Samantha Ronson

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Samantha Ronson

| image = File:Ronsoncropped.jpg

| caption = Ronson in 2008

| birth_name = Samantha Judith Ronson

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|8|7}}

| birth_place = Camden, London, England, UK

| origin = Santa Monica, California, U.S.

| genre = Hip hop, pop rock

| occupation = DJ, singer-songwriter

| years_active = 1993–present

| spouse =

| label = Roc, Interscope

| website = {{URL|samantharonson.com}}

}}

Samantha Judith Ronson (born 7 August 1977) is an English DJ, singer, and songwriter.

Early life

Ronson was born in Camden, London, England, as the daughter of writer and socialite Ann Dexter-Jones and one-time music executive and real estate entrepreneur Laurence Ronson.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3257098.ece|work=The Times|title=The man Amy and Lily go to when they want a hit|date=27 January 2008|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-date=11 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172748/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article3257098.ece|url-status=dead}}

When she was six years old, her parents divorced, and she moved with her siblings, her mother, and her mother's new boyfriend, Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, to New York City. Later, her mother married Jones, who contributed to Ronson's childhood being surrounded by music.{{cite news|author=Alexis Petridis|url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/alexispetridis/story/0,,2183270,00.html|title=Alexis Petridis meets Mark Ronson|publisher=Music.guardian.co.uk|date=6 October 2007|access-date=28 March 2011|location=London|archive-date=20 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420172206/http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/alexispetridis/story/0,,2183270,00.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Marin|first=Rick|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E6DD1F3CF933A25751C1A9669C8B63|title=Mayor of Spin City, for a Night|work=The New York Times|date=10 December 2000|access-date=28 March 2011}}{{cite news|last=Saint Louis|first=Catherine|title=A Golden Touch Without the Glitter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/fashion/the-girl-with-the-golden-touch.html?_r=1&ref=fashion|access-date=24 October 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 October 2011|archive-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724063032/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/fashion/the-girl-with-the-golden-touch.html?_r=1&ref=fashion|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23823012-the-royal-family-of-rock.do|work=London Evening Standard|location=UK|title=The royal family of rock|first=Lydia|last=Slater|date=9 April 2010|access-date=12 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804235902/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23823012-the-royal-family-of-rock.do|archive-date=4 August 2010}}

Ronson is the niece of property tycoon Gerald Ronson and is related to British Conservative politicians Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Leon Brittan, as well as to Odeon Cinemas founder Oscar Deutsch.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/26/rock-pop-dexter-jones-sansom|location=London|work=The Guardian|title=Great dynasties of the world: The Dexter-Joneses|first=Ian|last=Sansom|date=26 June 2010|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724062706/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/26/rock-pop-dexter-jones-sansom|url-status=live}} Ronson's older brother, Mark, is a music producer and musician and her fraternal twin sister, Charlotte, is a fashion designer. Ronson has five younger half-siblings: Kenneth and Annabelle (through her mother's remarriage to Mick Jones) and Henrietta, David, and Joshua (by her father's marriage to model Michele First). Ronson also has two stepbrothers, Roman and Chris Jones, from Mick Jones' previous marriage.

Ronson was educated at the Chapin School on Manhattan's Upper East Side. She then studied creative writing and philosophy at New York University.{{cite web |last1=Louis |first1=Catherine Saint |title=A Golden Touch Without the Glitter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/fashion/the-girl-with-the-golden-touch.html |website=The New York Times |date=22 October 2011}} Her parents are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with ancestors from Austria, Russia, and Lithuania, and Ronson was brought up in Conservative Judaism.{{cite web |url=http://www.guiltandpleasure.com/index.php?site=rebootgp&page=gp_article&id=76 |title=Stop me if you think you've heard this one before |last=Light |first=Alan |date=2007 |website=Guilt & Pleasure |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210023928/http://www.guiltandpleasure.com/index.php?site=rebootgp&page=gp_article&id=76 |archive-date=10 December 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyjews.com/articles/693_mark_ronson_intervie.htm |title=Mark Ronson Interview |last=Westbrook |first=Caroline |date=7 March 2007 |website=Daily Jews |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065820/http://www.dailyjews.com/articles/693_mark_ronson_intervie.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011}} Ronson's family name was originally Aaronson, but her grandfather, Henry Ronson, changed it to Ronson.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Career

=Early DJ years (2002–2010)=

Ronson has stated that she fell into DJing by chance. "I got a call one night from a club that I used to hang out at, and they were like, 'Do you want to DJ?'" Ronson remembered. "I was like, 'No way,' [but] my friends were like, 'Come on, just do it.' I was always in the club; I figured I might as well make money off it." Ronson took the gig and quickly started to make a name for herself; eventually becoming a full-time DJ.

