By Julian Hadley
The Scene staff
Friends and family members are mourning the death of a Forest Park student known for leading a popular St. Louis reggae band.
Ronald Pittman, 54, was a music major and member of the African American Male Initiative. He died just before the start of fall semester.
“He was excited to return to school this year,” said his wife, Sherrie Brown-Pittman, who managed his band, King Omowale and the Majestic Lions.
She declined to give his cause of death.
Forest Park counselor A. Wayne Jones described Pittman as a humble man with whom he shared a love of music and poetic expression.
“For Ronnie, music was not a medium of entertainment, but a voice for a profound message of hope,” Jones said.
Pittman used the Nigerian stage name “King Omowale,” which means “A son that returns to his roots.”
He lived and performed in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Belize and Jamaica, producing layered tracks that blended elements of rock, jazz and R&B within a reggae format.
“I looked forward to doing some (music) together,” Jones said. “I will miss that time.”
Pittman attended Forest Park for two years. He and his band also provided entertainment for events at Forest Park and on the Meramec campus of St. Louis Community College.
“Ronald was a pleasure to have in our classes,” said Thomas Zirkle, music department coordinator. “He was hard-working, kind and eager to help or encourage anyone who needed it.”
Pittman’s cut his musical teeth on gospel at Union Memorial Methodist Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, performing with the Young Eternal Souls.
The group toured 23 cities from 1973 to 1978. It served as the official band for the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Operation Push and played on the same ticket as Johnny Cash at the Houston Astrodome.
Pittman’s deep love for music helped him overcome barriers.
“I was given a right-handed guitar and was left-handed,” he was quoted as saying. “I learned to play it upside-down and backwards. I never knew I was doing it differently, and it hasn’t slowed me down.”
Pittman graduated from Sumner High School in St. Louis and later earned a master’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Lincoln University. While at Lincoln, he opened for The Bar-Kay’s and The Fat Back Band.
Pittman also attended Los Angeles Community College, where he received vocal training, piano instruction and exposure to entertainment law and music.
That’s when his reggae career began to build momentum.
“He opened for Shaba Ranks, Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer and the Itals,” his wife said.
Pittman’s love of travel took him to Jamaica, where he studied with Joe Higgs, Bob Marley’s guitar instructor; Daddy U-Roy, a “toasting” pioneer; vocalist Johnny Clark; and Nyabinghi rhythm specialist Ras Michael.
Pittman’s contacts grew, and so did his opportunities to travel and perform with musicians such as the late Louis Satterfield and Michael Harris of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
“He performed and led bands throughout the Caribbean and West Coast,” his wife said.
Pittman sang songs with soulful undertones (the ballad “I am Love”) and contrasting emotions (“Babylon’s Burning,” recorded during the Los Angeles riots in 1992).
“The music, as he understood it, was an extension of his voice,” Jones said.
Pittman wrote and co-wrote material for his albums “Flight Home,” which features original guitar compositions, and “Zion Bound,” including cover and original reggae.
He released his latest CD, “Rastaphonics,” on Sept. 3. It’s available at Vintage Vinyl in the Delmar Loop.
Pittman died Aug. 16. Zirkle attended his memorial service. Arrangements were handled by Granberry Mortuary in St. Louis.
“I was touched by the number of people who spoke at his memorial service to say that they all felt about him the same way that we did,” he said. “He is missed.”
Pittman is survived by his wife, 3-year-old son, two adult daughters and four grandchildren.
People can post messages to his family on his Facebook page and listen to samples of his music at reverbnation.com and amazon.com.
“We rarely get to know what makes the person who they are,” Jones said. “I think that’s tragic. (Pittman) was genuine.”
King Omowale and the Majestic Lions will continue to send Pittman’s positive message with an energetic delivery at St. Louis Public Library’s “Not So Quiet” program in November and the Better Family Life’s annual Kwanzaa event in December.
“As long as we keep singing and performing his songs, the king still lives on,” his wife said.