Ronnie Kole

Ronnie Kole, a renowned jazz pianist, was born and raised in Chicago. At just 13 years old, he taught himself the piano and went on the road to perform at 16. He met musician Al Hirt and quickly became his protege. Ronnie moved to New Orleans and joined the house band for Hirt’s Bourbon St. club. Over his musical career, Ronnie performed at Carnegie Hall and for 6 presidents and a pope! He was a co-founder of the French Quarter Festival and loved to perform at Jazz Fest as well. Ronnie was Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and passed away in 2020 at 89 years old. A lover of wine and good times, Ronnie once said, “music opens the door to anything in the world, and wine does, too.”