Ronald "Slim" Williams facts for kids

Ronald Jay "Slim" Williams (born November 11, 1964) is an American businessman and music expert. In 1991, he and his younger brother, the rapper Bryan "Birdman" Williams, started the famous record label Cash Money Records.

As an executive producer, Slim has helped guide most of the label's biggest albums and songs since 1997. Unlike his brother, he works behind the scenes and is not a singer or musician himself.

Growing Up in New Orleans

Ronald Jay Williams was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, Johnnie Williams, was a former soldier who owned several businesses. His mother, Gladys Brooks, ran a popular neighborhood bar. Because his father was very busy with work, Ronald didn't see him all the time, but his father always made sure his children had everything they needed.

Ronald and his family lived in a small home above his mother's bar. The bar was a busy place where many different people from the neighborhood would gather. This environment could sometimes be unsafe. One time, there was a dangerous robbery attempt at the bar while the children were at home.

Sadly, Ronald's mother passed away in 1975 when he was only 10 years old. For a short time, Ronald and his siblings were cared for by the state. Later, his father gained full custody, and the children went to live with him. Ronald grew up in a very large family with 10 brothers and 12 sisters. As a kid, he enjoyed riding minibikes, skating, and playing basketball. People who knew him back then said he was quiet and thoughtful.

What Inspired Him

Learning About Business

Ronald's father was a big inspiration for him. Seeing his father work hard to run many businesses taught Ronald the importance of being independent and having a strong work ethic. This motivated him and his brother to start their own business from a young age.

The Music of New Orleans

New Orleans has a very rich and unique musical culture. This culture had a huge impact on Ronald and his career in music. The city's special sounds and traditions shaped the kind of music he wanted to create and share with the world.

The music from his label, especially the "bounce music" style, showed how much his hometown influenced him. His understanding of the local culture helped him choose and manage the artists who became famous with Cash Money Records.

Other Business Projects

Cash Money Content

In 2010, Ronald and his brother expanded their brand by creating Cash Money Content. This company publishes books and makes movies. For the book publishing part, they teamed up with Atria Books, a part of the major publisher Simon & Schuster.

Ronald has also used Cash Money Content to help the community. In 2014, he supported an online campaign to encourage reading. He said, "Reading is an important step in the right direction toward making a difference in our community."

Oil and Gas Company

In 2010, the Williams brothers also started an oil and gas exploration company called "Bronald Oil." The company's goal was to find and develop oil resources in the United States and Central America. The company has had an on-and-off presence since it was created.

Helping the Community

Giving back to his community has always been very important to Ronald. Since the late 1990s, he and his brother have held a special Thanksgiving event every year in New Orleans. They personally hand out more than 2,000 free turkeys to families. These events also offer free health check-ups for people in the community.

In 2009, the Williams brothers were featured on a CNBC television show about successful Black millionaires. Ronald also appeared in an episode of the show Behind the Music about the rapper Lil Wayne.

See also

In Spanish: Ronald "Slim" Williams para niños