Origin: San Diego (USA)

RON BOLTON BAND

George Kosta - Dean Schulenberg - Ron Bolton - Mike Peters

Ron Bolton Band albums:

	st - 1983 (with lyrics)
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Notes about Ron Bolton Band:

 Text in English

- The Ron Bolton Band was an AOR and melodic rock group from San Diego, Southern California, whose only album, a self-titled private pressing released in 1983, has since become a rarity among collectors of the genre [1–3, 4]. The band grew out of The Ron Bolton Group, a covers act that played clubs and bars and appeared regularly at Halligans in Pacific Beach and at the Triton Pub on the beach in Cardiff [4, 5]. Its first lineup was a trio made up of Ron Bolton on vocals and guitar, George Kosta on drums and Robin Henkel, Bolton's former roommate, on bass [3, 5]. Henkel was already an experienced musician who had played with The Hi-Lites, Jumbalayah and Cindy & Breeze [5]. About a year later, keyboardist Mike Peters joined the group [3].

The definitive lineup took shape when Henkel left to join Johnny Almond, Mark Lessman, Doug Randall and Gary Underwood in a group devoted to jazz, R&B and classic soul, and Dean Schulenberg took over on bass and vocals [1, 3, 5]. Schulenberg had previously played in Prisoner, a band signed to Warner Curb that never released an album and whose singer was James House [3]. With Bolton, Peters, Schulenberg and Kosta on board, the band spent the next couple of years consolidating its reputation as a live act, playing original material alongside covers in sold-out venues across Southern California; at the time, Foreigner, Loverboy and Def Leppard were among the members' favorite bands [3]. By the time the group made its only record, it had changed its name to The Ron Bolton Band [4, 5].

In 1983 the quartet recorded ten original songs at Mar Scenic Studios and mixed them at Encino Sound, handling the recording, mixing and production themselves [1–3]. The LP was mastered at Award Record MFG., Inc. in Inglewood, California, and its cover was designed by Brian McCarthy [1, 2]. The album's credits also thank Dave Ravel and Bob Frye for engineering assistance and Tom Anderson of Schecter Guitars, among others [1]. Issued with no record label or catalog number, and carrying the matrix RBB 001 in its runout grooves, the album was pressed and distributed by the band members themselves, who sold copies from the stage and through local Tower Records stores [2, 3].

Songwriting was shared. Ron Bolton wrote five of the ten songs: "Maybe I'm Dreamin'", "21", "Livin' On The Line", "Midnight Lover" and "We're Gonna Make It"; Mike Peters contributed "Do It All For Love" and "Play Your Game" [1, 2]. The remaining three involved writers from outside the band: "Friends" was written by Tony Talbot; "Search Of The Kind", a song Schulenberg brought with him from his Prisoner days, is credited to Talbot, James House and Schulenberg; and "Little Girl" to Joe Aloisa and Schulenberg [1–3].

Musically, the album is grounded in early-1980s AOR, with touches of pomp rock, Westcoast and power pop, and with carefully worked arrangements and vocal harmonies [3, 4]. The reissue notes single out the opener, "Maybe I'm Dreamin'", which received considerable airplay on local radio; the pomp AOR of "21", with its spacey keyboard solo; and "Livin' On The Line", whose guitar riffs they liken to those Steve Lukather favored in Toto's *Turn Back* era [3]. "Search Of The Kind" is built around Peters' organ and Bolton's guitar licks, while "Midnight Lover" is an AOR ballad with a Westcoast feel [3].

After the album's release the band kept playing live for a couple of years, before splitting up in the second half of the 1980s [3].

In 2009 the German independent label Avenue Of Allies Music, founded by Gregor Klee, issued the album on CD for the first time, under catalog number Avenue 09 01 0002 [1–3, 6]. Klee served as executive producer and created the artwork for the CD edition, while Scharaf Girges handled the digital audio mastering [1]. The release is dedicated to the memory of Mike Peters [1]. The reissue was reviewed in the specialist press, where Metal Temple judged it a good album of early-period AOR that would appeal to die-hard hunters of obscure eighties releases [4]. -

Notas sobre Ron Bolton Band:

 Texto en Español

- The Ron Bolton Band fue un grupo de AOR y rock melódico de San Diego, en el sur de California, cuyo único álbum, una edición privada homónima publicada en 1983, se ha convertido con el tiempo en una rareza para los coleccionistas del género [1–3, 4]. La banda nació de The Ron Bolton Group, un grupo dedicado a los versionados que tocaba en clubes y bares y actuaba con regularidad en Halligans, en Pacific Beach, y en el Triton Pub, en la playa de Cardiff [4, 5]. Su primera formación era un trío integrado por Ron Bolton a la voz y la guitarra, George Kosta a la batería y Robin Henkel, antiguo compañero de piso de Bolton, al bajo [3, 5]. Henkel llevaba ya tiempo en el oficio y había tocado con The Hi-Lites, Jumbalayah y Cindy & Breeze [5]. Aproximadamente un año después se incorporó el teclista Mike Peters [3].

