Ronald Allen Hamilton was born in South Bend, Indiana on November 9, 1950 to parents, Melvin and Leota Marie Hamilton
Ron remembers kneeling by his bed at a young age acknowledging Jesus as God’s Son who had died on the cross in payment for his sins, asking Jesus to forgive those sins, and accepting Jesus into his heart to save him.
Ronnie, as his friends and family called him, was an active young boy who loved to tease and be funny. When Ronnie was 11, his sister Marty 9, and brother Terry 7, his mother hired a pianist to teach the children. Mom Hamilton was inspired to make a professional recording of her children.
The family would sing gospel songs whenever they traveled, harmonizing in three parts. Mom Hamilton is the reason each child became a proficient musician—Ronnie as a composer, arranger, singer, guitarist, pianist, trombonist, and music pastor.
In addition, Ronnie was a high school track star, gymnast, swimmer, and bicyclist. One summer in high school, Ron rode his bike across the entire United States with the Wandering Wheels organization.
In 1969, Ron went to Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. He auditioned and was accepted into Dr. Frank Garlock’s vesper choir. This same year Ron saw Dr. Garlock’s daughter, Shelly, running across the BJU campus in her cheerleading outfit. Not long after, Shelly spotted Ron in her dad’s vesper choir. It was love at first sight for both of them. Ron and Shelly dated for six short years and tied the knot on May 31, 1975. They both did undergraduate and graduate work in music and have made beautiful music together ever since.
In 1978, the couple’s life took a sharp turn—not of their own making but of God’s. At a routine eye exam, an ophthalmologist discovered melanoma cancer in Ron’s left eye. Surgery followed to remove the eye resulting in Ron having to wear a leather eye patch permanently. This earned him the title Patch the Pirate from children everywhere. This seeming tragedy became the greatest ministry blessing of Ron’s life.
Following Ron’s eye surgery, he composed his most loved song, “Rejoice in the Lord,” compiled from Scripture sent to him on hundreds of cards.
In 1980, Ron with his father-in-law Frank Garlock wrote songs for the first Patch the Pirate album, “Sing Along with Patch.” At the last minute, Ron added a simple story line between the songs which included himself as Patch the Pirate, his wife Shelly as Sissy Seagull, and a handful of other characters. Since then, one Patch adventure has been produced each year, totaling 43 adventures to date.
Ron and Shelly Hamilton have owned and managed Majesty Music, a sacred music publishing company, since 1980. Ron has traveled across the country giving sacred music concerts, preached God’s Word at multiple conferences and church services, directed the music at The Wilds Christian Camp for 10 years, taught music at BJU and directed the BJA choir for three years, produced and written children’s audio story/adventure recordings for 40+ years, created the Patch the Pirate church choir clubs, has written and arranged 40 Christmas cantatas and church choral books, produced two hymnals, six vocal solo recordings, eight orchestra recordings, directed the music program at Calvary Baptist Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina for 21 years.
Ron and Shelly’s five children, Jonathan, Tara, Alyssa, Megan, and Jason, are their crowning jewels. The five children have loved and served God with their musical talents.
In 2010, when Ron was just 60 years old, he started showing early signs of dementia. Several years later, he was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Because of his declining condition with dementia, Ron’s health took a downward turn in April of 2023.
Ron passed away quietly on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 surrounded by his family.
The Patch the Pirate albums have sold over two million copies. The adventures are featured on over 600 radio stations, Spotify, YouTube, and other digital outlets. To date, over a million streams of Patch are reported every month. To the glory of God, countless children have come to know Christ because of the Patch outreach.
