Local musicians share their talents with the community

Press release from Brad and Ron

GAINESVILLE, Fla – Ron Blake and Brad the Jukebox duo, two local music celebrities in Gainesville, share their talents with the community.

Ron Blake is a former Math teacher in Alachua County Schools for 30 years who started as a teacher in Sparr, FL. Brad is a former actor at the Gainesville Community Playhouse.

The 1st Saturday of the month at Mother’s Pub North, off NW 55th Ave behind Northwest Grille, from 8 p.m. to midnight, you can see them perform. During the performance, people in the audience get to text a number and choose a song from their songbook.

Ron, who is also known as Gator Ron to all the College Students at UF, sings every Wednesday night from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. at The Social Midtown as part of the Karaoke. The college kids go crazy over his singing of Uptown Funk and other favorite songs, from the oldies to today’s music. He has become a celebrity at The Social each week.

Ron also sings karaoke on Wednesday nights at One Love Cafe and Crafty Bastards, and he ends the evening around midnight at Vivid Music Hall downtown.

Ron Blake is 75 years old and was born in New Port News, VA, and married 54 years to his beloved Doreen. His son-in-law is Ivan Oelrich, the son of former Alachua County Sheriff Steve Oelrich. Ron is so energetic and always wants to get the party going and alive.

Ron and Brad are looking for other venues. They are available to sing at private parties and performed at their first political events last year.

These are two amazing singers who have interests in all kinds of music. Brad does some solos, and Ron does some of his favorites, too. Then they sing your favorite duet songs. They sing everything from Toto’s Africa to the Righteous Brothers and even the Back Street Boys.

Brad has a variety of classics that are his favorites, including a lot of musicals and the romance of oldies including My Way by Frank Sinatra, as well as John Legend’s All of Me.

Former students and colleagues from Gainesville High School, Howard Bishop Middle School, Eastside High School, and Lincoln Middle School would be amazed to once again see a challenging teacher who taught them how to use letters to solve a math problem and always had his favorite music posters, like Neil Diamond to the Rolling Stones, hanging on the wall of his classroom. Now he’s out at venues singing all the favorite hits from the oldies to today’s music.

  • Ron, always listens to a beat of a silent drummer. He is convinced that eventually the rest of us will
    one day hear it as well. Perhaps we will. Obviously we’re just not listening hard enough. Enjoy your journey Ron and dance your song.

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