What more can be said about local guitarist/songwriter Ronny Elliot? A stalwart staple of the Bay Area music scene for over three decades, Ronny has performed with such notables as The Allman Brothers, Chuck Berry, the Coasters, the Chambers Brothers, Mike Bloomfield, Canned Heat, Dion, Bo Diddley, Dave Clark Five, Van Morrison, and the legendary Gene Vincent. As a solo artist, he’s shared recent bills with Jimmy Lafave, NRBQ, Joe Ely, the Bottle Rockets, Wilco, Patti Smith and the Fiji Mariners.

Though his mother was buying him guitars since age 10, Ronny started to play professionally in1964 when coworker asked him to form a band. Ronny initially was reluctant but when he met Raveons lead singer Warren Novak- “a strange fellow with hair down to his collar (and who was) wearing apple- red patent leather shoes with zippers. Ronny hurriedly joined the group.

Ronny’s played bass and sang with the Raveons for several years. In early 7O’s Ronny played with the various musical outfits, including Outsiders (not those Outsiders), the Soul Trippers, Noah’s Ark, Duckbutter and the Outlaws (yes, those Outlaws) among others. In 1966 Elliott and his boyhood friend Buddy Richardson formed Noah’s Ark and subsequently recorded for DECCA, at the time, the label home for Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee and TheWho. Noah’s Ark musical prowess included plenty of distorted feedback, violins, and trippy psychadelia – a musical style that would soon fall into the category of psychedelic rock. I recall receiving minimal royalty checks from Sweden and Japan,” Elliot chuckles. Elliott quit Noah’s Ark in 1968 and valiantly tried to form an R&B group, but couldn’t assemble a reliable crew. However, the remnants Noah’s Ark, performing under the moniker Your Local Bear, opened for Jimi Hendrix at the old Tampa Curtis Hixon Hall. “After we finished, our job was to stand behind his Marshall cabinets in case he whacked them,” Elliott recalls. Your Local Bear, described by Elliot as “more a ‘hillbilly’ band, was a short-lived musical venture. His next band, Duckbutter, was a “psychedelic vaudeville hillbilly revue,” that featured front- man/magician Harry Hayward.

He’s made recordings on several major labels, including Knight, Laurie, Providence, Decca and Paramount. He’s a self-described rhythm’n’blues musician but his songs reflect that style of, say, Hank Penny rather than Prince Lala. By 1970, Elliott voluntarily removed himself from the Bay Area music scene, preferring to promote shows. For the next two decades, Duckbutter’s popularity waxed and waned and amazingly remained steadfast in spite of the numerous musical changes in the popular music scene. Staying true to his self-professed hillbilly rock n’ roll roots, Elliot decided once again to join forces with ex-Duckbutter singer Hayward and the duo formed Loco Siempre.

His current self-eponymous release is Ronny Elliott & the Nationials, was, according to Elliot, unreconstructed, lo-fi effort that received strong critical response and positive reactions from industry people. Ronny and the Nationals have gone on to release six more critically acclaimed records. His latest release, Valentine Roadkill was honored as one of the top ten Americana Albums 2005 by MOJO Magazine. The Nationals have kept the original line-up from the first job with the addition of Jim McNealon on steel. Not bad for a bunch of misfits who don’t consider this a band at all. Here’s a few humorous insights from Ronny during a recording break.

Bay Area Beat: You’ve played with many notable musicians in the country/blues world from Dave Clark 5 to Jimi Hendrix. Any crazy personal stories you can tell us?

Ronny Elliot: More than I can really tell (laughs). Janis (Joplin) sent us for Southern Comfort and changed clothes in front of us! Michael Bloomfield showed up dragging his Le Paul with no case. He had pawned it to buy smack! Crazy!

BAB: Is Blue Heart Records your own label?

RE: Yes. I’ll sell it for $3.65! (Laughs)

BAB: Your website has a big skull looking at me? Any significance to that?

RE:I like Skulls. I think they’re pretty.

BAB: What do you enjoy about being a Bay Area musical icon for over 40 years?

RE:I think the audience here is the sweetest, hippest bunch in the world. Sometimes we forget it.

BAB: Of all the accolades, experience, and people you’ve encountered over the years, what stands out the most?

RE: I suppose the individuals who have opened their homes and their hearts and unfolded the sofas.

BAB: How does the music industry, especially country and blues, differ from the scene of the 60’s and 70’s?

RE: The crooks and the jerks and the incompetents have destroyed what was once a major industry in western culture. It reminds me of the banking and the auto industries in the U.S. The last music man in the business checked out when Ahmet Ertegun slipped and bumped his noggin. Clive Davis will burn in the hottest ring of hell for many things, including American Idol.

BAB: Do you describe your music as rockabilly or just plain old rock n roll?

RE: Well, I know that it’s not rockabilly so I suppose that rock n roll will do.

BAB: Were you born and raised in the Bay Area?

RE:I was born in Birmingham in 1947 and moved here when I was in the first grade. Moving to Florida, of course, was my idea (laughs).

BAB: Tell me about your childhood. What music did you listen to?

RE: I’m really lucky. My mom brought me home all kinds of wonderful music. Hank Williams, Big Joe Turner, Bill Haley.

BAB: If you were on an Island and could only have five cd’s, which would you take with you. I don’t listen to much.

RE: Any list that I made would be different tomorrow.

BAB: Tell us about the show with Jimi Hendrix at Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Hall…

RE: We were supposed to hold up his amps from behind in case he whacked them. Those were the best seats in the house!. We had just started to play our idea of “country music.” In fact, we opened with “Country Music,” a song that Spencer Hinkle and I co-wrote.

BAB: Elvis once described his music as “hillbilly” music. You also use that term. What does it signify?

RE: White people playing the blues, as much as that might be possible.

BAB: Describe for us your views of the local music scene. Do you feel you get adequate support from local venues, radio, and press?

RE:Yeah. It’s a little bit tough anywhere just now.

BAB: What improvements, if any, would you like to see happen in the local scene? RE:WMNF doing more big local shows without any playing down of the musical acts.

BAB: What’s your favorite Bay Area venue to play? To see a show?

RE: I dearly love Skipper’s. New World Brewery is fun and so is Tre Amici and Kelly’s. State Theatre is fun and, of course, the Tampa Theatre.

BAB: Who are some of your favorite local artists and why?

RE: Too many to start. I am truly bowled over by the talent here. It’s been that way since I was a kid.

BAB: Do you listen to any current music? Is there any particular artist that tickles your musical fancy?

RE: I love Ramsay Midwood.

BAB: Do you do this full-time or do you have another career?

RE: This is it.

BAB: Where do you see yourself in five years both personally, professionally, and musically?

RE: My five year plans seem to run together. Of course I would like to save the world and help with hunger and world peace. I enjoy being in love.

BAB: Do you plan on rereleasing your earlier work with Soul Trippers, Raveons, and Duckbutter?

RE: If there is ever any interest it’s all available. Some of that stuff shows up on oddball compilations from time to time.

BAB: How did you hook-up with the infamous Outlaws? Green Grass ands High Tides Outlaws, I assume.

RE: No, I was trying to get them a deal through my producer, Phil Gernhard, before they had recorded anything at all. Never worked out but they made some incredible demos for him. Any of them should have been hit records.

BAB: Any other family members involved in music?

RE: No. Come to think of it, I barely have family members.

BAB: Any additional words of encouragement for young singer/songwriters?

RE: It’s best you live in the world and express your pure creativity. Don’t worry about any timeclocks! Thanks for the interview!