First and Foremost, I'd like to take time to thank Our Heavenly Father for watching over me and giving me the strength to make it this far!!

      I was born in 1953 to Christine and Norman Overton in Pontiac, Michigan.  I am the second oldest of eight surviving children. 

      My musical career started at a very young age, like a lot of musicians, in grade school.  I started out playing the violin until I took it home and broke a string!  Scared to death of what my teacher was going to do to me, I almost cut my finger off trying to fix it! (shaking like Don Knotts!).  After that I switched to the cello but that didn't last long, because around that time is when I really got serious about music!  Strangely enough, my first real interest in music came from the Beatles!

      Look here, let me tell you something, I couldn't wait for my parents to leave so I could crank up the radio, grab a broom (had to have a guitar) and something to tie on my head (had to have the hair)!

      At that time, I hooked up with some childhood friends and together we formed the Soulful Determinations.  But I had to change that too, because everybody was drowning me out!  So I kept up with the joneses and switched to bass guitar.

I traveled from 1972 until 1978 with Ronnie McNeir (presently with the Four Tops) and Kim Weston.  After a two year lay off, I went out on the road with the 50s doo-wop group, The Dell-Vikings.  I traveled with them from 1980 to 1988, at which time in between tours I started selling drugs to make ends meet.  Well, as you might have guessed, I got busted and had to

go on an extended vacation for the state.  Ten flat years!!

      I used that time to clear my head and tighten up my keyboard skills.  During the process of creating this project, I had the pleasure to work with and complete some other projects with some very talented musicians!  Ronnie McNeir, David Finley (presently with the Miracles), Charles Anthony, Derek ‘DJ' Johnson, Marcus Cummings, Darryl Wakefield, and Danny Carthan. 

      When The Smoke Clears is my first solo project and all the tunes written were based on my life experiences.  If you're one of those many people who enjoy jumping in the car and just riding, this CD was designed with you in mind!  It took me about five years to complete, but that's okay, because I wanted to make sure this CD wasn't one of those that you have paid $15.00 for, and only like one tune!

This CD was created to make you pat your feet and just feel good!  A few women friends have said that it contains baby-making music!  Mmmmmm...  I'll leave that one alone!  Enjoy!

Ronnie ‘Sportcoat' Overton