, Ontario in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. It wasn't long before Ron recruited musicians in the Peterborough area to form a Big Band there. After rehearsing for a number of months, the Peterborough version of the Ron Marenger Big Band played its first gig at the Navy Club in the winter 2002/2003. The band played at many functions, the most notable being the headline act  for several years at the Peterborough Festival of Trees Gala, The Peterborough Festival of Lights, Peterborough Downtoown Jazz Festival, The Academy Theater in Lindsay, the Lakefield Jazz Festival, The Lakeview Arts Barn, Peterborough Showplace, the 75th anniversary celebration of the Kawartha Golf and Country Club and many others.

In 2004, Ron was diagnosed with cancer and despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he rehearsed the band and conducted  a number of gigs. Incredibly, during this period of failing health, Ron organized and arranged for the band to play on a 7-day Caribbean Cruise aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship 'Victory' in January 2006. Ron was in the midst of arranging a cruise for 2008 when he succombed to the cancer and passed away in February 2007. Ron's last dance 'gig' - "Wasn't That A Party!!" - was organized as a remembrance of the great time everybody had on the 2006 cruise.  Many of the attendees were on the cruise.

The Ron Marenger Big Band continues and is a testament to Ron's ability to bring together a group of people, to choose players and personalities and make it work. Ron wanted the band to continue as did the players. The band is Ron's legacy. He left something wonderful for all of us - players, dancers and music lovers alike.

Trombonist Roger Chong has taken on the role of musical director for the band. The band's instrumentation is 5 saxophones, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, bass, drums and guitar. There are female and male vocalists. The band performs swing music from the 1930's, 40's and 50's in the style of Glen Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Neil Hefti, etc. The band is available for bookings for dances, concerts and special events.  Contact the band by email (info@ronmarengerbigband.com) or telephone (705-761-8071).

 

          
                     1960 Snowball Dance                                                                                 
                Elk's Hall - Espanola, Ontario                                                                            Ron's First Peterborough Band - 2002
                       Ron's First Band
                     



Aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship "Victory"
January 2006


Lesley & Ron at "Wasn't That A Party!!"
May 5, 2006