Phillip “Ron” Ronald Hamilton

Phillip Ronald “Ron” Hamilton, 86, passed away peacefully on June 4th, 2023. Ron was born on December 6th, 1936 in McColl, South Carolina, son of the late Don and Fleda Hamilton. Ron was a veteran of the US Air Force Band for 4 years, and a member of the US Army National Guard band #246 for 19 years, participating in tours in Guam, Dominican Republic and Hawaii. Ron attended UNC Chapel Hill and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s of Music degree. He was a professional jazz musician and music teacher his entire life. He taught many students in many bands across the state, elementary school to college level. He played all different kinds of gigs and backed multiple artists such as Gladys Knight, the Duke Ellington band, George Burns, the Charlie Spivak band and a multitude of others. He started the Greenville Senior Action Jazz Band (The Carolinians) and was instrumental in forming the Buddy-K Big Band. While his roots were firmly in Dixieland jazz, he played clarinet, saxophone, flute, bagpipes, sang and conducted traditional, big band and various other genres of jazz throughout his long music career. Ron was also passionate about Civil War history and worked with the Confederate Museum in Greenville, SC for 10 years. He is survived by his wife Linda, sister Wrenn Fairey (Wilson), children Phil Hamilton, Holly Jackson (James), Katie Hamilton and Jennifer Wood (Terry); and grandchildren Corinne, Will, Zac, Zoey, Bridget, Megan and Brian, as well as countless other loving relatives. He will be sorely missed, and the jazz music will continue to play on in his memory. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Greenville Senior Action Jazz Band, Senior Action, 3715 E North St, Suite K, Greenville, SC 29615. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeywoodlawn.com for the Hamilton family.