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The guitar man of Broadway

Standing on the curb of Broadway in front of Dick’s, Ronald Fulton opens his guitar case and pulls out an Eric Clapton signature Fender Stratocaster, a black and white beauty decorated with Jimi Hendrix and Greenpeace stickers. Plugged into a mini amp to his right, he starts warming up with some scale work.

“This is the best guitar ever made,” he says with a broad grin. “The best guitar in the world.”



It’s 11 a.m. on a sunny Sunday afternoon and Dick’s has just opened, but he has already gotten the attention of the restaurant employees and people passing by. After almost 10 years of paying homage to the likes of Jimmi Hendrix and Willie Nelson on street corners around Seattle and another decade playing “everywhere else,” Ron has established himself as a local legend.

“I’ve been influenced by all of the music I’ve ever heard” he says. “Miles Davis, Jimi, Santana, Bob and Ziggy… all of the greats. Everything inspires me, even the birds. Let me hook that up in the mix!”

Now 53 years old, Ron remembers fondly the first time he first heard Jimi Hendrix.

“I hated it when I first heard it! It sounded like a bunch of gobbledy goop… was just too much for me to handle at first. But then the third time I heard it, I got it. I was like, damn…”

Ron and his wife live by Miller Park on 19th Ave. with their dog, Trinity. Together 21 years, they have two grown children, Adrian and Malia, and a grandson, Isaiah.

“When I first met my wife, I told her I was a jazz musician and she said, ya right,” Ron says with a laugh. “Now she’s my biggest fan.”

Originally from Arkansas, Ron started playing alto saxophone in 6th grade and picked up the guitar at age 17. The son of a Pentecostal preacher, he has always surrounded himself with music. He entered the army, joined the 10th Mountain Golden Dragon Infantry Division in Desert Storm and spent time in Panama. Most recently, Ron worked at the E. John Safeway as a journeyman in the meat department for three years until he quit to play music full time.

“I said I’d quit (Safeway) when I could make the same amount street busking. But I loved it there… sometimes my old coworkers and customers come by Dick’s for a burger and a listen.”

These days, Ron is a full-time street musician. Street busking can be challenging — and competitive. He often arrives at Dick’s before they open to set up before the panhandling crowd moves in. Today is no different — two panhandlers stand to the side for a while, waiting for a chance at the spot, before moving on for the afternoon.

“Street etiquette is, whoever gets there first, you have to wait until they’re done. You can’t ask how long they’re gonna be there. They’re there, and will be there until they want to leave,” Ron says. “And you can’t stand more than 50 feet next to another street performer. That ruins it for each other.”

Sometimes, Ron even pays off panhandlers for a prime spot.

“I’ll give them 5 bucks or so for the space. They can only make $5 a day sometimes… so usually it works out for both of us.”

Ron says he can make up to $100 or more a day in street busking, but that more or less depends on the weather.

“It’s a struggle. Some days I make $20, other times I make $100. I can’t perform in the rain.”

Ron regularly performs in front of Dick’s, at the Fremont and Ballard Markets, and Pike Place Market. But he doesn’t like Pike Place as much — there is too much competition from other performers for the good places.

“Most days, I may set up in the worst spot and still make money.” Ron pauses. “I feel so lucky to do this every day, I have found my special purpose.”

Street performing can be a tricky dance between entertainers and law enforcement. Places like Capitol Hill, however, are rarely an issue.

“It completely depends on the powers that be,” says Ron. “I’ve had police officers tip me a dollar or two and say, ‘You know, I’m not supposed to do this, but you’re pretty good,’ and stuff like that. Some officers ask me for my permit then tell me to move along.”

Seattle Channel

You can watch him on the Seattle Channel and contact him through his Myspace page or e-mail at [email protected]. You can preview tracks and buy his album The LInear Now online. Currently, he only carries one copy of his CD around with him. He’s holding on to it for a fan who prepaid him for it one day, but Ron hasn’t run in to him since. The cover art was done by his daughter, a local graphic designer. Ron wanted it to look childish, to play on the happy nature of the album. All of the songs, except for one Willie Nelson cover, are Ronald Fulton originals.

