Ronald McCurdy

Ronald McCurdy was from Belfast, N. Ireland, where he was born March 19, 1933. His musical training began at the age of 12. Before coming to the U.S.A. in 1951, he was a member of Ireland's famous Belfast Bag Pipe Band. In 1955 he joined the army for a two year stint. During that time he became interested in drumming and was fortunate enough to attend the Army Band School at Ft. Knox for six months. He was later assigned the drum chair in the 434th Signal Corp Band. After he was discharged he entered the University of Cincinnati. It was there he met and joined the "Disciples". In Cincinnati, he backed such jazz greats as Lester Young, Sonny Stitt, Johnny Griffin, Barney Kessel, Cannonball Adderley and Ben Webster. McCurdy died in Ft. Worth, Texas, on July 1, 2008, at the age of 75. Do not confuse with American jazz drummer Roy McCurdy from Rochester, NY.