Celebration of Life for Ronald "Ronnie" McFadden: Life of a Hoofer

Ronnie and his siblings were raised by their parents in the Jazz District of Kansas City, Missouri. His father, renowned tap dancer and musician Jimmy McFadden, had a strong influence on Lonnie's musical development. Jimmy, known as “Pops,” toured nationally with top, national jazz orchestras in his youth. He held deep roots in the Kansas City jazz scene and brought influential local talents into the McFadden's home and social circles. Jimmy had Lonnie and his brother Ronald in tap shoes before they reached kindergarten, and he required the boys to study piano.[1] He ushered them to the stage at Kansas City's Muehlbach Hotel when Lonnie was seven and Ronald, six. The brothers performed in The Mutual Musicians Foundation, the world's oldest jazz jam room, when they were still in grade school. Entering middle school, Lonnie quit tap dancing and took up trumpet.