Prescription Records, Future Vision Chicago/NYC, USA

A perennial presence in music since the early 90’s, Ron Trent is considered to be one of the architects of the Chicago music scene. Ron studied and collected various types of music as a young boy, taking cues from his father who ran a record pool in the late seventies. His father was a vice president of one of the biggest record pools in Chicago called NADJA. Music was always a part of his household from playing instruments to actually playing records in the basement with his dad who was also a percussionist. Ron & his dad used listen to music and play along with the percussion instruments in the music. The experience shaped the fabric of his existence.

By 1987, Ron hit the professional DJ circuit, and started to play at mobile parties and high schools in Chicago and became known for his musical taste and DJ ability. “At the time we were using a lot of music that was being created locally in Chicago and also some New York and European influences such as Capricorn and the New York City Peach Boys.” Ron was also playing a lot of rare classic disco and soul 12″s and albums that made him stand out from the crowd. During this time, Ron started making music and experimenting with it around 1986 by messing around with beat machines and a small keyboard. This led to his first release, the highly recognized classic “Altered States” in 1990, giving him international acclaim at age of 14. Altered States, is a raw and beautiful track that catapulted him into the hall of fame of house and techno.

In 1993, Ron established his own record label, Prescription Records, alongside Chez Damier. “We were mainly putting out our own material but producers such as Abacus, GU and others from around the world got involved,” says Ron. Together they defined an era, creating some of the brightest moments in the history of house music – producing seminal singles for Detroit’s KMS imprint and later working with Berlin’s Maurizio/Basic Channel. Prescription is widely regarded as one of the most influential Deep House imprints of the period. Ron continued to produce 12″ releases for four years, and then moved to New York in 1998 where he re-established his company from his new base in Brooklyn.

Around this time, Ron put out a string of remarkable 12 inches with Anthony Nicholson for Ron’s Clairaudience label and two heavily underrated full-length albums. In 1999 Ron Trent joined forces with Giant Step, becoming a producer, DJ and doing A&R work for the company. In 2000 Ron became the resident DJ for Giant Step’s weekly party at Shine Nightclub in the Tribeca section of NYC until about 2003. In New York, Ron developed a strong relationship with Giant Step producing original tracks with Inner City, the Groove Collective, Amel Larrieux, Anastacia, Tony Allen and 4Hero. Ron has also produced and remixed the likes of Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Jody Watley, Goapele, N’Dambi and Zaki to name a few.

In 2004-2009, Ron Trent was the co-creator of the AFRICA HI-FI event, which took place in Chicago at the Shrine Nightclub. It was the brainchild of Sonia Hassan and Ron. This monthly event was a musical tribute that paid respect to Africa and all that it has touched and influenced in World music and culture. AFRICA HI-FI fused music and social consciousness with art and dance. The evening was geared toward educating people about Africa as the birthplace of various types of music that we all listen to and love, whether it be Jazz, Dance, World Music, Hip Hop, etc.  AFRICA HI-FI was presented as an open forum that was geared towards tapping into the creative energy of the Motherland to help elevate the consciousness of all people, thereby creating a positive collective community. AFRICA HI-FI supported NEXTAID, an LA based non-profit that used music events to raise money for children in South Africa orphaned by the horrendous AIDS epidemic, as well as, Amnesty International, working diligently to raise awareness and action against Human Rights Violations all over the world.

Still travelling the world as an in demand DJ, Ron Trent is based in Chicago once more, having re-launched Prescription Records, and his newest label, Future Vision Records. Ron has notched up an extensive back catalogue of his own productions and introduced several key players to the industry.

Additional Skill Sets

Ron Trent served as the Music Director of the Shrine Nightclub in Chicago, IL in 2010. Versed in sound reinforcement engineering, psycho-acoustics, and sound therapy, Ron as a creative director carefully crafts a musical program which incorporates powerful rhythmic compositions and emotion, evoking tones and chord structures to impress upon the listener a transporting experience. African, Brazilian, Drums, Percussion and String Instruments, Synthesizers etc., may be added to the performance.

Ron Trent has enjoyed over 27 years as an accomplished musician, producer, DJ, re-mixer, record label owner, art aficionado and curator. He is one of the most acclaimed and prolific producers and re-mixers in independent music history. Ron Trent is the creator of, and serves as the creative force & vision behind CityBeat productions. He is the resident music director for CityBeat.

Ron Trent’s Links:

Facebook Page
Facebook Fan Page
Listen Up Family–Facebook
musicandpower on SoundCloud

DISCOGRAPHY on DISCOGS

Click on the link above to view:

The Elaborate Discography of Ron Trent.

Watch as it continues to blossom, and transform.

It is a living thing on its own.

Here is a snapshot of the combined works of Ron’s Albums, Singles & EP’s, Compilations, DJ Mixes, Remixes, writing credits, and the list goes on…

SAMPLER DISCOGRAPHY

Primitive Arts ◄ (2 versions) Peacefrog Records 1999
Deep And Sexy 2 ◄ (2 versions) Wave Music 2003
Dance Classic (2xCD, Album) Prescription 2009
Singles & EPs
Love Affair (12″) Clubhouse Records 1992
States EP (12″, EP) Cajual Records 1993
Chez Damier & Ron Trent, M.D.* – Hip To Be Disillusioned Vol. 1 ◄(3V) Prescription 1994
A Dark Room And A Feeling ◄ (5 versions) Subwoofer 1995
Dance Floor Boogie Delites ◄ (3 versions) Prescription 1995
Ron Trent/Joshua/Abacus/Chez Damier-The Foot Therapy EP ◄(4V) Prescription 1995
Ron Trent & Chez Damier/Collective, The (5) – The Language 12″ (12″) Prescription 1995
Ron Trent & Anthony Nicholson – Afro Nova EP ◄ (2 versions) Prescription 1998 Ron Trent & Anthony Nicholson – Afro Nova EP (12″, EP, Promo) Prescription 1998 I Feel The Rhythm Prescription 1999
Music, Life & Culture (Musica Komoda) ◄ (2 versions) SI Project 1999
Ron Trent & Sonti – I Fight For What I Believe (12″) SI Project 1999
In The Spirit (12″) Peacefrog Records 1999
Sundiata O.M. & Ron Trent – Paradise ◄ (2 versions) Prescription 2000
Ron Trent Presents African Blues Featuring Morgana (5) – Yemoya (12″) Distance 2003 Chez Damier & Ron Trent / Urban Cru, The – Chez Damier & The Cru Present The Gathering Volume 01 ◄ (2 versions) Atal 2004
Ron Trent Presents Ital Foods – Space Is The Place ◄ (2 versions) Atal 2004
Ron Trent & Chez Damier – Morning Factory (Dubplate) ◄(2 versions) Prescription 2005 Ron Trent & Quentin Harris – Happiness (12″) Need 2 Soul 2005
Love To The World (12″) Future Vision Records 2006
Robert Owens & Ron Trent – Movin’ On (12″) Need 2 Soul 2007
Ron Trent & Chez Damier / Rozzo – Secretsundaze Volume 2 Album Sampler A (12″ Sampler) Secretsundaze 2008.