Ronnie Bird Bio
Born in Paris in 1946 Ronald Mehu appears at age 17, in the early sixties, on the nascent French rock scene under the pseudonym of Ronnie Bird. He records his first EP for Decca. This recording, which includes a song written as a tribute to Buddy Holly, earns him his first success. Between 1964 and 1968, for Decca, and then the Phonogram label, 10 EPs follow, containing essentially French adaptations of songs recorded by the English groups of this period, like the Rolling Stones. the Small Faces, and Pretty Things among others.
Performing regularly in clubs in France, Belgium, and Italy, he then forges the reputation of being one of the only few French representatives of a style popularized by the British. He opens for the Kinks at the Mutualité in 1964 in Paris, the Rolling Stones in Brussels in 1966, and tours Europe on different occasions with Chuck Berry and Tom Jones.
Having left Decca for the Phonogram label, he then produces with Mick Jones (future guitarist of the band "Foreigner") 3 or 4 EPs of original songs and adaptations.
Following a car accident that contributed to put an end to his carrier, he released a final single in 1968. The forty songs recorded by Ronnie in 4 years are considered treasures for the fans of this period in France, and are subject to numerous reissues.
In 1969, he joined the musicals "Hair" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" in Paris, before disappearing from the public eye and leaving France in 1972.
After a long journey in Asia and a prolonged stay in Scotland, Ronnie settled in New York in 1976 where he’s been living since.
There, and until 2012 he worked as a sound recordist for several television channels, participating in numerous stories and documentaries on political and social events of the period.
In the 90s, he wrote two songs for Ray Charles including a duet with singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. "Precious Thing" and "Say no more". Encouraged by the success of these two songs, he released an album in English in 1991 "One World", in a style different from the one that had earned him his first successes.
Until 2012 he worked as a sound recordist for several television channels, participating in numerous stories and documentaries on political and social events of the period.