Ron Kersey, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Ron Kersey

American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger

Date of Birth: 07-Apr-1949

Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Date of Death: 25-Jan-2005

Profession: record producer, musician, songwriter

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aries


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About Ron Kersey

  • Tyrone Garfield "Ron (Have Mercy)" Kersey (April 7, 1949 – January 25, 2005) was an American keyboardist, songwriter, producer and arranger most known for writing the music to "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps. Kersey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • He attended and graduated from Edison High School where he sang in the glee club and played football.
  • He was a lifelong football fan and loved his Philadelphia Eagles.
  • Ron served in the United States Air Force from 1967 through 1972.
  • While in the service he often played piano and keyboards at the local boards.
  • There is where he gained the nickname "have mercy".
  • It was the name the patrons would scream at him as he played because they loved his funky rhythms.
  • Upon returning to Philadelphia, he re-acquainted himself with his longtime friend and musician Norman Harris.
  • Norman was instrumental in Ron becoming a studio musician at Sigma Sound Studios.
  • He later became a member of the disco band The Trammps.
  • Ron did not like the constant travel so he decided to quit the band and concentrate on producing and writing.
  • In 1978 he received a Grammy Award as producer for the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever which included "Disco Inferno", which he co-wrote with Leroy Green.
  • He was also a member of MFSB and the Salsoul Orchestra.
  • He moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and continued his career as a sought after studio musician, producer and songwriter.
  • Kersey suffered a stroke in 1997 and died in Philadelphia in 2005.
  • Ron is survived by a daughter Kisha, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two sisters and his mother Gevoda. In addition to co-writing "Disco Inferno", Ron produced or co-wrote songs that reached the top 20 for other artists.
  • He produced Stephanie Mills’ "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" which charted at number #1 for two weeks on the R&B charts.
  • It was Mills’ first number one single and would prove to be her most successful single.
  • Ron Kersey was also the producer for her next single "If I Were Your Woman", a cover of the Gladys Knight and the Pips hit that reached number #1 for three weeks on the R&B charts for Stephanie Mills.
  • In addition, he co-wrote "Every Drop of Your Love" for Stacy Lattisaw that peaked at #8 on the R&B charts.
  • He co-wrote the classic slow jam "Send for Me" with his friend Sam Dees for Atlantic Starr which peaked at #16.
  • For Evelyn "Champaign" King, he co-wrote "Kisses Don’t Lie" with Alex Brown peaking at #17 on the R&B charts.
  • Kersey also appears on many Philadelphia International Records as a studio musician most notably "Teddy" Teddy Pendergrass, "Unmistakably Lou" Lou Rawls and "Message in the Music" The O'Jays.

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