American singer-songwriter Ron Pope picked up the guitar after being inspired by Bruce Springsteen, started performing in the early 2000s, and later founded his own label, Brooklyn Basement Records. ∙ His college band, Ron Pope & The District, released a trio of independent albums in the mid-2000s: The District, The District Does Christmas, and Last Call. ∙ As an unsigned solo artist, he performed his piano ballad “A Drop in the Ocean” on MTV’s TRL in 2008. ∙ In 2015, Pope appeared as himself performing his song “Big Bad Love” on the TV musical drama series Nashville. ∙ During the 2017 Music of Aretha Franklin tribute show at Carnegie Hall, he performed the Queen of Soul’s 1967 hit “Baby I Love You.” ∙ Rolling Stone named Pope one of their 10 New Artists You Need To Know in 2017, highlighting his classic rock-flavored single “Can’t Stay Here,” from the LP Work.