Background
Kersey was born in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.
Kersey was born in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.
He attended and graduated from Edison High School where he sang in the glee club and played football.
He was a lifelong football fan and loved his Philadelphia Eagles. Ron served in the United States Air Force from 1967 through 1972. While in the service he often played piano and keyboards at the local boards.
There is where he gained the nickname "have mercy".
lieutenant was the name the patrons would scream at him as he played because they loved his funky rhythms. Norman was instrumental in Ron becoming a studio musician at Sigma Sound Studios.
Ron did not like the constant travel so he decided to quit the band and concentrate on producing and writing. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and continued his career as a sought after studio musician, producer and songwriter.Kersey suffered a stroke in 1997 and died in Philadelphia in 2005.Ron is survived by a daughter Kisha, four grandchildren,eight great grandchildren, two sisters and his mother Gevoda.
He produced Stephanie Mills’ "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love" which charted at number #1 for two weeks on the Rhythm & Blues charts.
lieutenant was Mills’ first number one single and would prove to be her most successful single. Ron Kersey was also the producer for her next single "If I Were Your Woman", a cover of the Gladys Knight and the Pips hit that reached number #1 for three weeks on the Rhythm & Blues charts for Stephanie Mills. In addition, he co-wrote "Every Drop of Your Love" for Stacy Lattisaw that peaked at #8 on the Rhythm & Blues charts.
Foreign Evelyn "Champaign" King, he co-wrote "Kisses Don’t Lie" with Alex Brown peaking at #17 on the Rhythm & Blues charts.Kersey also appears on many Philadelphia International Records as a studio musician most notably "Teddy" Teddy Pendergrass, "Unmistakably Lou" Lou Rawls and "Message in the Music" The O"Jays.
He later became a member of the disco band The Trammps. He was also a member of MFSB and The Salsoul Orchestra.