Ron "Patch" Hamilton

Ronald Allen "Ron" Hamilton (born November 9, 1950), also known as "Patch the Pirate" is a Christian singer, songwriter, composer, preacher, voice actor, and personality.[1] He is the current president and owner of Majesty Music, a Christian music publisher, and the creator of the Patch the Pirate Adventure series.[2] Ron Hamilton became affectionately known as "Patch the Pirate" when he began wearing an eye patch after losing his left eye to cancer in 1978. He has published hundreds of songs and hymns and written numerous cantatas, plays, and children's stories.

Ron "Patch" Hamilton recording one of his many Patch the Pirate adventures

Biography

Ron Hamilton was born in Indiana in 1950. His mother encouraged him to study music as a child, and he reluctantly learned to play the trombone, piano, and the guitar. As a small boy, his family would sing often together, and the children were encouraged to make up their own parts to harmonize.

He attended Bob Jones University where he received a BA in Church Music in 1973[3] and a MA in Church Music Composition. Ron married Shelly Garlock in 1975, and the couple began working at Majesty Music with Ron's father-in-law, Dr. Frank Garlock, who was a well-known speaker in Independent Baptist circles.[4] Ron and Shelly have five children, Jonathan, Tara, Alyssa, Megan, and Jason, who all performed as voice actors on the Patch the Pirate Adventures.[5]

In 1978, a doctor discovered cancer in Hamilton's left eye requiring his eye to be removed.[6] As he travelled around speaking at evangelistic services in churches with Dr. Garlock, children began calling Hamilton "Patch the Pirate."[7] Around this time he began writing music for children to be sung in church, which Majesty Music later released as an album.[8] In 1982 "Patch" decided to add a comedic drama script along with his children's music and called the album Patch the Pirate Goes to Space.[9] The album was very successful and led to a new Patch the Pirate Adventure being release every year since 1982. The most recent release, Mystery Island (2020), is the 41th adventure.[10] Patch the Pirate Adventures are broadcast on a number of radio stations internationally and is recognized by the National Religious Broadcasters as the third largest religious children's programming outreach,[7] and over two million copies have been sold.

Ron Hamilton served as Music Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina for 21 years.[11] He continues to travel as an evangelistic speaker and also serves as the Director of Majesty MusiColleges, which are seminars held across the United States for Christian music directors and musicians. Approximately one thousand musicians receive training at these MusiColleges each year.[2] He currently lives in Greenville, SC with his wife.[12] In 2017, Ron Hamilton was diagnosed with early onset dementia.[13] After the diagnosis, his son-in-law and daughter, Adam Morgan (politician) and Megan Morgan, assumed control of the family's flagship publishing company, Majesty Music. Ron Hamilton plans to continue traveling and performing for as long as he is able.[14] In 2018, the Morgans took Ron's popular character to the big screen releasing the first-ever Patch the Pirate animated movie based on Ron Hamilton's beloved characters.

Songs

Popular songs written by Ron Hamilton include Rejoice in the Lord, Bow the Knee, Wings as Eagles, It Is Finished, My Hope Is Jesus, David, Wiggle Worm, Beautiful Hands, Always the Same, Here Am I, Lord, Born to Die, Little by Little, The Poochie Lip Disease, How Can I Fear, Lord, I Need You, Servant's Heart, Clean It Up, I Am Weak, but You Are Strong, Christ Is Coming, Jonah, Call the Wambulance, That's Where Wisdom Begins, I Saw Jesus in You, A Secret Place, Cherish the Moments, and many more. Ron Hamilton has also authored a number of popular Christmas and Easter cantatas including Born to Die, Klinkenschnell the Christmas Bell, Peanut Butter Christmas, The Hope of Christmas, and many more.

Discography
  • Rejoice in the Lord (1978)
  • Sing Along with Patch the Pirate (1981)
  • Patch the Pirate Goes to Space (1982)
  • Patch the Pirate Goes West (1983)
  • Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle (1984)
  • Kidnapped on I-Land (1985)
  • The Great American Time Machine (1986)
  • The Misterslippi River Race (1987)
  • Wings as Eagles (1987)
  • The Calliope Caper (1988)
  • Camp Kookawacka Woods (1989)
  • The Custards' Last Stand (1990)
  • Patch Praises 1 (1990)
  • Peanut Butter Christmas (1991)
  • Christmas at Home (1991)
  • The Friend Ship Mutiny (1991)
  • Cherish the Moment (1991)
  • Once Upon a Starry Knight (1992)
  • Patch Praises 2 (1992)
  • Down Under (1993)
  • Harold the King (1993)
  • The Evolution Revolution (1994)
  • Mount Zion Marathon (1995)
  • Giant Killer (1996)
  • I Saw Jesus in You (1996)
  • Polecat's Poison (1997)
  • The Sneaky Sheik (1998)
  • Patch Praises 3 (1998)
  • Afraidika Fever (1999)
  • The Lone Stranger (2000)
  • Lord of All (2000)
  • The Tumbleweed Opera (2001)
  • Coldheartica (2002)
  • Worship the Lord (2002)
  • Limerick the Leprechaun (2003)
  • Shipwrecked on Pleasure Island (2004)
  • The Kashmir Kid (2005)
  • The Villain of Venice (2006)
  • Songs of Home & Heaven (2006)
  • Only By His Grace (2006)
  • The Colonel's Colossal Character Quest (2007)
  • I Stand Redeemed (2007)
  • Armadillo Amigos (2008)
  • Kung Phooey Kid (2009)
  • Shadow of the Cross (2009)
  • The Legend of Stickeyfoot (2010)
  • We Are Your Church (2010)
  • Incrediworld (2011)
  • Kingdom Chronicles (2012)
  • Patch Praises 4 (2012)
  • Rock of Ages (2012)
  • International Spy Academy (2013)
  • Shout out for Joy (2013)
  • Kilimanjaro (2014)
  • Look Up (2014)
  • Ocean Commotion (2015)
  • Hymns Every Child Should Know (2015)
  • Operation Arctic: Viking Invasion (2016)
  • Shepherd of My Soul (2016)
  • Time Twisters (2017)
  • Stay the Course (2017)
  • The Incredible Race (2018)
  • God of Wonders (2018)
  • The Final Voyage? (2019)
  • Mystery Island (2020)

Feature films
  • Operation Arctic: Viking Invasion (2018)

Awards and honors

Ron Hamilton holds honorary doctorates from Bob Jones University and Pensacola Christian College.

References
  1. Abe Hardesty, "Ron Hamilton: The Songwriter Turned a Medical Crisis into an Uplifting Career as 'Patch the Pirate.'" City People, The Greenville News (2003).
  3. Bob Jones University Vintage (yearbook), 1973
  4. Garlock, Frank. Music in the Balance. Majesty Music, Greenville, SC. (1996)
  5. Alyce Atkinson, "Pirates with a Purpose," The Greenville News (September 1, 1996).
  6. Andrew S. Hughes, '"Adams Graduate Gained Inspiration after Loss of an Eye," South Bend Tribune
  7. "About Us". Patchthepirate.org. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  8. Garlock, Frank. I Being in the Way, the Lord Lead Me. Majesty Music, Greenville, SC (2009).
  9. ^ South Bend Tribune
  10. "Patch Adventures". Majestymusic.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. "Rick Perry Visits the Hamiltons in Greenville." The Times Examiner, Vol. 22, No. 11 (March 18, 2015)
  13. "'God chose to spare his life:' How Ron Hamilton became music legend Patch the Pirate". The Greenville News. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  14. "Health Update". majestymusic.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
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