Ron Dewar
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Ron Dewar is a jazz tenor saxophone player in the Chicago area. He has toured and recorded with many well-known musicians, including Elvis Presley, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughan, and Louis Bellson. In the 1970s, Dewar was the leader of the traditional jazz band The Memphis Nighthawks. Memphis Nighthawks recordings include the albums Jazz Lips and Live at the Stabilizer.
Dewar began his career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At that time, the University did not encourage jazz the way an institution such as North Texas State did, but with the advent of John Garvey, a string player with the renowned Walden Quartet, there was at least one faculty member who was sympathetic to the form. During that period, the University School of Music was at the forefront of other musical innovations. Electronic music (Lejaren Hiller) and experimental forms such as the 43-tone scale of Harry Partch dominated the lively music environment at Illinois in that era, which also included the nascent pop-rock group REO Speedwagon.
Dewar was among the many musicians who appeared frequently at the Illini Student Union's weekly Jazz-U-Like-It sessions. Others were: trombonist Jon English, pianist Denny Zeitlin and numerous soon-to-be-famous members of the Bridgewater family like Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Dewar may also be heard as soloist on recordings such as "In a Mellow Tone" with the Thomas Gunther Trio and as an ensemble member on recordings by modern composer-conductor Salvatore Martirano. He is sometimes listed on recordings as Ronald Dewar.