He wants to start a trio, so if you’re a bassist or drummer, contact him.

“I’ve been trying to get a group together forever and no one wants to play with me!” Ron exclaims. “I must suck pretty bad.”

Without much warning, Ron breaks into song — Willie Nelson’s “Night Life.” The Dick’s employees hang out the window and grin as they watch. Then, he begins a jazzy rendition of “(What A) Wonderful World,” the sky clear and blue during that strange February heat wave.

“I want people to know I’m just like them — someone trying to find my way,” Ron says with a grin. “I’m forging my way into the great unknown.”

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14 years ago

Good for Ron for following his heart. I wish him the best of luck and will watch for him playing on Broadway. :)

CharlyStripedTiger
CharlyStripedTiger
14 years ago

the “Street Etiquette” part is interesting… I don’t understand why Dicks allows all those bums to hang out in front of their property. It has to be taking away from there business right?

Ben
Ben
14 years ago

The music is nice – the panhandling is not. I think there’s an ATM pretty closed to Dick’s and I know there’s a parking pay meter right there. If the city council’s new anti-panhandling resolution goes through it should solve this problem completely. Music stays, bums leave.

CharlyStripedTiger
CharlyStripedTiger
14 years ago

totally agree… great article lauren! any chance you could go deep undercover get more info on the “Steet Etiquette” thing? :)

lauren.p
lauren.p
14 years ago

good idea! I think we’ll work on a deeper panhandling article once those laws go in to effect, to determine what has changed or whether it’s being enforced.

JulietteF
JulietteF
14 years ago

Considering that Dick Spady collects money at the counter for homeless charities and ONLY homeless charities, I think Dick’s is a pretty broke-folks -friendly place.
Can’t possibly take away from their business. Broadway has a culture to maintain, and it includes broke kids, guitar buskers, performance artists and ignorant peds. Besides, it’s (still) legal to ask for change.

Jon P from Watertown
Jon P from Watertown
14 years ago

In the story is says that he “joined the 10th Mountain Golden Dragon Infantry Division in Desert Storm”.

There is no such unit. There is an infantry battalion (2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment) that has a golden Dragon on their unit crest which is assigned to Fort Drum. They have a website which is located at http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/tenants/division/2BCT/2-14INF

Ron Fulton
Ron Fulton
14 years ago

I was a light infantry solider (which is an oxymoron because our ruck sacks could weigh up to 90 pounds) in the Tenth Mountain Division
second battalion of the fourteenth infantry infantry regiment (Bravo company) at Fort Drum New York. We called ourselves golden dragons hence…”10th Mountain Golden Dragons” because of the golden dragon on our unit crests.Also I did not join in desert Storm..smile You kinda had to already be in the army already to take part in any real world mission.We were in the region(very close) but not directly in Desert Storm sh-h-h-h”
I had to correct that..heck My captain at that time lives here in Seattle now and I would not want to disappoint him.
Whoa Sir if you see this!!!!!

lindabell
lindabell
14 years ago

He is one fine looking man, His guitar is beautiful. i have heard him play many days and love his smile, his music and especially when he plays some of his originals and that song” Night Life.” He makes beautiful music.

Orandon Marie
Orandon Marie
13 years ago

Ron is a smart, perceptive old soul w/a unique sense of humor. A perfectionist, Ron may not be the greatest vocalist, but his tremendous guitar-playing and composition of songs and lyrics bring tons of joy to the streets of Seattle. It seems Ron came into this world fully-prepared to participate in community. Whether it’s one of his amazingly-executed renditions of late Jimi Hendrix, Seattle, Ron Fulton’s rhythm & blues, funk and rock are all amazing. He could play music anywhere on the planet. Ron’s music ultimately imparts quiet reflection, perception of spirit, & reasoning of experience.