Ronald Jenkees
Encyclopedia
Ronald Jenkees is an American composer and musician, best known for his YouTube
keyboard performances, coverage on G4 TV's Attack of the Show!
, and an appearance in Paste Magazine. His YouTube videos have been viewed (in total) over 50,000,000 times. Jenkees has thus far released two independent albums: the self-titled Ronald Jenkees
(2007), and Disorganized Fun
(2009).
PSR-500. He attempted piano lessons in the seventh grade, but these were unsuccessful. Jenkees discovered how to sequence and layer music using his Yamaha keyboard, and began playing hip hop
music. He joined a marching band
in high school, and despite being unable to read sheet music, the band director let Jenkees create his own keyboard parts and "jam out" in state competitions. The band director encouraged Jenkees to learn to read music, but he continued to play by ear.
by a friend. From about 2003, he began releasing beats and raps online under the name "Big Cheez". Under this name, he produced the 2005 album Straight Laced by Fish. In 2006, Jenkees started posting videos on YouTube
to entertain people, but he later began posting music-related videos. These videos usually feature him wearing a hat and greeting his viewers by saying, "Hello Youtubes!". Jenkees feels that the "goofiness" he shows helps him to "not feel like such a show-off". His videos gradually gained popularity, and saw a boom in popularity when Bill Simmons
from ESPN.com
advertised Jenkees and asked him to record his podcast
theme, and again after being "thumbed up" by members of the StumbleUpon
community. In 2007, Jenkees independently released his first studio album, Ronald Jenkees
. In June 2009, Jenkees was featured on the STS9 album, Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make It Right Remixes, producing a remix of "Beyond Right Now". On July 31, 2009, Jenkees announced (via his Twitter feed) that he had released his second album, Disorganized Fun
. Both are currently available for purchase from either the iTunes Store
or his personal website on physical compact disc
s or as direct MP3
downloads.
Recently, a selection of his music (from both his currently released albums) has been included in the game "Sequence" available on Xbox Live & Steam.
Music tracks from both of his currently released albums have also begun to appear in the track listings of the popular on-line radio website "Pandora.com".
to hip hop
to rock and roll
using pianos, keyboards, and various PC-controlled electronic synthesizers. He also writes and produces rap music. His music, a collage of popular music since 1970, is well-matched with the diversity permitted by the use of Youtube. His use of keyboard and synthesizer voices adds a variety of other instruments into his sound. For instance, in "Guitar Sound" from his second album "Disorganized Fun", the lead instrument is played on keyboard as usual, but mimics the sound of an electric guitar. This produces a unique interpretation of the rock and roll
genre, but at around 3:15 of the same track, he switches to more electronic sounding voices and shifts the song into a techno or trance influenced rock opera. In some of his YouTube videos he employs a harmonica for his slower tempo songs.
on ESPN.com
, and on the G4
television show Attack of the Show!
. More recently, Jenkees was interviewed on Fox Business Network
.
Produced albums:
Appearances:
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
keyboard performances, coverage on G4 TV's Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
, and an appearance in Paste Magazine. His YouTube videos have been viewed (in total) over 50,000,000 times. Jenkees has thus far released two independent albums: the self-titled Ronald Jenkees
Ronald Jenkees (album)
-External links:**...
(2007), and Disorganized Fun
Disorganized Fun
-External links:**...
(2009).
Early life
Jenkees grew up in Kentucky, where he first began playing music at the age of 4. He started when he received a toy keyboard as a Christmas gift. With it, he learned simple melodies and played with friends. While still at a young age, he received a YamahaYamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
PSR-500. He attempted piano lessons in the seventh grade, but these were unsuccessful. Jenkees discovered how to sequence and layer music using his Yamaha keyboard, and began playing hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
music. He joined a marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
in high school, and despite being unable to read sheet music, the band director let Jenkees create his own keyboard parts and "jam out" in state competitions. The band director encouraged Jenkees to learn to read music, but he continued to play by ear.