She has spun live for MTV's New Year's Eve show,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jerrygarcia/articles/story/5919796/really_randoms_prince_jerry_garcia |title=Really Randoms: Prince, Jerry Garcia |date=29 December 2000 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002092006/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/jerrygarcia/articles/story/5919796/really_randoms_prince_jerry_garcia |archive-date=2 October 2007}} the Super Bowl, Pan American Games, Sundance Film Festival, amfAR, Cannes Film Festival, American Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. She has played private events for celebrities including Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Kimmel, Nicole Richie, Lionel Richie, Jessica Simpson, Ellen DeGeneres, Natalie Portman, Lindsay Lohan, and Jay-Z.{{cite web|last=samantha|first=Ronson|title=Samantha Ronson : Myspace biodata|url=http://www.myspace.com/samantharonson|publisher=Samantha Ronson on MySpace|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-date=19 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619044527/http://www.myspace.com/samantharonson|url-status=live}}

Ronson was the official DJ for Hennessy's Hennessy Black in 2011.{{cite web|last=Shadi|first=Powers|title=DJ D-nice, Samantha Ronson announced as 2011 Hennessy Black DJ's|url=http://www.hiphopweekly.com/2011/04/06/15473dj-d-nice-samantha-ronson-announced-as-2011-hennessy-black-djs/|publisher=Hip Hop Weekly|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-date=19 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419113002/http://www.hiphopweekly.com/2011/04/06/15473dj-d-nice-samantha-ronson-announced-as-2011-hennessy-black-djs/|url-status=dead}}

In 2009, 2010, and 2014, Ronson designed her own set of sneakers for the company [https://supra-official.com/ Supra]. She appeared in a 2011 campaign for the cult fashion label Boy London in collaboration with The Cobrasnake.{{cite web|last=Sharon|first=Cott|title=Samantha Ronson Designed Sneakers|date=5 August 2009|url=https://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/08/samantha_ronson_designed_sneak.html|publisher=Nymag|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-date=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100222212257/http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/08/samantha_ronson_designed_sneak.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Alex|first=Kroviak|title=SAMANTHA RONSON X SUPRA SKYTOP II "LIL' RED"|url=http://www.nicekicks.com/2010/11/samantha-ronson-supra-skytop-ii/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906065306/http://www.nicekicks.com/2010/11/samantha-ronson-supra-skytop-ii/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2012|publisher=Nice Kicks|access-date=4 April 2012}} She was a co-owner of the New York City nightclub The Plumm, along with actor Chris Noth, film producer Noel Ashman, and others.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20209216,00.html|title=Samantha Ronson Says She's Homesick for New York|last=Sullvan|first=Emmet|date=27 June 2008|publisher=People|access-date=12 August 2008|archive-date=1 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801102653/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20209216,00.html|url-status=dead}}

Ronson became the first rock act signed to Roc-A-Fella Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/yhif/ronson_sam/|title=News – You Hear It First|publisher=MTV.com|date=9 March 2006|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-date=10 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210141047/http://www.mtv.com/news/yhif/ronson_sam/|url-status=dead}} In 2002, it was announced that Duncan Sheik would be co-producing an album for Ronson that would be out in the spring,{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/OKTB/lib00634,0F99373F05E4BF31.html|title=Inside Bay Area Archives|publisher=Docs.newsbank.com|date=15 November 2002|access-date=28 March 2011}} however, given poor timing and the dissolution of the Roc-A-Fella Records, her first album was never released.{{cite web|title=Samantha Ronson official website|url=http://www.samantharonson.com/bio|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416040028/http://www.samantharonson.com/bio/|url-status=dead}}

She released four songs on Roc-A-Fella Records: "Pull My Hair Out," "Fool," "If It's Gonna Rain," and "Built This Way," and wrote and recorded her first album, Red. "Built This Way" was featured in the movie Mean Girls.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YICHC|title=Mean Girls: Various Artists: Music|website=Amazon|access-date=28 March 2011}} "Pull My Hair Out" was featured on the soundtrack of the movie The Woodsman. "Wanted," by Rhymefest featuring Samantha Ronson, appeared in the movie Half Nelson.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2466033/|publisher=IMDb|title=Charlotte Ronson profile: IMDb|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-date=16 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116085338/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2466033/|url-status=live}} In 2004, she opened for JC Chasez on his Schizophrenic Tour.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

=''Chasing the Reds'' (2011)=

In November 2011, Ronson released the album Chasing the Reds on her own label, Broken Toy Records. The album showcased her songwriting abilities, drawing inspiration from events in her life. In an interview with an American Songwriter, she stated, "I grew up in the studio with songs. My stepdad wrote some pretty incredible songs. My brother [producer and musician Mark Ronson] made his records because he likes making songs. So, the standard was set pretty high for being true to what you want to do. I'm not just going to hand my song over to a producer; I want to be there every step of the way. I feel like when you're doing what you love, instead of fitting yourself into somebody else's box, that comes across".{{cite web|last=Adkins|first=Jesicca|title=DJ Samantha Ronson on her Debut Pop Album: "It's Universal"|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/05/dj-samantha-ronson-on-her-debut-pop-rock-album-its-universal/|publisher=American Songwriter|access-date=4 June 2012|date=30 May 2012|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331074529/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/05/dj-samantha-ronson-on-her-debut-pop-rock-album-its-universal/|url-status=live}}

