| Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Genres | improvisational jazz praise & worship, Hard bop, Post-bop, Progressive jazz, Soul-jazz, Jazz-funk |
| Occupations | Physician, Minister, Musician |
| Instruments | Trumpet & Piano |
| Years active | 1974 - current |
| Labels | Moja Records |
| Associated acts | Ron Myers Jazz Quartet Alvin Batiste Manty Ellis Larry Ridley Jimmy Cheatham Richard Davis Russell Gunn |
| Website | http://www.ronmyersjazz.com/ |
Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D. (born February 29, 1956) is an American physician, medical missionary, Baptist minister, jazz musician, composer and civil rights activist. Myers is the leader of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement" in America, founder and chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign,[1] National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC),[2] National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)[3] and the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP).[4] Myers is also the founder and chairman of the American Pain Institute (API),[5] the Myers Foundation For Indigent Health Care & Community Development[6] and the Fellowship of Creative Christian Jazz Musicians (FCCJM).[7]
In the year 2000, he founded the WASHINGTON JUNETEENTH National Holiday Observance[8] and the National Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement,[9] which includes the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust "Maafa" Memorial Service.[10] In 2004 and 2005, he organized "America's In Pain!" - March on Washington - "Silent No More!",[11] demanding congressional hearings on the pain treatment crises in America. In 2010, he founded the World Day of Reconciliation & Healing From the Legacy of Enslavement.[12]
Myers is the founder of Madison Medicus - University of Wisconsin Medical School African American Alumni Association, the University of Wisconsin African American Alumni Association and the African American Alumni Foundation of the University of Wisconsin.[13]
In 2006, Myers became the owner of the A.B.A. basketball team, the Mississippi Miracles.[14]
Myers was born in Chicago, IL, the youngest of two sons, to Marion Mack Myers and Neoma R. Myers. The Myers family moved to Milwaukee, WI, when his parents, graduates of Langston University, became employed as teachers in the Milwaukee Public School System.
Myers attended, and excelled academically, at Rufus King High School, an all African American public school in the north side, inner city, of Milwaukee. Myers gained attention as a talented soloist in the high school jazz ensemble on trumpet and later piano, where he performed with legendary jazz masters Sonny Stitt and Donald Byrd at the age of 16. Upon graduating with honors in 1974, Myers attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He was a pre-med student, majored in African American Studies and was a member of the Experimental Improvisational Black Music Ensemble (EIBME), under the mentorship of Professor Jimmy Cheatham. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1985 and completed his residency in Family Medicine at L.S.U. Medical Center, Washington-St. Tammany Charity Hospital in Bogalusa, Louisiana, in 1988.
Myers took part time courses at Reformed Theological Seminary at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), in 1989 and 1990. He became the first ordained and commissioned medical missionary to America’s poorest region, the Mississippi Delta, by the Wisconsin Baptist Pastors Conference and Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, in Milwaukee, in 1990. He received an Honorary Doctor of Eclesia by Phoenix University of Theology.[15]
Myers married is married to Sylvia Holmes and they have five children, Ronald, Jr., Michael, Eric, Joshua and Neoma.
"There aren't many doctors like Ronald Myers, a jazz-playing, Baptist-preaching family practitioner whose dream has always been to practice medicine in the kind of place most other doctors wouldn't even stop for a tank of gas."[16]
In 1988, Myers, upon completing his residency in family medicine, gained national and international media attention when he and his wife used their own limited financial resources, to open a family health center in Tchula, Mississippi, at the objection of the U.S. Public Health Service. Tchula is located in one of the most physician neediest and highest infant mortality areas in the country.
In 1990, Myers became the first ordained and commissioned medical missionary to America's poorest region, the Mississippi Delta, in the history of the black church in America. He was commissioned by the Wisconsin Baptist Pastors Conference and ordained by Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee, WI.[17]
Myers founded the National Campaign For Justice and Hope[18] to bring attention to the discriminatory and deplorable working conditions of African American catfish workers in the Mississippi Delta. From 1996 - 2005, he organized the annual Buffalo Fish Festival[19] in Belzoni, Mississippi, the Catfish Capitol of the World, at the same time as the Catfish Industry sponsored World Catfish Festival, bringing the plight of poor catfish workers to a national and international audience. [20]
A Mississippi farmer, he worked with other Mississippi black farmers in support of an historic 1999 class action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The lawsuit resulted in a settlement of $2.5 billion for 20,000 Black farmers in damages for loan discrimination practiced by the federal government.
In 1994, the era of the "Modern Juneteenth Movement"[21] began when a group of Juneteenth leaders from across the country gathered in New Orleans, Louisiana, at Christian Unity Baptist Church to work for greater national recognition of Juneteenth. Myers was elected Chairman of this national advocacy effort by Juneteenth leaders during this historic meeting.
Myers continues to provide national leadership advocacy for Juneteenth as the Founder and Chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign,[22] National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC),[23] National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)[24] and the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP).[25]
In 2003, Myers, Founder and Chairman of the American Pain Institute (API),[26] organized a coalition of chronic pain patients, physicians and patients rights advocates, to pass the Arkansas Chronic Pain Treatment Act,[27] through a series public marches and protest rallies in the state capitol of Little Rock. In 2004 and 2005, Myers organized two successful "America's In Pain!" - MARCH ON WASHINGTON - "Silent No More!", demanding congressional hearings on the pain crisis in America. [28]
As the founder of the National Association of Juneteenth Jazz Presenters (NAJJP), an accomplished jazz pianist, trumpeter and composer, Myers performs across the country promoting "June Is Black Music Month!" - Celebrating Juneteenth Jazz - "Preserving Our African American Jazz Legacy!" The NAJJP is the sponsor of several Juneteenth Jazz Legacy Concerts and Juneteenth African American Art Exhibits during Black Music Month, and throughout the year, including the historic African-American jazz legacy cities of Kansas City, MO and Omaha, NB.[29]
His career as a jazz musician was greatly influenced by performing with the legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Stitt and jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd as a 16 year old high school student. He was also mentored by trombonist Jimmy Cheatham and clarinetist Alvin Batiste.
In 1994, Myers released his critically acclaimed CD, with all original compositions, "Doctor's Orders". Noted jazz critic Willard Jenkins, who frequently reviews jazz recordings for Down Beat and Jazz Times Magazine, called the recording "one of the most important recordings in the last ten years." Featuring original jazz compositions like "Song For Tchula", "Blues For Tchula" and "Message From the Country". Myers CD, and his work as the Artistic Director of the Mississippi Jazz & Heritage Festival,[30] has made the Mississippi Delta recognized as an area of great jazz legacy in America.[31]
In 2006, Myers became the owner of the American Basketball Association (ABA) team, the Mississippi Miracles.[32] Based in Greenville, Mississippi, the Mississippi Miracles played for one season before operations ceased.