In 1999, Ronnie Magri became the Musical Director, Bandleader, & Drummer for the Shim Shamettes, one of the nation’s first authentic 1950s-style burlesque revival shows. The show debuted in April 1999 for the Grand Opening of the Shim Sham Club, performing on the same bill alongside saxophone legend Sam Butera (Louis Prima & Keely Smith). Magri and his ensemble, Ronnie Magri & the Shim Sham Revue Band, performed regularly at the French Quarter venue until its closing in 2003.

Magri and his band and the Shim Shamettes, were featured prominently in the 2001 two-hour A&E documentary; It’s Burlesque! That same year, Magri and his group backed some of the first names in neo-burlesque at the first ever neo-burlesque convention, Tease-O-Rama, held in New Orleans, May 18-20, 2001. 

When the Shim Shamettes disbanded in 2002, he put together the Shim Sham Revue, featuring the Southern Jeze-Belles. The show became popular with locals and famous worldwide and was featured in such publications as USA Today, Playboy, Maxim, The Wall Street Journal, and other media sources.

In 2002, Magri released his album “Shim Sham Revue” The Music of New Orleans Burlesque Shows of the 30s, 40s, and 50s,”. A thoroughly entertaining album that brings to life music that once filled the nightclubs of Bourbon Street. Included on this 15-track CD are beautiful renditions of such classic stripper numbers as Stormy Weather, Mood Indigo, Blue Prelude, and The Mooche. Included and recorded for the first time is the original composition “Oyster Girl,” written in 1959 for Burlesque legend Kitty West, also known as Evangeline, the Oyster Girl. The album was nominated for two 2002 Offbeat Magazine "Best of the Beat" awards for "Best Album by a Louisiana Artist" and "Best Emerging Band." In 2003, Magri was nominated for a Big Easy Entertainment Award for "Best Traditional Jazz Band."

Through his work with the Shim Sham Revue, Magri has been associated with burlesque superstar Dita Von Teese (Playboy Covergirl December 2002). Dita made her New Orleans burlesque debut with the Shim Sham Revue in 2002. Since then, Magri has collaborated with Dita and has had his music used in her shows: MAC Viva Glam "Lipteese,” “Be Cointreau,” and "Strip! Strip! Hooray!". Dita also gave special acknowledgment to Magri in her 2006 book “Burlesque and the Art of the Teese.”

While working with the Shim Shamettes & Shim Sham Revue, Magri worked with several of the former headliners of Bourbon Street Burlesque during its heyday, including Kitty West (Evangeline the Oyster Girl), Wild Cherry (the Firecracker of Bourbon Street), Linda Brigette (the Cupid Doll) & Tajmah (Jewel of the Orient). 

In print, Magri is featured in books such as "Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind" by Michelle Baldwin (Speck Press 2004) and "The Burlesque Handbook" (HarperCollins 2010) by Jo Weldon. Weldon has also released three "How-To Burlesque and Striptease" DVDs (via World Dance New York) featuring music from Magri. 

In 2015, it was announced that Magri would be the "Guest of Honor" at the 2015 BurlyCon Burlesque Education & Social Convention in Seattle, Washington. He was honored for his work as a Neo-Burlesque Pioneer & Music Historian. 

Magri had the privilege of being presented the 2022 Sassy Lassy Award at the 32nd Annual Burlesque Hall of Fame Tournament of Tease at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. The Sassy Lassy Awards were launched in 2011 in special recognition of those who have significantly impacted the promotion and perpetuation of burlesque.

Since the late 1990s, Neo-Burlesque fever has taken over the world, and Ronnie Magri continues to be recognized as a talented and entertaining drummer & bandleader who, behind every bump and grind, helps to keep the spirit of burlesque alive for years to come!