Ronald Albert Matthews was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 2nd 1935. He could have become a medical doctor but the environment in his surroundings changed the direction. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music in 1959 he studied with Hall Overton.

In 1963 he joined the Max Roach group and was with him off and on to 1968. During that time he played with Freddie Hubbard (65/66), and during the latter part of 1968 he played with Art Blakey touring Europe and Japan with him.

After free-lancing in New York for a while he ran a Jazz Workshop and did private tutoring at Long Island University.

He joined the Louis Hayes sextet in 1972 and then Clark Terry's quartet and big band in 1974.

Toward the end of the 1970's he worked with expatriates Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin when they returned to North America from Europe for a tour.