Born in Coaldale, raised in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge is home to Ron Sakamoto.  Since the early years, Ron has been fuelled by a desire for success, the ability to work hard and sheer determination and drive in spite of obstacles or challenges.

 

At the age of 17, Ron’s love of music combined with his entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to start The Honeycomb Club Go Go in Medicine Hat which marked the beginning of his foray into the music industry.  Later, Gold & Gold Productions was started and Ron’s integrity and honesty allowed him to develop his company to the stature it is today.  Ron was the first promoter to bring the rock band Kiss to Canada; he’s booked hundreds of artists from Roy Orbison to Shania Twain.

 

He has promoted tours across Canada with all the top American country artists including Johnny Cash, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert to name a few.  In promoting these artists it afforded him the opportunity to provide support, exposure and success for many Canadian artists.  The list includes Shania Twain, Ann Murray, Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLachlan, The Good Brothers, Johnny Reid, Gord Bamford, and Washboard Union

 

Ron’s 50-some year concert portfolio is overflowing with tours and shows across Canada with most of the top country artists in the US. Ron has been honoured with the Canadian Country Music Association’s Hank Smith Award of Excellence and after receiving the CCMA ‘Talent Buyer or Promoter of the Year’ Award for 17 consecutive years the award was re-named in his honour. Ron has twice received the CMA (Country Music Association of America) International Promoter/Talent Buyer of the Year, IEBA’s International Buyer of the Year Award and has been nominated for the ACM’s (Academy of Country Music) Promoter of the Year Award. In addition to being named Country Music Person of the Year, Ron has also been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. 

 

Ron has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, Alberta Centennial Medal for Outstanding Service to People and the Province of Alberta and the Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Lethbridge.  Ron contributes much closer to home through the Faculty of Management Scholarship as well as the Joyce and Ron Sakamoto Music Scholarship.  He was also instrumental in the FloodAid benefit at McMahon Stadium, which raised over $2.1 million, and helped with the FireAid benefit for Fort McMurray this past year.  These closer to home contributions earned him the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Business Legacy Award and the keys to the City of Lethbridge.

 

Ron has served on the Board of Directors for both the CCMA and the CMA in Nashville.  He is currently on the Board of Directors of IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) in Nashville.  Ron is also a shareholder and on the Board of Directors of a world wide digital company called Muzooka, which enables industry professionals to promote performance opportunities world wide, Muzooka is now booking acts into China.