For Years Ron Smolen has successfully touring and doing what he does best, making beautiful music and entertaining thousands. Throughout the midwest, his name brings back memories of the Big Band era.

Since age six, Ron has been perfecting his musical ability. Starting on the Accordion, and in High School moving on to the Clarinet and the Saxophone, he has always been excited about performing in public.

Ron began his career playing at local weddings and soon his Accordion talents were in great demand by many prestigious leaders. He was also quite busy in the Polka field. But his true love of the Big Bands was always apparent and by age twenty, he already had his Big Band on the Radio and was featured at Chicago's famous Aragon Ballroom.

Evidently people all over the Midwest are enjoying the music of Ron Smolen because the Orchestra plays many return performances and is busier than ever wih a full schedule of both... Public and Private engagements.

History of the Ron Smolen Orchestra ...


RSO Director Ron Smolen has been performing professionally since 1969 and — with signed contracts currently on file through 2008 — he will continue to direct the Ron Smolen Orchestra well into the new millennium.

The RSO Ten (10) piece dance orchestra consists of... …

The RSO has been recognized in many publications including…
·  Ballroom Echoes by Lon Gault
·  Dance Bands and Swing Bands by Alice Rodgers
·  Odyssey of the Midnight Flyer by Lee Barron

The RSO was presented with a plaque from the National Ballroom and Entertainment Association. It reads -

In Honor of the Ron Smolen Orchestra 30th Anniversary (September 17, 2001) The National Ballroom & Entertainment Association Wishes to express their appreciation of your continuing efforts, promotion, and support of the NBEA, Big Band Music, and Dancing in the Greater Midwest.
Click here to see it

The RSO has been heard on radio stations from coast to coast, Canada — even on the Internet.

The Ron Smolen Orchestra is a member of....
A.M.U.     American Musicians Union  *  Dumont, New Jersey
B.B.A.A.   Big Band Academy of America  *  Hollywood, California
N.B.E.A.   National Ballroom and Entertainment Association * Decorah, Iowa

Past Engagements include: private events, appearances at historic ballrooms, theatres, grand hotels, resorts, casinos, state fairs, city and county festivals, parades… and big band weekend events.   A partial list follows…. 

Ballrooms...   (Chicagoland and Illinois)

Ballrooms...   ( National )

Theatres...

Hotels and Resorts...

Casinos and Riverboats...

Special Events and Historic Locations...

Ron Smolen his Big Band and or Combo
 Have also performed for the following LOCAL functions sponsored by

Millennium Park

Cultural Center

Daley Center

Mayor Daley Senior Picnic in the Parks

Neighborhood events including…
(City and Private funded events - partial listing)

Foster Grandparent Program...   

Department on Aging   

Performed  “ City Sponsored & Private Events “ at the following venues
(Partial list)

Department on Aging Centers… 

Park District Facilities…    (partial list)
  Montrose Harbor, Grant, Kennedy, North Park Village, Portage, Chopin, Hiawatha,
La Follette, Mc Fetridge, Jefferson, West Lawn, Kosciuszko, Hamlin, Cragin, Hermosa,  Welles, Hayes, and Riis Parks