Tracknotes
Ron Flack: A Journey in Music, Community, and Creativity
n the fall of 1979, Ron Flack began his freshman year as an art student at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU). It didn’t take long for him to discover a vibrant community of songwriters on campus. Driven by his love for music, Ron organized events that connected these young songwriters with musicians, creating a platform called Students at Work. This initiative brought songs to life, fostering collaboration and creativity. Even after Ron's "requested departure" from MVNU following his first year, the events he started continued to thrive.Recognizing Ron’s talent and passion, MVNU music professor Bob Finnie extended an invitation for monthly lessons. Despite having no formal music education and relying solely on his ear, Ron eagerly absorbed lessons on theory, scales, harmony, and melody. Professor Finnie’s mentorship left a lasting impact, ultimately paving the way for Ron to return to MVNU, where he graduated in 1987.
Through the late 1980s and mid-1990s, Ron worked as a youth mentor, using music to build connections with young people. In 1995, he attended Al Denson’s Music Camp in Nashville, where he deepened his understanding of songwriting and production. A year later, he relocated with his family to Hermitage, Tennessee, where he mastered MIDI sequencing, arranging, and recording. These skills enabled him to collaborate with local musicians and further refine his craft.
As the digital landscape transformed, Ron embraced the possibilities of new technology. He returned to Ohio to be closer to family, channeling his creative energy into web design and software UX engineering. This period led to the founding of Realgrey Creative. Drawing on his recording experience from Nashville, Ron naturally gravitated back to music, focusing on recording and mixing for Northeast Ohio’s songwriter community.
In 2010, Ron hosted a small group of songwriters in his living room, sparking what would become BRING YOUR SONG (BYS), a monthly gathering. What began as a casual meeting grew into a vibrant network of songwriters, musicians, engineers, and producers, many of whom collaborated in Ron’s home studio. Over time, Realgrey Creative evolved into Realgrey Records.
By 2015, Ron and his friends transformed a carriage house on his property into a dedicated recording studio. As the studio gained momentum, Ron’s passion for helping musicians reach their potential only deepened. The space underwent various transformations, with tape machines and recording consoles coming and going. In 2022, Carl Tatz installed his renowned PhantomFocus Monitoring System, ushering in a new era for the studio.
Through every chapter, Ron has remained committed to helping musicians break new ground, blending his love for music, people, and innovation into a lasting legacy.