Musical career
Jenkees was introduced to FL StudioFL Studio
FL Studio is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer...
by a friend. From about 2003, he began releasing beats and raps online under the name "Big Cheez". Under this name, he produced the 2005 album Straight Laced by Fish. In 2006, Jenkees started posting videos on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
to entertain people, but he later began posting music-related videos. These videos usually feature him wearing a hat and greeting his viewers by saying, "Hello Youtubes!". Jenkees feels that the "goofiness" he shows helps him to "not feel like such a show-off". His videos gradually gained popularity, and saw a boom in popularity when Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
from ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
advertised Jenkees and asked him to record his podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
theme, and again after being "thumbed up" by members of the StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is a discovery engine that finds and recommends web content to its users. Its features allow users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos that are personalized to their tastes and interests using peer-sourcing and social-networking principles.Toolbar versions exist for...
community. In 2007, Jenkees independently released his first studio album, Ronald Jenkees
Ronald Jenkees (album)
-External links:**...
. In June 2009, Jenkees was featured on the STS9 album, Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make It Right Remixes, producing a remix of "Beyond Right Now". On July 31, 2009, Jenkees announced (via his Twitter feed) that he had released his second album, Disorganized Fun
Disorganized Fun
-External links:**...
. Both are currently available for purchase from either the iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
or his personal website on physical compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
s or as direct MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
downloads.
Recently, a selection of his music (from both his currently released albums) has been included in the game "Sequence" available on Xbox Live & Steam.
Music tracks from both of his currently released albums have also begun to appear in the track listings of the popular on-line radio website "Pandora.com".
Style
Jenkees creates a variety of music ranging from technoTechno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
to hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
to rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
using pianos, keyboards, and various PC-controlled electronic synthesizers. He also writes and produces rap music. His music, a collage of popular music since 1970, is well-matched with the diversity permitted by the use of Youtube. His use of keyboard and synthesizer voices adds a variety of other instruments into his sound. For instance, in "Guitar Sound" from his second album "Disorganized Fun", the lead instrument is played on keyboard as usual, but mimics the sound of an electric guitar. This produces a unique interpretation of the rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
genre, but at around 3:15 of the same track, he switches to more electronic sounding voices and shifts the song into a techno or trance influenced rock opera. In some of his YouTube videos he employs a harmonica for his slower tempo songs.
Equipment
- Keyboards: Yamaha Motif XS8, Korg Triton le
- Software: Windows 7, FL Studio 10, Edison
- Soundcard: M-Audio Delta 1010LT
- VSTs: Various free VSTs
- Speakers: Edirol MA-15D
- Headphones: AKG K-66
Media coverage
Jenkees was featured in Paste Magazine, columns by Bill SimmonsBill Simmons
William J. "Bill" Simmons III is a sports columnist, author, and podcaster. He currently writes columns and hosts podcasts for Grantland.com, which is affiliated with ESPN.com. He is a former writer for ESPN The Magazine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
on ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
, and on the G4
G4 (TV channel)
G4, also known as G4 TV, is an American cable- and satellite-television channel originally geared primarily toward young adult viewers, originally based on the world of video games...
television show Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show!
Attack of the Show! is an American live television program shown weeknights on G4, G4 Canada and Fuel TV in Australia. The program is hosted by Kevin Pereira and Candace Bailey...
. More recently, Jenkees was interviewed on Fox Business Network
Fox Business Network
Fox Business Network is an American cable news and satellite news television channel that began broadcasting on October 15, 2007. It is owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation...
.
Discography
Solo albums:- Ronald JenkeesRonald Jenkees (album)-External links:**...
(2007) - Disorganized FunDisorganized Fun-External links:**...
(2009)
Produced albums:
- Fish: Straight Laced (as Big Cheez) (2005)
Appearances:
- Sound Tribe Sector 9Sound Tribe Sector 9Sound Tribe Sector 9 is an instrumental band known for their live performances. The band’s genre-blending sound is based heavily on instrumental rock and electronic music crossed with elements of funk, jazz, drum and bass, psychedelia, and hip hop...
: Peaceblaster: The New Orleans Make It Right Remixes (track 29, "Beyond Right Now") (2009) - Soundtrack for PC game Sequence by Iridium Studios