NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER

Ron “Moondog” Esser is an accidental fundraiser, like so many people who find themselves in this field. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh and has definitely made his mark on the city. A graduate of Point Park University, he began his career as a firefighter, then...

​The Pittsburgh Blues Festival

​The Pittsburgh Blues Festival was founded in 1994 as a fund raiser for the Pittsburgh Community Foodbank. Musician and music critic Phil Harris asked Esser to join the festival committee in 1994. Ron has played a key role since 1994 booking the national and local...

Blues Foundation Award Winning Club and Record Label

Moondog’s, founded and managed by Ron Esser, has presented national and local blues and rock artists for over 20 years in its small intimate club setting. The National Blues Foundation honored Ron Esser with the “Keeping the Blues Alive” award in 2005. In addition to...

Moondog Records

Ron Esser founded Moondog Records to support Pittsburgh area musicians. He has financed the recordings of Norman Nardini, Bill Toms, Glenn Pavone and the Cyclones, Room to Move, Stone Soup, The Pawnbrokers, Gary Belloma & the Blues Bombers, Cheryl Ann Hawk and...