Ronald Alexander Panton

Ron Panton, my dad, was a musician, arranger, and composer. Born in 1915 in Novato CA, and by the age of 14 had learned to play the organ and trumpet. He joined the California National Guard Band and was an Eagle Scout. He learned Morse code and got his ham radio license in 1930. Ron was fascinated with electronics and around 1934 worked as an electrician in the Bethlehem Shipyard, but before then he’d began his long musical career. 

At age 17 Ron played trumpet and wrote arrangements for dance orchestras, among them the Freddy Nagel and Buddy Maleville Orchestras. He moved around quite a bit as part of his job with United Airlines but continued as arranger and business manager for Freddy Nagel. He left United Airlines and returned to Monterey where he ran, and lived at, KDON FM radio station at Mt. Baldie. During this time he played French Horn with the Monterey Symphony and composed music.

In the early 50’s he worked as an engineeer for KCBS in San Francisco and met and married Helga Roller in 1952. During that time he played trumpet and French horn with Marin Symphony. He had two childeren with Helga, my sister Siri in 1955 and me in 1957. The family moved to Menlo Park that year when he started his job in the Radio Physics lab at SRI. He worked there full time until 1980 and part time until 1991.

Due to a fall from the 50′ radio tower in our backyard, he switched from playing the trumpet to the oboe, which I took up in 1965. In retirement Ron continued to play the oboe with local orchestras and small chamber music ensembles. He wrote and arranged scores of music for woodwinds which I managed to save from the garbage bin! It’s taken a few years, but I’ve finally scanned the many pieces he created and offer them here for all to try out and enjoy. I’ll also upload some of the recordings I have of his compositions.

Known for his sense of humor, Ron used various psuedonyms in his compositions such as Sergio Hernandez, Hamish MacDougal, and Horatio Spottsfauna. He wrote many arrangements of his own pieces to suit various ensembles he performed with as well as requests from fellow musicians. He embraced computers, music notation software and MIDI to assist in his writing and arranging.  You’ll see many handwritten notes and corrections in his charts. I did my best while scanning to keep things looking good but was not always successful. I hope you can enjoy this American composer’s many works.