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ROnnie Johnson Remembered |
On Sunday, December 30, 2007 we lost our dear friend Ronnie Johnson in his home in Upper Nyack, NY at the all too young age of 49. He left behind his wife, Jacqueline Pack-Johnson, and his son, Matthew Pack. He was the son of Irene Ware and the late Fred Ware. Ronnie was born and raised in Mobile, AL and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University; soon after he began a career in banking in Atlanta, GA.
In 1989 he left his position as Vice President of Special Assets Group for First Union Corporation of Georgia to begin his career in the record industry. A position at Polygram Label Group brought Ronnie and his family to New York in 1992. He held subsequent positions at Island, Mercury, and Motown Records. In April 2007 he left his position as Executive Vice President of Atlantic Records to join Capitol Music Group as Executive Vice President and head of Urban Music. Ronnie suffered from Arteritis, believed to be caused from Kawasaki Disease that he contracted in childhood. He became aware of his condition in March 2006 after suffering a heart attack. He faced his condition head on without fear. He was an avid runner and was training for his first marathon.
Ronnie loved his family, turkey burgers and Guinness beer, Porsche sports cars, playing golf, and his dog Lucy. In addition to his wife and son he is survived by his mother, Irene, Ausbon Johnson (father), his brothers Darryl Johnson and George Johnson (Robin), his nieces and nephews Monique Thomas (Corey), Darron Johnson, Brian Johnson, Brianna Johnson, Brittaney Johnson and his godchildren Shavara and Shane Rice. He will be deeply missed by all. The Atlanta Braves lost their best fan.
His funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 5th at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Nyack, NY. Friends and colleagues from around the country attended the filled-to-capacity service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to Emory University Dr. Wendy Book Adult Congenital Research Fund (Ron’s favorite charity) or St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, 16 Jefferson St., Nyack, NY 10960
| Ronnie Johnson will be sorely missed. He left behind a rich legacy that included a wonderful family, a glorious career and some of the best friends and colleagues in the industry–many who graciously shared their thoughts and memories of such a great human being. |
I am sure that we all have at one time or another wondered what people would say about us once we are gone. Well if you are anything like Ronnie Johnson, people will say a lot of great things about you. The key is how you treat people and do things while you are here. Ronnie was the kind of person that made you strive to be like him, a good person. I could go on and on about Ronnie because he was not only a business
associate to me, he was my friend as well. So instead of being like
“Mike” strive to be like “Ronnie.” Ronnie was one of the biggest losses that we could have ever experienced
this side of the music business. It’s rare to find someone
whose integrity shines high and above so many. Ronnie will always
be my role model, my mentor, my friend and my brother. Nothing can
ever change that. Since Ronnie’s untimely passing in December, there has been
a common thread that runs through everyone’s tributes –
that he was first and foremost an exceptional human being. I interviewed
around 15 top execs when I was looking for a head of urban music,
and what struck me instantly about Ronnie was his incredible vibe
as a person. I knew he had the right experience and background for
the job, but what set him far apart from everyone else was this
extraordinary combination of humbleness, warmth, openness, and enormous
strength of character. His humanity and his generosity of spirit
permeated his personal life and his work life in equal measure,
and he was this enormous wellspring of inspiration and support for
his team and his artists. He was a real rarity – a gifted
executive who was a genuine, loyal friend to his staff and colleagues.
He created an Urban Music division that became the envy of our business,
and he was a pivotal partner in building the new Atlantic. But more
importantly, he made everyone feel like a part of his family, and
he will never be forgotten by all those whose lives he touched so
deeply. “Ronnie was like a brother to me and it was fitting that
his last name was Johnson. It always felt like it was talking to
my brother. Whenever I had a career decision to make Ronnie was
one of the first people I would call. We talked about everything
from sports, life to health and family all the time. I often had
to ask him if he was working a record when we talked, because we
never talked about records. I really miss our conversations.” “I have never met a person that has had such a major impact
on my life and career in a short amount of time. Ronnie was a great
man, mentor, friend and father figure to me! I aspire to be
like him everyday!!” “I worked directly with Ronnie for less than a year, but
he made it feel as if we had been co-workers for years. The man
was the truly the nicest guy I ever met in the music industry and
his reputation was impeccable - a true professional. I was shocked
to hear that he passed on my birthday; it was completely unexpected.
Ronnie will be sorely missed” “Ronnie was gentlemen’s gentleman in a business where
that really sticks out. He’s a class guy, a no nonsense man,
a wonderful family man. Ronnie had a clear balance of what needs
to be done in this business and he did it fairly.” I was working at Warner Bros and they decided to hire a separate
staff for the Reprise label. Ernie Singleton hired Ronnie, who had
been working at a bank in Atlanta. My first thought was “how
does working in a bank prepare you to be a record promotion rep?”
