Biography:

Ronald Allen Hamilton (November 9, 1950 – April 19, 2023), also known as “Patch the Pirate“, was an American Christian singer, songwriter, composer, preacher, voice actor, and personality.^[1] He was 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 published hundreds of songs and hymns and wrote numerous cantatas, plays, and children’s stories.

Biography

Ron Hamilton was born in Indiana on November 9, 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 young boy, his family would sing often together, and the children were encouraged to make up their own parts to harmonize.

Hamilton attended Bob Jones University where he received a BA in Church Music in 1973,^[3] and an 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 had 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 that required his eye to be removed.^[6] As he traveled 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 released every year since 1982. The most recent release, A Whale of a Tale (2021), is the 42nd adventure.^[10] Patch the Pirate Adventures are broadcast on a number of radio stations internationally and are recognized by the National Religious Broadcasters as the third largest religious children’s programming outreach;^[7] 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] Until 2018, he continued to travel as an evangelistic speaker and also served 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] More recently, he and his wife had been living in Navarre, Florida.^[12] In 2017, Ron Hamilton was diagnosed with early onset dementia.^[13] After the diagnosis, his son-in-law and daughter, Adam Morgan and Megan Morgan, assumed control of the family’s flagship publishing company, Majesty Music. Ron Hamilton continued traveling and performing for as long as he was 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 characters.

Death

Hamilton was placed in hospice care on April 16, 2023, and died at home on April 19, 2023 at age 72.^[15]

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