Northern Soul Classic -- Sitting In My Class (Ronnie McNeir)

Ronnie McNeir is an American singer and songwriter born on December 14, 1949 in Camden, Alabama, U.S.A. and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, where he first took a keen interest in the Motown Sound.....

As a child McNeir was a gifted basketball player. This interest was soon curtailed, however, following a car accident. Ronnie took up the piano, on which he was quite proficient by the age of fourteen.

He won a talent contest in 1966, which led to a deal and his first 45, a tune called "Sitting In My Class." The song was later to become a huge Northern Soul hit. Ronnie conceived a personal approach to constructing his sound over the course of several albums (and one excellent EP).

He relocated to Los Angeles in 1971, where he struck up a relationship with Rene Moore and joined the local choir. Here he met Kim Weston, who employed Ronnie as her musical director. It was Kim Weston who helped Ronnie land his first record deal at RCA Records.

He initially released one album on RCA in 1972 entitled Ronnie McNeir, followed by an album on Prodigal in 1975, also entitled Ronnie McNeir, containing the much-sought-after "I'm Your Lover."

After an initial release on Motown, there were tracks recorded for a second album for the label, but they were never released.

Around this time, McNeir recorded two tracks with The Four Tops for their 1977 ABC album, The Show Must Go On. He later became The Four Tops' musical director. McNeir appears on the Tops' 1995 Motown album Christmas Here With You.

In 1984, a four-song EP produced by Horizon Productions was released by Capitol -- The Ronnie McNeir Experience featured a Rene (Moore) & Angela (Winbush)-penned song, "Come On Be With Me" as its first single. The popular single and album entered the Billboard's charts.

In 1985, McNeir made it to the upper half of Billboard's R & B charts as the producer and composer of "I Couldn't Believe It" (remixed by Nick Martinelli), a hit for former Temptations David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, who recorded as Ruffin & Kendricks for RCA.

McNeir is a prolific songwriter, session musician, vocalist and producer appearing on albums by Rance Allen (Fantasy), Dramatics vocalist L.J. Reynolds (Capitol), Carrie Lucas' version of "Hello Stranger" from Horsing Around (Solar / RCA), David Ruffin's Gentleman Ruffin (Warner Bros) and Bobby Womack's "Caught Up In The Middle" from his Pieces album, among others.

Ronnie McNeir also recorded "Good Side Of Your Love" on Tortoise International which is popular on the Northern Soul Scene.

The popularity of his albums, particularly his RCA debut and the Prodigal release, has led to concerts dates in the UK for McNeir.

In 1996, a compilation, The Very Best of Ronnie McNeir, was released.

In 2002, Ronnie toured the UK as part of the lineup of the Four Tops, covering for Levi Stubbs, who was unwell at the time. He is now a permanent member of the group, singing alongside Theo Peoples, Lawrence Roquel Payton, Jr. and original member Abdul Duke Fakir.

Ronnie McNeir has produced, recorded with, written for, and/or played keyboards behind an all-star soul list, including but not limited to, Smokey Robinson, Teena Marie, The Four Tops, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendrick, Kim Weston, L.J. Reynolds, Kirk Whalum, Rena Scott, Rene & Angela, Carrie Lucas, and Theo Peoples.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Northen
• Soul

[piaggiolover77]

top top top ......

one of my favs.....

ktf....

[deano2510]

great song!

[soulnotes100]

truly awesome song great vid ktf jim

[scarthogirl]

not heard for many years thank you my friend 

[THESOULKITCHEN]

IS THIS DUFFY TALKING TO SHARON OR IS MY MEMORY GETTING BAD RED /

[TheANDYURRY]

I agree fantastic, another winter gardens classic, puts me right back there!!!!!!!!

[TooDarnSoulful]

always shake a leg to this one ....nice and slow ;) great post :)) ktf

[michaelblue100]

Sublime !!!

[davethesuede]

Superb, and I agree with deamster10, check out the b-side, "isn't she a pretty girl"

[nialldcrowley]

A little piece of magic.

[cornishdeb]

fantastic tune. i first heard it at the wintergardens cleethorpes. never to be forgotten