My name is Ronald Keith (Ron) Hamrick, and I was born on April 14, 1949, in Niles, Michigan. My parents are Keith Hamrick and Mary Jackson. I grew up in Niles and lived there until I left for college. From an early age I had a strong interest in music, and in my younger years I became a successful songwriter and keyboard musician with a popular rock band called The Sixth Generation. I co‑wrote a song that became a number‑one hit for the band in 1967.

 

While I was in the band, I met the girl who would become my wife. Alida Ann Churchill and I were married in Marcellus, Michigan, on January 31, 1970. Alida was born on October 8, 1950, in Dowagiac, Michigan, the daughter of Darwin Churchill and Gertraud Ries. Over the course of our marriage, Alida and I have lived in Alaska, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, and since 1984 we have made our home in Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C. We have two children. Our son, Brandon, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on July 29, 1980, and our daughter, Ashley, was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, on January 31, 1984—our fourteenth wedding anniversary. Both of them live with their families near us in Virginia, and together they’ve given us five grandchildren. I spent many years as the CEO of an international information technology and communications company, and Alida was a partner in a CPA firm before we retired.

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I have always had a deep interest in history, so researching my family roots is something I thoroughly enjoy. I am fortunate to live in an area where a remarkable variety of records have been preserved since colonial times. I am also fortunate that my travels have taken me to countries such as England, Ireland, and Germany, where I have been able to conduct direct research from time to time.

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In addition to my interest in family history, I am an active songwriter and performer. Over the years I have appeared at many notable venues, including the National Mall, Madison Square Garden, and the world‑famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. In recent years I have limited my performances to select venues around Northern Virginia, but songwriting remains an important part of my life. As a songwriter, I have had multiple Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts.

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