La formación definitiva quedó cerrada cuando Henkel se marchó para unirse a Johnny Almond, Mark Lessman, Doug Randall y Gary Underwood en un grupo de jazz, R&B y soul clásico, y Dean Schulenberg se hizo cargo del bajo y las voces [1, 3, 5]. Schulenberg procedía de Prisoner, un grupo que había firmado con Warner Curb sin llegar a publicar ningún disco y cuyo cantante era James House [3]. Con Bolton, Peters, Schulenberg y Kosta, la banda dedicó el par de años siguientes a consolidar su prestigio en directo, alternando temas propios y versionados en salas de todo el sur de California que colgaban el cartel de «no hay entradas»; entre los grupos favoritos de sus integrantes en aquella época figuraban Foreigner, Loverboy y Def Leppard [3]. Cuando llegó el momento de grabar su único disco, el grupo ya se llamaba The Ron Bolton Band [4, 5].

En 1983 el cuarteto grabó diez temas originales en Mar Scenic Studios y los mezcló en Encino Sound, encargándose ellos mismos de la grabación, la mezcla y la producción [1–3]. El larga duración se masterizó en Award Record MFG., Inc., en Inglewood (California), y su portada fue obra de Brian McCarthy [1, 2]. Los créditos del álbum agradecen además a Dave Ravel y Bob Frye su ayuda en las tareas de ingeniería, así como a Tom Anderson, de Schecter Guitars, entre otros [1]. Publicado sin sello ni número de catálogo, con la matriz RBB 001 grabada en el surco de salida, el disco fue prensado y distribuido por los propios miembros de la banda, que lo vendían desde el escenario y a través de las tiendas Tower Records de la zona [2, 3].

La composición estuvo repartida. Ron Bolton firmó cinco de las diez canciones: «Maybe I'm Dreamin'», «21», «Livin' On The Line», «Midnight Lover» y «We're Gonna Make It»; Mike Peters aportó «Do It All For Love» y «Play Your Game» [1, 2]. En las tres restantes intervinieron autores ajenos al grupo: «Friends» es obra de Tony Talbot; «Search Of The Kind», una canción que Schulenberg traía de su etapa en Prisoner, está firmada por Talbot, James House y el propio Schulenberg, y «Little Girl», por Joe Aloisa y Schulenberg [1–3].

Musicalmente, el disco se asienta en el AOR de comienzos de los ochenta, con toques de pomp rock, Westcoast y power pop, y apuesta por arreglos trabajados y armonías vocales cuidadas [3, 4]. Las notas de la reedición destacan el tema de apertura, «Maybe I'm Dreamin'», que sonó con frecuencia en las emisoras locales; el pomp AOR de «21», con su solo de teclado de aire espacial, y «Livin' On The Line», cuyos riffs de guitarra comparan con los que Steve Lukather prefería en la época de *Turn Back* de Toto [3]. «Search Of The Kind» gira en torno al órgano de Peters y los fraseos de guitarra de Bolton, mientras que «Midnight Lover» es una balada AOR de aire Westcoast [3].

Tras la publicación del álbum, la banda siguió actuando en directo durante un par de años, hasta su separación en la segunda mitad de los ochenta [3].

En 2009, el sello independiente alemán Avenue Of Allies Music, fundado por Gregor Klee, publicó el álbum en CD por primera vez, con la referencia Avenue 09 01 0002 [1–3, 6]. Klee ejerció de productor ejecutivo y se encargó del diseño gráfico de la edición en CD, mientras que la masterización digital corrió a cargo de Scharaf Girges [1]. La edición está dedicada a la memoria de Mike Peters [1]. La reedición tuvo eco en la prensa especializada, donde Metal Temple la consideró un buen disco de AOR de primera hornada, capaz de satisfacer a los cazadores más irreductibles de rarezas ochenteras [4]. - 

Sources

1. Ron Bolton Band. *Ron Bolton Band*. CD, Avenue Of Allies Music, Avenue 09 01 0002, Germany, 2009. Booklet and back inlay: recording, mixing and mastering credits, original cover and CD artwork credits, songwriting credits, special thanks and dedication. ℗ 1983 Ron Bolton Band; © 2009 Avenue Of Allies Music. Also listed in Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/5624163-Ron-Bolton-Band-Ron-Bolton-Band

2. Ron Bolton Band. *Ron Bolton Band*. LP, no label, no catalog number, United States, 1983. Credits and matrix numbers (RBB 001-A / RBB 001-B) as transcribed in Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/release/7409525-Ron-Bolton-Band-Ron-Bolton-Band. All editions are listed under: https://www.discogs.com/master/1194925-Ron-Bolton-Band-Ron-Bolton-Band

3. Klee, Gregor. Notes for the reissue of *Ron Bolton Band*. Avenue Of Allies Music, 2009. Reproduced at Blue Desert, https://www.westcoast.dk/artists/b/ron-bolton-band/, and on retailer pages such as https://www.amazon.com/Ron-Bolton-Band/dp/B001UXJHXW. Accessed 19 October 2026.

4. Metal Temple. Review of *Ron Bolton Band*, 25 August 2009. https://metal-temple.com/review/ron-bolton-band-ron-bolton-band/

5. Rate Your Music. "Ron Bolton Band," artist page. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/ron_bolton_band. Accessed 19 October 2026.

6. Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives. "Avenue of Allies Music," label page. https://www.metal-archives.com/labels/Avenue_of_Allies_Music/10704. Accessed 19 October 2026.