DooWop Music has Lost A Great Ambassador

[BDBopper]

The world has lost one of the biggest fans and ambassadors for DooWop (Rhythm & Blues based Vocal Group Harmony from the 50's & early 60's). Ronnie I, the founder of the United In Group Harmony Association (UGHA) lost a valiant battle with cancer last night. UGHA (http://ugha.org/), of which I am a member, was founded in 1976 in New Jersey by Ronnie I and the group has kept the sounds alive to this very day. It is people like Ronnie I and groups like UGHA which kept the sounds alive so I could discover them at my young age (relative to the musical time period and age of the fan base). UGHA is the last known organization keeping the sounds of DooWop alive. Southern California had an organization which sadly disbanded a few years back. UGHA has a large membership with members from as far away as Europe and Japan.

I have fond memories of traveling up to New Jersey for meetings in 2002, 2003, & 2005 as the Internet DooWop clubs held weekend meetings in conjunction with a UGHA meeting/show in June of those years. The picture below shows Ronnie I in the middle (I am on the right) from the weekend in 2002.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_cORVUi9LHFo/R81rYkHuMEI/AAAAAAAAACQ/MKXDqLlZHBI/s320/Andy+Ronnie+I+and+Brian.jpg

Ronnie I will definitely be missed. He was a great ambassador for DooWop. I felt that he, and the music he represented with such vigor is swanky enough to memorialized here.

Rest in Peace Ronnie I! :snap:

[cirquelover]

RiP Ronnie I. I hope the group can keep going on strong in his memory.

[BDBopper]

RiP Ronnie I. I hope the group can keep going on strong in his memory.

I hope so too. I hope he had an heir apparent. One could say that Ronnie I was UGHA. It is unknown at this point if the organization will be able to continue on without him. I really hope and pray that they can move forward and keep his legacy alive and well.