Ronny Cates
Encyclopedia
Ronny Cates is a Christian musician, producer, and songwriter. He is most remembered for being the bassist of legendary Christian rock band Petra
during their most prolific years.
Cates went to Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport. He was involved in the school jazz band where he developed his bass skills. He graduated in 1983 and started playing in several places.
Cates joined Petra in 1988 recording numerous albums with the band. During this period, the band won three Grammys and nine Dove Awards. Cates left the band in 1996 to dedicate to a career producing and recording. As the bass player for the group, Cates also enjoyed song writing for the band. Adding to the accomplishments during the Petra years was his being voted "Favorite Bass Player" for five consecutive years in a readers poll given by the leading Christian music magazine CCM. He also was an endorser for Tobias Basses, Hamer Basses, Kubicki Basses, Peavey, Trace Elliot Amplification, Ernie Ball Strings, Epiphone Guitars, and Music Man Basses. Ronny enjoyed 8 years with this band, leaving in 1996. A few years later, Petra, with Cates, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In the years after he left the band, Cates has contributed with them in several occasions filling the bassist spot in some presentations.
In 1997, Ronny began engineering and producing full time. Working at Mirror Image Studios in Gainesville, Florida provided a great environment to work with established national artists, as well as local talent. During his years there, he was interviewed and quoted for Electronic Musician magazine in an article entitled "Taming The Wild Piano," which told of his concepts and techniques for recording piano. During this time he began working with popular artists Less Than Jake (Capitol Records), Sister Hazel (Universal Records), Sam Pacetti, "Sacred Steel" artists (Arhoolie Records), and The Soul Stirrers.
In 2000, Rec Room Recording Studio was opened, which was co-owned and co-designed by Ronny. The multiroom facility housed two recording studios and a mastering studio. During this seven-year span, he continued engineering and producing many different artists—-representing many different styles of music—-representing millions of pieces of product in the marketplace.
He also was honored to serve on the Board of Governors for the Florida Chapter of The Recording Academy, the organization best known for The Grammy Awards. The highlight of this time was being voted First Vice President of The Florida Chapter for two terms in office. In addition, he was also honored to be involved with Stop Children's Cancer and The Children's Wish Foundation.
Here is a partial list of some of the artists, producers, engineers, and record companies that Ronny has worked with:
Andrew Copeland, Ken Block, Big City Dreams, Carmen, Creed, The Faculty soundtrack, Scream 2 soundtrack, Hot Water Music, House of Dreams, Edwin McCain, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Matt Jones, Last Tuesday, Less than Jake, Michael W. Smith, My Hotel Year, Sam Pacetti, Gabe Valla, PETRA, Helen Armstrong, Sister Hazel, Six Days From Sunday, Stan Lynch, Bruce Swedien, Billy Chapin, Howard Benson, Danny Wuerffel and Friends, Mo Leverett, CMT/MTV Television Network, ABC Family Network, RCA, EA Sports, National Public Radiio, State of Florida, Duncan Yo Yo, Children's Wish Foundation, Stop! Children's Cancer, Capitol Records, Arhoolie Records, Universal Records, Fueled by Ramen Records, Dug Records, No Idea Records, The Lee Boys, Aubrey Ghent, The Soul Stirrers, The Cambell Brothers, Sonny Treadway, and many others
Currently, Ronny is the Technical Director for Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Petra (band)
Petra is a music group regarded as a pioneer of the Christian rock and contemporary Christian music genres. Formed in 1972, the band took its name from the Greek word for "rock"...
during their most prolific years.
Cates went to Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport. He was involved in the school jazz band where he developed his bass skills. He graduated in 1983 and started playing in several places.
Cates joined Petra in 1988 recording numerous albums with the band. During this period, the band won three Grammys and nine Dove Awards. Cates left the band in 1996 to dedicate to a career producing and recording. As the bass player for the group, Cates also enjoyed song writing for the band. Adding to the accomplishments during the Petra years was his being voted "Favorite Bass Player" for five consecutive years in a readers poll given by the leading Christian music magazine CCM. He also was an endorser for Tobias Basses, Hamer Basses, Kubicki Basses, Peavey, Trace Elliot Amplification, Ernie Ball Strings, Epiphone Guitars, and Music Man Basses. Ronny enjoyed 8 years with this band, leaving in 1996. A few years later, Petra, with Cates, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In the years after he left the band, Cates has contributed with them in several occasions filling the bassist spot in some presentations.
In 1997, Ronny began engineering and producing full time. Working at Mirror Image Studios in Gainesville, Florida provided a great environment to work with established national artists, as well as local talent. During his years there, he was interviewed and quoted for Electronic Musician magazine in an article entitled "Taming The Wild Piano," which told of his concepts and techniques for recording piano. During this time he began working with popular artists Less Than Jake (Capitol Records), Sister Hazel (Universal Records), Sam Pacetti, "Sacred Steel" artists (Arhoolie Records), and The Soul Stirrers.
In 2000, Rec Room Recording Studio was opened, which was co-owned and co-designed by Ronny. The multiroom facility housed two recording studios and a mastering studio. During this seven-year span, he continued engineering and producing many different artists—-representing many different styles of music—-representing millions of pieces of product in the marketplace.
He also was honored to serve on the Board of Governors for the Florida Chapter of The Recording Academy, the organization best known for The Grammy Awards. The highlight of this time was being voted First Vice President of The Florida Chapter for two terms in office. In addition, he was also honored to be involved with Stop Children's Cancer and The Children's Wish Foundation.
Here is a partial list of some of the artists, producers, engineers, and record companies that Ronny has worked with:
Andrew Copeland, Ken Block, Big City Dreams, Carmen, Creed, The Faculty soundtrack, Scream 2 soundtrack, Hot Water Music, House of Dreams, Edwin McCain, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Matt Jones, Last Tuesday, Less than Jake, Michael W. Smith, My Hotel Year, Sam Pacetti, Gabe Valla, PETRA, Helen Armstrong, Sister Hazel, Six Days From Sunday, Stan Lynch, Bruce Swedien, Billy Chapin, Howard Benson, Danny Wuerffel and Friends, Mo Leverett, CMT/MTV Television Network, ABC Family Network, RCA, EA Sports, National Public Radiio, State of Florida, Duncan Yo Yo, Children's Wish Foundation, Stop! Children's Cancer, Capitol Records, Arhoolie Records, Universal Records, Fueled by Ramen Records, Dug Records, No Idea Records, The Lee Boys, Aubrey Ghent, The Soul Stirrers, The Cambell Brothers, Sonny Treadway, and many others
Currently, Ronny is the Technical Director for Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.