While in law school, he was a founder of the Apple Chill Cloggers. After he began his legal career in Raleigh, he helped found PineCone, now the largest regional folk arts organization in the South. He is a former chair of the United Arts Council of Wake County and currently serves on the Education Committee for the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Local Organizing Committee for the Wide Open Bluegrass Business Convention and Music Festival in Raleigh. Ron has played bass for more than 35 years and currently plays bass for several local string bands. His grandfather was the fiddle player in the family band in Transylvania County, N.C.