There is one thing that can be said about Ron Carbo “Intelligent.” It is motivating to many individuals to see an African American pave the way for others, but especially in the entertainment community. Ronnie “Ron” Carbo, raised by his mother Marian Carbo and Grandmother Almena Lane grew up in the 7th ward in the great city of New Orleans, La. He spent his teenage years developing his skills as a musician, dancer and as an athlete. While attending Marion Abramson High School, he also attended the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, which at the time was filled with talents like Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Reginald Veal, Donald Harrison and Harry Connick Jr. Although he had a rigorous schedule, Ron found time to gig with numerous local bands as well as participate on a number of sports teams. After graduation from high school, Ron attended Grambling State University to study Music Education and marched in the world famous “Tiger Marching Band.” Upon completion of his first year, Ron was persuaded by life long friend Reginald Veal (bassist for Wynton Marsalis) to transfer to Southern University in Baton Rouge, La. to study with world renowned jazz musician Alvin Baptiste. At Southern, Ron participated in jazz ensemble and the “Human Juke Box” which was another famous marching band from an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). Although both Grambling and Southern had wonderful music programs, Ron’s desire for something more than a career in music education led him to Boston, MA in 1986 were he attended Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee Ron studied Film Scoring and Music Production and Engineering and acquired a Bachelor of Music degree. In 1989, Ron pursued former Berklee professor, Greg McPherson who had recently resigned from Berklee to work for Maurice Starr as a producer and songwriter for the super boy band New Kids on the Block, for a job doing anything in the studio. This went on for about eight months until that call finally came. It was a position at the House of 2 Hits Recording Studio were artist such as New Kids on the Block, Perfect Gentleman and New Edition recorded their projects, but there was a minor problem. It was a janitor’s position. Although disappointed, Ron accepted the position under the advisement of McPherson. Over the next six months, Ron performed his janitorial duties during the day but because he was the janitor, he had keys to the studio, which allowed him the opportunity to stay after hours. Ron would stay far into the night reading equipment manuals, practicing recording techniques that he observed in sessions during the day and continued to develop his producing and songwriting skills.
