Ronnie Bedford

Q: When did Ronnie Bedford die?

Ronnie Bedford died on December 20, 2014.

Q: How old was Ronnie Bedford when they died?

Ronnie Bedford was 83 years old at the time of death.

musician

Born: June 2, 1931
Died: December 20, 2014
Age: 83 years
Nationality: United States

Deaths in 2014 December 2014 Died on December 20 musician Who Died Today Verified Sep 29, 2026

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About Ronnie Bedford

Ronnie Bedford, 83, American jazz drummer.

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Full Biography

Ronnie Bedford (June 2, 1931 – December 20, 2014) was an American jazz drummer and professor. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he played percussion for Louis Prima and later the Benny Goodman Quintet. Bedford was one of the founders of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival held annually in Cody, Wyoming, and was the recipient of the 1993 Wyoming Governor's Award for the Arts. In 1993 he released a self-published CD, Tour de West. He later produced three more albums for Progressive Records. Bedford lived in Powell, Wyoming and taught percussion at Northwest College.

Discography

As leader

Just Friends (Progressive, 1993)
Triplicity (Progressive, 1998)
Tour de West: Where the Beboppers Roam (Ronnie Bedford Music, 1998)
QuaDRUMvirate (Progressive, 1999)

As sideman

With Benny Carter

My Kind of Trouble (Pablo, 1989)
Over the Rainbow (MusicMasters, 1989)

With Benny Carter

Over the Rainbow (MusicMasters, 1989)

With Arnett Cobb

Funky Butt (Progressive, 1980)

With Chris Connor

Sweet and Swinging (Progressive, 1978)

With Buddy DeFranco

Like Someone in Love (Progressive, 1989)

With Don Friedman

Invitation (Progressive, 1993) – recorded in 1978
Jazz Dancing (Solid, 2016) – recorded in 1977

With Hank Jones

Arigato (Progressive, 1976)

With Rod Levitt

The Dynamic Sound Patterns (Riverside, 1963)

With Pee Wee Russell

Ask Me Now! (Impulse!, 1963)

With Derek Smith

Plays Jerome Kern (Progressive, 1980)

With Chuck Wayne

Morning Mist (Prestige, 1965)

Main source:

Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sources

SourceWikipedia
Source pagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Bedford
LicenseCC BY-SA 4.0
AccessedSep 26, 2026
WikipediaView article
WikidataView record
Last verifiedSeptember 29, 2026
Source checkedSep 26, 2026

Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions

Questions drawn from Ronnie Bedford's archived record and the sources above.

1.When was the jazz drummer Ronnie Bedford born?
- A.June 2, 1931correct
- B.July 2, 1931
- C.June 2, 1930
- D.June 2, 1932
Ronnie Bedford was born on June 2, 1931.
Source: biographical introduction
2.With which musician did Ronnie Bedford play percussion before joining the Benny Goodman Quintet?
- A.Benny Carter
- B.Buddy DeFranco
- C.Hank Jones
- D.Louis Primacorrect
Ronnie Bedford played percussion for Louis Prima and later the Benny Goodman Quintet.
Source: biographical introduction
3.Which festival did Ronnie Bedford help to found?
- A.Wyoming Arts Festival
- B.Yellowstone Jazz Festivalcorrect
- C.Progressive Records Jazz Showcase
- D.Connecticut Percussion Gala
Ronnie Bedford was one of the founders of the Yellowstone Jazz Festival.
Source: biographical introduction
4.In which city did Ronnie Bedford reside during his later years?
- A.Cody, Wyoming
- B.Powell, Wyomingcorrect
- C.New Haven, Connecticut
- D.Bridgeport, Connecticut
Ronnie Bedford lived in Powell, Wyoming.
Source: biographical introduction
5.At which institution did Ronnie Bedford teach percussion?
- A.University of Wyoming
- B.Wyoming Music Academy
- C.Northwest Collegecorrect
- D.Bridgeport Conservatory
Ronnie Bedford taught percussion at Northwest College.
Source: biographical introduction
6.Which award did Ronnie Bedford receive in 1993?
- A.Progressive Records Musician of the Year
- B.Wyoming Governor's Award for the Artscorrect
- C.National Jazz Percussion Medal
- D.Bridgeport Lifetime Achievement Award
Ronnie Bedford was the recipient of the 1993 Wyoming Governor's Award for the Arts.
Source: biographical introduction
7.What is the full title of the self-published CD released by Ronnie Bedford in 1998?
- A.Just Friends
- B.Tour de West: Where the Beboppers Roamcorrect
- C.Tour de West
- D.Triplicity
The self-published CD released by Ronnie Bedford in 1998 was titled Tour de West: Where the Beboppers Roam.
Source: discography section
8.How many albums did Ronnie Bedford produce for Progressive Records after 1993?
- A.Two
- B.Four
- C.Threecorrect
- D.Five
Ronnie Bedford produced three more albums for Progressive Records after 1993.
Source: biographical introduction
9.On which year did Ronnie Bedford pass away?
- A.2015
- B.2013
- C.2012
- D.2014correct
Ronnie Bedford passed away on December 20, 2014.
Source: biographical introduction
10.Which album did Ronnie Bedford record with the sideman Chuck Wayne?
- A.Arigato
- B.Funky Butt
- C.Sweet and Swinging
- D.Morning Mistcorrect
Ronnie Bedford recorded the album Morning Mist with Chuck Wayne.
Source: discography as sideman section
11.What was the label for the album 'The Dynamic Sound Patterns' recorded by Ronnie Bedford with Rod Levitt?
- A.Progressive
- B.Impulse!
- C.Pablo
- D.Riversidecorrect
The album The Dynamic Sound Patterns by Rod Levitt, featuring Ronnie Bedford, was released by Riverside.
Source: discography as sideman section
12.In what year was the album 'Just Friends' released by Ronnie Bedford as a leader?
- A.1998
- B.1993correct
- C.1999
- D.1989
The album Just Friends was released by Ronnie Bedford in 1993 on the Progressive label.
Source: discography as leader section
13.With which musician did Ronnie Bedford record the album 'Ask Me Now!'?
- A.Hank Jones
- B.Pee Wee Russellcorrect
- C.Derek Smith
- D.Don Friedman
Ronnie Bedford recorded Ask Me Now! with Pee Wee Russell in 1963.
Source: discography as sideman section
14.What was the label for the 1976 album 'Arigato' recorded with Hank Jones?
- A.Pablo
- B.Prestige
- C.Progressivecorrect
- D.MusicMasters
The album Arigato with Hank Jones was released on the Progressive label.
Source: discography as sideman section
15.Which of these albums was recorded by Ronnie Bedford as a leader in 1999?
- A.Tour de West
- B.QuaDRUMviratecorrect
- C.Triplicity
- D.Just Friends
Ronnie Bedford released the album QuaDRUMvirate as a leader in 1999.
Source: discography as leader section
16.In what city was the jazz drummer Ronnie Bedford born?
- A.Powell, Wyoming
- B.New York, New York
- C.Cody, Wyoming
- D.Bridgeport, Connecticutcorrect
Ronnie Bedford was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Source: biographical introduction