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“Order of Arts and Letters” A Special French Theme Luncheon Program Thursday, July 12, 2001 12:00 Noon
Ronnie Kole will be honored for the music he has written and recorded celebrating French wines and hotels. The Order of Arts and Letters, into which Ronnie Kole will be officially inducted by French Consul General Bernard Maizeret, was created in 1957 in recognition of distinguished artists and writers. Past recipients of the award include Julia Childs and Quincy Jones. Ronnie Kole's love affair with the piano began as a boy in Chicago, where he was born. It was a classic case of fate which gave him a lifelong mission that has been uplifting to audiences around the world. As a youngster Ronnie developed a bad heart which would put him flat on his back for 4 or 5 months out of the year. Fortunately, in years to come, this condition was to clear up...but it was a blessing in disguise. To keep him from playing baseball, his parents bought him a piano, and the rest is history. Ronnie went to Spaulding School for the handicapped in Chicago, and it was there that many movie and radio celebrities would visit and try to help the students to build up their morale. That's why you see Ronnie so involved with civic and charitable work, to pay back for the good fortune that he's had in his adult life. The late legendary trumpet virtuoso, Al Hirt, is mainly responsible for Ronnie’s career. He insisted that Ronnie leave his "steady gig" in Chicago and go on the road. Ronnie took Hirt's advice, and within a year was performing on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, the Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin shows, and yes, even in Vegas. It was also Al Hirt who brought Ronnie to New Orleans. Al asked Ronnie to alternate with his band at his new club on Bourbon Street. This he did for a few years, until one day Al said to him, "Kole, you're getting too big to be working opposite me...you need to have your own club." Not long after that, Kole's Corner became one of the big three places in New Orleans...the other two being Al Hirt's and Pete Fountain's. Since relocating to New Orleans, Ronnie Kole has been a member of the board of directors of the Easter Seal Society of Louisiana since 1972, and President on four separate occasions. He has been host of the Easter Seal Telethon for all of its 19 years. Easter Seals is Ronnie's main charity, because it helps anyone with any kind of disability. He's also been active with Catholic Charities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 9 Muscular Dystrophy Telethons, the American Heart Association, the National Dyslexia Foundation, the Lions Sight And Sound Telethons, the Boys Club, and Co-Chairman of the United Way of St. Tammany Parish. The civic side of Ronnie Kole has been equally as busy, mainly directed toward tourism and music. He's been chairman of the State of Louisiana Tourist Commission, chairman of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission, on the executive board of the New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission, twice chairman of the Louisiana/New Orleans Host Committee, and represented the State as VP of the Southeast Tourism Society. At Loyola University, he's a member of the College of Music Visiting Committee, the Music Industry Advisory Board, and the President's Council. Ronnie served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the 1999/2000 Nokia Sugar Bowl and was President in 1998/99. He is a charter member of the French Quarter Festival and has been Chairman of the Board on two different occasions. Ronnie was also a charter member of the original New Orleans JazzFest and is founder and chairman of the New Orleans Music Industry Foundation. He's also been a member of the Super Bowl Task Force twice, the Final 4 Entertainment Chairman, plus is on the board of the Northshore Regional Medical Center, and the board of directors and executive committee of the World Trade Center, which was the first one in the world. He also currently chairs the WTC’s Plimsoll Club Committee. Ronnie is the only non-chef to ever receive the coveted Paul Prudhomme Award at the Acadiana Culinary Classic in 1992. This award is given each year to the person doing the most to promote the foods of Louisiana throughout the country and world. Kole was honored with the prestigious Meritorious Service Award, presented by American Federation of Musicians President, Steve Young. Also honored were the late Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino, and Dr. John. That same month, the New Orleans Jazz Club presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Jazz Greats: Pete Fountain, Al Hirt and Ronnie Kole at their 50th Anniversary Party. He has been inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Ronnie Kole has had the great pleasure of performing for Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton, as well as Pope John Paul II. He has performed in concerts at Carnegie Hall as well as in over 500 cities throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America. Ronnie has recorded 28 CD's and Albums. Recorded and released in 1999 alone were "Kole Alone", "The Ronnie Kole Trio In Concert, " "Music of the Vines," Volume II, and "A Kole Christmas." Sponsoring Organizations
In Cooperation With Ark-La-Tex Regional Export & Technology
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