Guest stars appear on the album, including Wale on "Summer of Sam," Alex Greenwald of Phantom Planet on "Captain Jack," and Slash on the track "Love Song.". The album was produced by former Goudie guitarist Jimmy Messer, with Ronson herself sharing co-production credits. Her brother Mark produced one track, "Skyscrapers", which was co-written by the siblings with Santigold.{{cite web|title=Profile|url=http://www.samantharonson.com/bio/|publisher=Official website|access-date=3 April 2012|archive-date=16 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416040028/http://www.samantharonson.com/bio/|url-status=dead}}

=Ocean Park Standoff (2016–present)=

In 2016, Ronson, Pete Nappi, and Ethan Thompson formed the band Ocean Park Standoff.{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Small |url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/summer-2016/pop-hit-makers |title=Pop Hit Makers |website=Berklee Today |date=2016 |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006051801/https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/summer-2016/pop-hit-makers |archive-date=6 October 2016}} The members first met at a songwriting session in 2014.{{cite web |url=http://monkeygoosemag.com/2017/01/album-review-ocean-park-standoff/ |title=Album Review – Ocean Park Standoff |last=Li |first=Huimin |website=Monkeygoose Magazine |date=21 January 2017 |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126010249/http://monkeygoosemag.com/2017/01/album-review-ocean-park-standoff/ |archive-date=26 January 2017}} Their debut single "Good News" was released on October 7, 2016,{{cite web |url=http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-samantha-ronsons-new-band-ocean-park-standoff-teases-good-news-87430/ |title=Samantha Ronson's New Band, 'Ocean Park Standoff' Teases 'Good News' for October 7, 2016 |date=27 September 2016 |website=Stitch Kingdom |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005062305/http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-samantha-ronsons-new-band-ocean-park-standoff-teases-good-news-87430/ |archive-date=5 October 2016}} along with its B-side, "Photos & Liquor.".{{cite web |first=Holly |last=Williams |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/dj-samantha-ronson/news/samantha-ronson-ocean-park-standoff_5547268 |title=What We Know So Far About Samantha Ronson's New Band Ocean Park Standoff |website=Contact Music |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126123008/http://www.contactmusic.com/dj-samantha-ronson/news/samantha-ronson-ocean-park-standoff_5547268 |archive-date=26 January 2017}} Ocean Park Standoff toured the US in 2017, and their debut EP was released on Hollywood Records on March 3 March 2017.

Legal actions

In May 2007, American actress Lindsay Lohan crashed her Mercedes-Benz in Beverly Hills. Police found a "small amount" of cocaine in her car, and blogger Perez Hilton posted on his blog that the drugs belonged to Ronson, using another celebrity gossip blog as a source for the story. Two weeks later, he started selling "Blame Samantha" T-shirts and called Ronson a "lezbot DJ.". Ronson hired Martin Garbus to start a defamation suit against Hilton and the original source for the story, Celebrity Babylon. Celebrity Babylon agreed to issue a retraction and apology on the understanding that Ronson would drop the claim; Hilton's lawyers asked the judge to throw out the case as an assault on his free speech rights. Garbus thought that it would be impossible to produce evidence that Hilton had acted with malice and reached an agreement with Hilton that would have kept Ronson from paying his legal fees. Ronson wanted Hilton's retraction and vetoed the proposal. Around the same time, Garbus presented a $100,000 bill after the $25,000 retainer had been accounted for. Garbus withdrew from the case and neither he nor Ronson appeared at Hilton's hearing, where the judge ruled in Hilton's favour dismissing the case and ordering Ronson to pay Hilton's $85,000 legal fees.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-samantha-ronson11-2008dec11,0,6925049.story?page=1 |title=Samantha Ronson, the Web and suits to spare|access-date=8 December 2008|author=Harriet Ryan|date=8 December 2008|work=Los Angeles Times|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212090405/http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-samantha-ronson11-2008dec11,0,6925049.story?page=1|archive-date=12 December 2008}}

Two weeks later, Garbus sued Ronson in New York for close to $142,000 in fees and services. He later dropped that suit. In May, Ronson filed a suit against Garbus in Los Angeles County Superior Court, contending that his incompetence had lost the case against Hilton and asking for damages in excess of $300,000. Among the allegations was that Garbus failed to fulfill his duties as her attorney because he was focused on collecting his fees. In response to Ronson's malpractice suit, he countersued to recover his fees.

