Ronald Dean Cornelius was a session musician and producer who has played on albums by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Al Kooper and Loudon Wainwright III. He was also the president of Gateway Entertainment which was established in 1986. As a producer he has produced Miko Marks's Freeway Bound album in 2007. He is also the co-writer of the first version of Leonard Cohen’s song "Chelsea Hotel", the second version of which has been covered by many artists including Rufus Wainwright.