Catching Up with Big Ron Hunter

Written by Jason Jefferies

When asked why he is called “the World’s Happiest Bluesman”, Big Ron Hunter says “It’s what’s on the inside of me.  I believe I have joy on the inside of me and I’m glad I can share it.”

Recently, Big Ron has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and his health issues led to a bout of memory loss.

“They had declared me dead,” Ron says.  “My wife brought me home and she prayed for me and read scriptures.  I lost my memory—I couldn’t remember my name, I couldn’t remember where I lived…. I could see me trying to walk and I could see me trying to talk.

“But now I remember everything!  My laughter is back, and I can laugh about it all, because it is in the past.”

When asked how Music Maker Foundation helped him during this time, Ron says 

“I really needed them because I was in the hospital for about three weeks and all of my bills got behind.  My rent got behind, I didn’t have a car, and Music Maker came in and they sent me checks to help me pay my rent, things that I would stress out on…. And that’s probably why I was losing it (my memory), because I was stressing out on the things I needed to do back at home, but I couldn’t get out of the hospital to do them.  I was behind on rent, behind on the light bill, everything I was behind on, and music maker came and they got me out of it.  I am so blessed and so honored to be a part of Music Maker.”

“I just ask the Lord to bless them, to give them 100% blessing for what they have done for me.”

When asked how he is facing his illness going forward, Ron says “I came back from the hospital, and my kids were there, everybody was there looking at me like I was already dead.  And they were all crying…  But I lived!  And I’m living right now to tell you that I am grateful to God for what he has done for me, that he has kept me living.  And I don’t know how many years I’ve got, but I’ve got some more.”

Big Ron Hunter’s band is playing a benefit show on April 14th at the Muddy Creek Listening Room in Winston Salem.  

“There are going to be musicians coming from everywhere.  And if you’re here, come on out and play.  That’s when I’m going to play again.  I’m going to sit at the house and relax and get strong and be ready to play on the 14th.  And then I’ve got some gigs coming up…. After the 14th, I’m going to be ready!”