On August 1, 2011, Ronson was pulled over in Baker, California, while driving her Porsche Targa back home from Las Vegas. She was initially stopped for driving at 89 mph in a 70 mph speed zone but was given a balance test since she seemed impaired. She was arrested for two misdemeanors for driving under the influence.{{cite web|title=Samantha Ronson Smirks in DUI Mug Shot|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/samantha-ronson-smirks-in-dui-mug-shot-201128|date=2 August 2011}}

Personal life

As of 2013, Ronson resides in Santa Monica, California.https://windycitytimes.com/2013/12/10/samantha-ronson-speaks-about-bullying-family-and-gigs/

About her sexuality, Ronson had initially denied claims that she is a lesbian, stating that she dates both women and men:

{{blockquote|"Everyone was like, 'Openly gay DJ Samantha Ronson...' No! Uh, excuse me! I'm not gay! I'm an equal-opportunity player! I still go back-and-forth. But I got called so many things by the press that 'openly gay' was the least of my worries at that point..."{{cite web |last1=Bendix |first1=Trish |title=Samantha Ronson: "I'm Not Gay. I'm an Equal Opportunity Player." |url=http://www.afterellen.com/blog/trishbendix/samantha-ronson-im-not-gay-im-an-equal-opportunity-player |website=After Ellen |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315173717/http://www.afterellen.com/blog/trishbendix/samantha-ronson-im-not-gay-im-an-equal-opportunity-player |archive-date=15 March 2013 |date=4 July 2010}}}}

In 2007, media outlets began commenting on Ronson and actress Lindsay Lohan, who were seen being affectionate in public. Several newspapers, including The Times and the Los Angeles Times, published opinion pieces describing their relationship as romantic.{{cite news |url=http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article4343457.ece |title=Lesbian Chic |first=Sally |last=Brampton |date=20 July 2008 |work=The Times |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615180210/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article4343457.ece |archive-date=15 June 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-ca-lindsaylohan20-2008jul20,0,4097826.story|title=Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson: Read all about it|access-date=2 August 2008|first=Kate|last=Arthur|date=20 July 2008|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=29 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080729210118/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/celebrity/la-ca-lindsaylohan20-2008jul20,0,4097826.story|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jul/14/gayrights.celebrity?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront|title=Will Lindsay Lohan fight tinseltown prejudice?|access-date=2 August 2008|author=Bidisha|date=14 July 2008|work=The Guardian|archive-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108032025/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jul/14/gayrights.celebrity?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront|url-status=live}} Lohan refrained from commenting on the nature of their relationship, stating through her publicist that she "wants to keep her private life private." Ronson stated, in a July 2010 interview with The Times, that she loves Lohan as a human being but the paparazzi's attention grew to be too much.{{cite web|first=Margaret|last=Hartmann|url=https://jezebel.com/samantha-ronson-still-loves-lindsay-lohan-hates-papara-5125783|title=Samantha Ronson Still Loves Lindsay Lohan, Hates Paparazzi|website=Jezebel|date=7 January 2009|accessdate=21 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922060009/https://jezebel.com/samantha-ronson-still-loves-lindsay-lohan-hates-papara-5125783|url-status=live}}

In February 2022, Ronson appeared on the Queery podcast, where she stated that she had struggled with accepting her sexuality for years. She also stated that she now identifies as gay.{{cite web |title=Queery with Samantha Ronson |url=https://queery-with-cameron-esposito.simplecast.com/episodes/samantha-ronson |website=Simple Cast |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216043026/https://queery-with-cameron-esposito.simplecast.com/episodes/samantha-ronson |archive-date=16 February 2022}}

Cameos

Ronson appears in the music videos for Usher{{cite web |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Samantha-Ronson-speaks-about-bullying-family-and-gigs/45463.html |title=Samantha Ronson speaks about bullying, family and gigs |last=Nunn |first=Jerry |date=10 December 2013 |website=Windy City Times |access-date=22 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723003800/https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Samantha-Ronson-speaks-about-bullying-family-and-gigs/45463.html |archive-date=23 July 2023}} and Alicia Keys' "My Boo", Awolnation's "Burn It Down", N.E.R.D's "Everyone Nose", and brother Mark Ronson's "Ooh Wee". Ronson also appeared in a Gap commercial featuring rapper Common.{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Grouchy Greg |date=2006-11-08 |title=Common, Bow Wow, Gap Celebrate 'Holiday In Your Hood' |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/common-bow-wow-gap-celebrate-holiday-in-your-hood/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=O'loughlin |first=Sandra |date=2006-11-08 |title=Gap Celebrates 'Holiday in Your Hood' |url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/gap-celebrates-holiday-your-hood-86953/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |language=en-US}}