Well, obviously I had forgotten the record legacy that Ronnie came
from, with Mrs. Irene and Fred. He excelled at promotion and went
on to regional, national, VP and Senior VP positions. He never changed
as he moved up the ranks. He was always a gentleman and such a warm
spirit. I never heard him belittle his staff and curse them for
not getting a record played. He got results and got respect. I am
blessed to have known him and will definitely miss his smile and
genuine kindness. Ronnie was for 25 years my best friend. He was a one of a kind,
mild mannered guy that loved everyone and everyone who had the pleasure
of knowing him, loved him back. It has been a true honor and privilege
to share so many memories with a man who was humble, compassionate
and quite simply the finest person I have ever known. When Ronnie came to Atlantic Records it was the Mannie Bella-era. Mannie had just left and Ronnie and Morace came in as a team. Whenever someone new comes in you think, ‘how is this gonna roll out?’ But when they came in it was a genuine family vibe that didn’t change over the years. It ushered in the era of the ‘25th Floor’ where all the urban departments were on one floor and we operated as one unit, a family. So we just called it the 25th Floor. All the departments were side by side. He gave me a nickname, “Angry!” He would always say, “What up Angry.” I was always passionate in our meetings. But from him it was a way to check me in a loving way and it was also a term of endearment. So he made me look inward at myself and change some things about me for the better. He will be missed. I was coming in on the train to meet co-workers
for a holiday event was when I found out he passed. I was looking
forward to us getting together for the holidays. When we all did
get together, we talked about Ronnie. But when you think about him
it was nothing but joy. We eventually stop crying and began laughing
and talking about all the good times we had with him. When he had
his first heart attack, I had a chance to tell him how special he
was to me. I was able to meet his family under good terms and with
good memories. Initially Ronnie and I used to talk every other day on the phone for business, but as I got to know him I could talk to him about anything. As a younger man in the industry it was good to have someone who knew as much as Ronnie did on your side and willing to take the time to talk and listen to you. I always left our conversations learning something. I mean we would talk about artists, different types of music and even about pieces of art. If I came to Ronnie about advice, he would be like, ‘hold on now, you really need to think about it before you decide.’ He was such a cool dude and a funny guy. No matter how busy he was whenever he came to Atlanta, he always
made it a point to come by and see me. It means a lot when you know
how busy a person is and they still make a point to stop what they
are doing to check in with you. He would always stop by the studio
or meet up for dinner when he was in town and I really appreciated
that because he didn’t have to do it. The thing that epitomizes my feelings about Ronnie is that he renewed
my faith in the fact that the good guy can win. We didn’t
know each other that long, but we became fast friends and I grew
quickly to love him as a mentor, friend and a big brother. We need
more Ronnies and I am working to incorporate his legacy into my
lifestyle. I remember meeting Ronnie, when I was assisting Ernie Singleton
during the interview process when Warner Bros. Records was staffing
a promotion team for the sister label Reprise Records. We knew he
was a strong candidate for the South East Region, because we knew
his mother and step father, Irene Ware and Fred Ware, two highly
respected individuals in the music community, in which he grew up
in. It was during that time when he told us that he was a VP of
a particular bank in Atlanta. I also remember telling him at that
time that the record labels would love him for his financial background,
and he would be running his departments someday, because all label
heads loved a guy who understood numbers and in Ronnie’s case
he knew it better than some of them. My predictions came true, and
I along with countless others, are proud of his achievements. He
was a fine young man who will be remembered for his kindness and
gentle spirit, along with being a great record man, but that was
in his blood. Ronnie Johnson was much more to me than someone who I have worked
with since 1998. He was a friend, mentor, counselor and coach. I
never knew a day without a pleasant smile from him or
hearing something “country” or funny that he would say.
‘I’m just a country boy’ is all he would say and I
would shake my head and say to myself ‘that’s
my Ronnie.’ He’s meant so much to so many people in
a short span of time, that I try my best to honor his memory by
being a person of integrity and honor; the person that he mentored
me to be in this business and in this lifetime. I miss you buddy!
Love always! Ronnie Johnson. Yep, first thing you probably think of or see in
your mind’s eye is that infectious, million-dollar smile.
Some people are blessed with a presence that you can’t ignore!
Some people are blessed with character that always emits something
positive! And some people if you spend enough time with them, you
come to know that they are just good people! If you were fortunate
enough to spend any quality time with Ronnie Johnson, you know all
of that is true. Ronnie Johnson IS that kinda man. Ronnie Johnson was a gem! Ronnie Johnson always ended a conversation with ‘Be Good.”
He pushed you to be better tomorrow than you were today…to
raise the bar. I always interpreted what he said to just be better
in life, to be better with your friends, to just be good. |