Ron was born in Elsmere, Kentucky, graduating from Newport High School in 1949 and joining the Navy where he became a radio and electronics technician. After discharge from the Navy in 1955, he went to work for Fidelity Recording Studio in Cincinnati where he learned to be a recording engineer. He became owner of Fidelity but left in 1964 for an engineer job at King Records, eventually becoming Chief Engineer and personal engineer for Rhythm and Blues superstar James Brown. By innovative placement of microphones, he developed what became known as “The Cincinnati Sound” which was unique to King Records. In addition to his work with James Brown, he made his mark on bluegrass by engineering LPs by the Stanley Brothers (Hymns of the Cross and The Remarkable Stanley Brothers Play and Sing Bluegrass Songs for You) and Don Reno and Red Smiley (On the Road and A Bluegrass Tribute to Cowboy Copas).
LENHOFF, RONALD RAYMOND “RON” (1931-2006)