Conversations with Larondra Dison-Terry

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larondra Dison-Terry.

Hi Larondra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Larondra “Ronnie” Dison-Terry. As an Air Force brat, I spent my formative years in Riverside, California, where my stepfather was stationed at March Air Force Base. I started modeling and dancing at a very young age, In school I was very active in sports, dance, and band. After graduating, I attended college as a TV/Radio Communications major and was also a member of the dance team, but it didn’t take long for me to realize I wanted a different path—so I took a leap of faith and left school.

A few years later a chance encounter changed everything. While me and my best friend were backstage hanging out with friends who had invited me to come watch their show, I met Louis Burrell, MC Hammer’s manager and brother. We had a brief conversation about my dreams of breaking into the entertainment business, and he mentioned Hammer would soon be launching his own record label. He promised to reach out, and although I didn’t believe it at the time, a few months later the call came. That call launched my career. I was officially, Hammer’s assistant tour coordinator, boarding a plane to Louisville, Kentucky, where the tour kicked off. After nearly a year on the road, at just 23 years old I was promoted to Director of Publicity for Hammer’s label, Busted Records. From there I became Hammer’s publicist, working closely with his amazing publicist and her her team at Capitol Records.

My journey continued with an unforgettable opportunity to work with N.W.A., an experience I truly cherished. I have been truly blessed to have worked with so many amazing artist throughout my career. Eventually, I received a call and was asked to return to Hammer’s team before deciding it was time for a new chapter. That decision led me to Atlanta. What I thought would be a short stay turned into home when I auditioned for and made the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders. a few years later, I moved back to California, then spent several years traveling between both coasts, continuing to work with high-profile entertainers and professional athletes. Most people don’t know that I have always gone back and forth through out my career in entertainment, I truly loved the professional side of the business, but I was also loved performing as well and I was blessed to have the opportunity to do both. I have worked with so many amazing artist and professional athletes throughout my career and I am so greatful for each and every opportubity. Back in 2002 I even founded a singing group, “Madison Reign.” Although we were never signed to a record label we still had several labels very interested in signing us. We took several meetings, but the situations were never right for us. However, we did have the opportunity to perform at some major events, we even had the honor and pleasure of meeting and performing for Quincy Jones, Michael Jordan, and others. We even opened up for comedian Tommy Davison A couple of times.

After moving to Atlanta, I stay in the music industry for a while, but eventually, I met someone who was a custom tailor and his clientele was mainly professional athletes. I have always loved fashion and design especially, for men so to get this opporunity was amazing. Dee, took me under his wings and taught me everything I needed to know about designing for men. I knew the basics of design, but with men it’s a little different when it comes to things like measurements. As a custom clothing designer I was back to being on the road again, Every week we were traveling to a different city, but it was during one of those business trips, I unexpectedly met the man who would become my husband, legendary r&b recording artist Tony Terry. We first crossed paths at an airport gate in Detriot, then ran into each other hours later in the Atlanta airport. He called me shortly after, and it felt like we had known each other forever. Two weeks later he came to visit me and during that visit he proposed. Six months later we were married. We’ve now been married for 20 years and share a 19-year-old son, along with my stepdaughter.

Motherhood brought joy, but it also brought one of the hardest battles of my life. Two days after giving birth, I went into congestive heart failure. My health continued to decline until I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My entire world shifted in an instant, and it was an incredibly difficult time for me and my family.

Today, although I still deal with my Fibromyalgia, I am proud to say that I’ve rebuilt my life in new and meaningful ways. I am a business owner, a certified interior decorator, a designer, and most recently, an author. My ebook, The Invisible Pain: My Journey Living with Fibromyalgia, is available on Amazon. My ebook is really what I would call, my memior. I share my story of resilience, struggle, and hope.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey has been anything but smooth, but every challenge has shaped me into the woman I am today.

On the professional side, breaking into the entertainment industry at a young age meant I had to grow up fast. I learned early on that nothing is handed to you — you have to earn your place, prove yourself, and adapt quickly. Working in high-pressure environments with major artists and on major tours came with long hours, nonstop travel, and the constant need to perform at your best. It was exciting, but it was also demanding in ways most people never see.

My biggest challenges, however, came later in life. After giving birth to my son, I went into congestive heart failure just two days postpartum. My health continued to decline. Eventually after months of going to doctor after doctor I was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It was both a relief and a heartbreak, relief in finally knowing what was wrong, and heartbreak because my life changed overnight. The pain, the fatigue, the limitations… it all forced me to re-evaluate who I was, how I lived, and what I was capable of.

There were moments when I felt like I had lost everything I worked so hard for, my family, my career, my identity, my independence. But I refused to stay down. Learning to live with chronic illness while rebuilding myself has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also the most empowering.

My road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been meaningful. Every setback pushed me toward a deeper sense of purpose. Every challenge taught me resilience. And every chapter, the highs and the lows made me stronger, more grounded, and more grateful for the life I’m living today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an interior decorator and I love to create. I design custom lamp shades. I also design denim clothing, purses, and jewelry. I just recently got involved in digital marketing and AI. I am proud of everything I do. I’d like to the think that what sets me apart from other’s is my resilience, my faith, and my willingness to “Trust The Process.” When you have gone through what I have gone through every accomplishment is a win. I have to live with pain everyday. Some days are worse than other, but I have to push through. I have to fight everyday. I named my ebook “The Invisible Pain: My Journey Living With Fibromyalgia,” because this truly is my life.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family, because family is everything. My family has been there for me through some of the darkest times in my life. Fibromyalgia affects you mentally, physically, and emotionally. My son is the reason I continue to fight and push through even on my worst days.

Pricing:

• My ebook, The invisible Pain: My journey Living With Fibroymaliga on Amazon $7.99.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@piecesofronnie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larondra
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theworldaccordingtoronnie
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@piecesofronnie

Image Credits
Two photos of me were taken by photographer Dwaine Go.