Mark Ronson is a sought-after turntablist who's worked with such diverse artists as
Macy Gray,
Jay-Z, and comedian
Jimmy Fallon. The stepson of guitarist Mick Jones of
Foreigner,
Ronson spent the first eight years of his life growing up in England. Having played guitar and drums from an early age, it wasn't until moving to New York City with his mother that
Ronson discovered DJ culture. At age 16, already a fan of such popular
hip-hop artists as
Run-D.M.C. and
the Beastie Boys,
Ronson began listening to the various
hip-hop mixtapes released every few months by DJs.
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Mark Ronson is a sought-after turntablist who's worked with such diverse artists as
Macy Gray,
Jay-Z, and comedian
Jimmy Fallon. The stepson of guitarist Mick Jones of
Foreigner,
Ronson spent the first eight years of his life growing up in England. Having played guitar and drums from an early age, it wasn't until moving to New York City with his mother that
Ronson discovered DJ culture.
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At age 16, already a fan of such popular
hip-hop artists as
Run-D.M.C. and
the Beastie Boys,
Ronson began listening to the various
hip-hop mixtapes released every few months by DJs. Inspired,
Ronson confiscated his father's record collection and began trying his hand at mixing.
The young DJ with the diverse taste soon caught the ears and eyes of various socialites and New York celebrities, including fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who featured
Ronson along with other sons and daughters of celebrities in a 1997 fashion campaign. A year later,
hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs hired
Ronson to DJ his fabled 29th birthday bash. These and other high-profile gigs boosted
Ronson's "hip quotient" and helped promote his more serious-minded music career. Fusing his eclectic turntable skills with his knowledge of musical instruments and songwriting,
Ronson eventually embarked on his first solo project. Featuring such diverse guest artists as
dancehall rapper
Sean Paul,
hip-hop artist
Mos Def, Jack White of
the White Stripes, and
Rivers Cuomo of
Weezer,
Ronson's debut album, Here Comes the Fuzz, bowed for Elektra in 2003.
After releasing his debut album,
Ronson kept busy producing tracks for a number artists, including
Amy Winehouse, whose 2006 album
Back to Black earned critical praise in large part for
Ronson's throwback, Motown-influenced production. His own sophomore effort,
Version, dropped in 2007. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
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