Artist description “We chose to go against the grain … we set out to capture the smiles and frowns of the performances on tape, making music fun again, mixing rock, soul, country and blues, going by feel, not industry standards. Staying true to the songs was our first concern. I guess you’d call what we came up with… Soul Twang”

Music Style Soul Twang

Musical Influences Stax, Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bob Seger

Similar Artists Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, John Hiatt

Artist History Lasalle’s career started twenty -odd years ago at the age of 14 when he started playing bass six nights a week in an all black blues band in western New York. A stint with the legendary Bo Diddly showed Ron that true passion was timeless. “ Bo gave me great encouragement as a song writer, and front man. He taught me a lot about letting the heart shine.” Lasalle, newly married and sober, quietly landed in Nashville ten years ago as a staff writer for EMI. I had originally been signed to CBS, they were bought by SBK and then rolled into EMI. “It seemed like every time I got people to understand what I did, they were replaced by a new set of people to convince.” Lasalle ended up battling EMI over his payments. “They held back my money trying to change our deal, I stood up to them, and for a while I lost everything I had. I was living in the writer’s room refusing to back down because what they were trying to do was wrong. Some of the lawyers in Nashville advised me to not rock the boat and take what the New York Office offered, I couldn't’t do it! It was a matter of principle.” Lasalle ended up winning his long struggle and getting his money and copyrights returned to him. His only comment on the ordeal was, “This business is high school with money.” But this proved hard to take for the war torn road veteran and he set his sites on helping other artists keep their visions in tact. This lead to the formation of the Truth Management Company, and latter Co founding the all too short lived D’Ville Records with Garry Tallent and Tim Coats. They were mining what he called “The Other Side Of Nashville” and helped boost the careers of such notables as Greg Trooper, Steve Conn and the Floating men. The year 1997 brought another turning point for Lasalle which brought him full circle to his original purpose.. writing and performing! “The beginning of that year I watched D’Ville close, I watched my best friend die of cancer, lost both of my In-laws and had a new born son die in my hands.” “It was a tough year for sure” for the first time in his life he felt afraid, defeated, unsure what to do with his life, “ I was broke, disillusioned , and tired. So I said to myself if money wasn’t a factor what would I do? I knew the answer … write! I began writing every morning at 5:30 the passion started to resurface, each day brought more quality and I knew my heart was back together in one piece the day I wrote Fear. Next I wrote a screenplay titled Too Angry To Pray and that’s what lead to this CD. This CD is the soundtrack to the screenplay. My songs are about survivors because I was taught years ago write what you know.”

Group Members Ron Lasalle - guitar/vocalsBrent Little Guitars Mike Galusha - Drums Stan Kubacki - Sax Jack Irwin- Piano and Organ

Instruments guitar, vocals, drums, bass, sax, violin, cello, harmonica, bouzouki, mandolin

Albums Simple Glories (CBS), Gypsy Heart, Live In Chicago, I Need An Alibi, Too Angry To Pray

Press Reviews “Gimme some truth, a wise sage once said, and on Too Angry To Pray, Ron LaSalle opens his impassioned heart and lets it bleed, his arteries pumping with hope and love while his veins bring in all the pain a man can stand. Using spoken-word poetry and soulful, emotional rock 'n' roll played on real instruments by musicians standing on their own feet, the leader of the beloved East Side Rockers rocks likes his life depends on it, because, as the album makes clear, it's the best way he can express what matters to him. Too Angry To Pray displays why creating vital rock 'n' roll is sometimes about survival -- not of the financial kind, but of the soul-strengthening kind.” Michael McCallMusic Journalist -Formally with The Pulse, The Nashville Scene" On his new album TOO ANGY TO PRAY Ron LaSalle returns to the proud hard edged tradition of Mitch Ryder, Southside Johnny and mid 70's Graham Parker - Not to mention Van Morrison and early Bruce Springsteen, whose influences are felt in the record's brassy punch and sprawling grooves. LaSalle's whiskey scared voice hints at the rough past his lyrics make explicit, but his songs address faith and overcoming fear without getting preachy: His record may have the soul of Sunday morning, but the sound is Saturday night." Jim Ridley The Nashville Scene

Location Nashville, TN - USA

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