CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Ronnie Malley is a first generation Palestinian-American who grew up playing in his family's band.
"My dad used to have a club on the North Side of Chicago back in the 80's called Cleopatra. I'd watch he and his friends play. I started playing guitar at about 9-years old. My dad said if you get good enough, you can play with us," he recalled. "At about 11-years old, I started playing with my dad."
Malley said his dad listened to a lot of Egyptian, Assyrian, Middle Eastern music and it had a huge impact on him and his brother.
"I ended up touring with the family band playing weddings, clubs, festivals, all across the country for the next 15 years."
Malley spent many years in the corporate world, in banking and even served as a real estate appraiser, but soon realized music was his calling.
"I was in the tour of 'Arabian Knights' and a friend called me about doing a workshop for 'The Band's Visit.' This was in 2010. A couple of years later, I heard from the producers and I sent them a lot of the Egyptian music I grew up listening to. I wasn't available for the musical at that time."
It would later win 10 Tony Awards.
Now, he's playing "Camal" in the national tour. He is also the dialect coach for the musical's tour.
"The Band's Visit" is at the Cadillac Palace Theater until Sept. 15.