Jay Ramsey

Gerald Hugh Ramsey (a.k.a. Jay Ramsey) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and performer. As a recording artist in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Ramsey had releases on several record labels including United Artist Records, Reprise Records, Casablanca Records, ABC Records and Hanover Records. His songs have been recorded by popular artists including Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, Roy Clark, Johnny Tillotson, and Billy Mize. His song "We Can Make the Morning" was included on Presley's 1972 Gold award-winning album Elvis Now on RCA Records.

Biography

Ramsey grew up in Sanger, Texas and attended Sanger High School. When he was 14 years old his parents took him to donate used clothing to an orphanage and while there he noticed his father's previously donated guitar sitting against a wall in the director's office. He asked the director about the guitar and was told he could take it home. After one lesson from his father, he taught himself to play. Ramsey began writing songs at the age of 16 and began performing in a band while in high school. He attended college at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. In 1962 he married Joan Speck of Celina, Texas and together they have two daughters. Ramsey and Speck have since divorced.[1]

Recording career

In high school, Ramsey was a member of the Denton, Texas group Kids from Texas. The band was signed to New York City label Hanover Records in 1958 and released the single, "Long Legged Linda" b/w the Gerald H. Ramsey song "I'm So Lonely" (Hanover Records release #4500[2]).

In the early 1960s, Ramsey met WRR Dallas disc jockey Bob Kelly at Kelly's Dallas recording studio, Top Ten Recording Studio. Kelly was a well known disc jockey at Dallas radio station WRR, a record producer, and recording engineer. In 1962 Ramsey's first single "Smooth Talking Woman" b/w "Look Away Love" was released on Kelly's record label, Libra Records, under the name Jay Ramsey & The Contempos (Libra release #B.K-1001)

In 1963, Ramsey, Bob Kelly, Frank Cole, and Jerry Brown formed the band, The Expressions. The group released a single with Chicago-based Smash Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records[3]. Ramsey's song "Thrill" was the A-side b/w "Come Back Karen" which was written by the band (Smash Records release #S-1848). The single had no chart success.

In 1965, The Expressions were signed by Reprise Records. Reprise released a single with two of Ramsey's songs "One Plus One" b/w "Playboy" (Reprise Records #0360). In 1965, they became a 5 piece self contained band by adding Kirby St. Romain. The five members then performed and recorded together with no personnel changes for over 10 years.

By 1968 the band had changed its name to Expression and in 1971 they recorded an album for Mediarts Records entitled "Texas/Nevada Border" (Mediarts Records release #41-9). The label released the single "California is Just Mississippi" b/w "Let Us Pray" (Mediarts Records release #ME-104). The song made it to the top ten in several major markets, but never charted nationally. This single was also released in Germany by United Artists Records (United Artists #35 250).

Major label success

In the 1970s, Jay signed with Surety Songs and Blue Crest Music (both Nashville publishing companies) and worked for a while as a full-time songwriter.[4][5]

In 1971, Kenny Price recorded Ramsey's song "Tonopah Highway" on his RCA Records album The Sheriff of Boone County (LSP-4527).[6]

In 1972, Ramsey's song "We Can Make The Morning" was included in Elvis Presley's famed album Elvis Now. Ramsey's song "We Can Make the Morning" was also included on the only single from the album, "Until It's Time for You to Go" / "We Can Make The Morning" (RCA release #2188). The album Elvis Now achieved Gold status from the Recording Industry's Association of America (RIAA).[7] The single "Until It's Time for You to Go"/"We Can Make the Morning" reached number 9 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in the US[8] and number 5 on the UK Singles Chart.[9]

Also in 1972, Ramsey's song "Lord, Let It Rain" was recorded by Roy Clark and released on Dot Records album Roy Clark Country! (DOS-#25997) Clark's album peaked at number 10 on the US Country charts[10] and number 112 on the US charts.[11]

In 1973, Billy Mize released a single of Ramsey's song "California is Just Mississippi" with United Artists Records (UA-XW265-W) which reached number 99 on the Country Music charts.[12]

In 1973, Ramsey released the single, "Draggin' Chains' b/w "The Saddest Song" (both Ramsey compositions) on ABC Records (ABC-#11385). In 1979, Conway Twitty recorded "Draggin' Chains" and another of Ramsey's songs, "If You Can't Write the Music," for his MCA Records album Cross Winds (MCA-3086). Cross Winds peaked at number 11 and spent 26 weeks on the Top Country Albums chart.[13] "Draggin' Chains" was also released on Conway Twitty's single "Don't Take it Away" b/w "Draggin Chains" (MCA-41002). This single peaked at number 12 on the US Country Music charts and number 15 on the Canada Country Music charts.

In 1974, Billy Mize also recorded Ramsey's "Lord Let It Rain" for United Artists (UA-XW503-X).

In 1975, Ramsey recorded his songs on the single "Smokey Mountain Cowboy" b/w "Sunshine In My Morning" (NB-820) with Casablanca Records. "Smokey Mountain Cowboy" charted at number one on WKDA radio in Nashville. In 1977, Johnny Tillotson recorded Ramsey's song "Sunshine in My Morning" for his album Johnny Tillotson released by United Artists Records (UA-LA758-G).

Live performance

By 1964 The Expressions began touring nationally. The band toured for 16 years, playing the Playboy Club circuit and other venues throughout the continental US and Canada. By 1968 they were known simply as Expression and had become regulars in the Nevada casino circuit.[14]

In 1982, Ramsey formed the Jay Ramsey Band. They performed together for 18 years. In recent years, a new Jay Ramsey Band has been formed, and he continues to perform in Texas and Las Vegas with his long-time friend and fellow founding member of The Expressions, Jerry Brown. Ramsey currently lives in Las Vegas. He was inducted into the Las Vegas Entertainers Hall Of Fame in 2017.

TV, film and advertising

In 2008, Ramsey signed many of his songs and recordings from the 1960s and 1970s to Fervor Records. The label has placed many of his songs in popular films and television shows, and have released much of his previously unreleased material.[15]

Discography

The Kids From TexasLong-Legged Linda/I'm So Lonely (7", Single)Hanover Records4500US1958
Long-Legged Linda (7", Single, Promo)Hanover Records4500US1958
ExpressionCalifornia is Just Mississippi/Let Us Pray (7", Single)United Artists Records35 250GermanyUnknown
California is Just Mississippi/Let Us Pray (7", Single, Promo)Mediarts RecordsME-104USUnknown
Walk Away Son/Fallen Angel Mediarts Records ME-110 US unknown
The ExpressionsThrill/ (Come Back) Karen (Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single)Smash RecordsS-1848US1963
Jay Ramsey and the Contempos Smooth Talking Woman b/w Look Away Love (7", Single) Libra Records B.K.-1001 US 1962
Bill and Sherry I Must Go/I Believe (You Put Me Down/) Tangerine Record Corp. 45-TRC-960 US 1966
The Festivals You've Got the Makings of a Lover/High Wide And Handsome (7", Single, Promo) Smash Records S-2091 US 1967
Kenny Price Sheriff of Boone County RCA Records LSP-4527 US 1971
Roy Clark Roy Clark Country! Dot Records DOS-25997 US 1972
Elvis PresleyUntil It's Time For You To Go/ We Can Make The Morning (7", Single)RCA Victor74-0619Germany1972
Until It's Time For You To Go/ We Can Make The Morning (7", Single)RCA Victor74-0619Canada1972
Until It's Time For You To Go (7", Single)Jugoton, RCA VictorSRCA-88560Yugoslavia1972
Until It's Time For You To Go / We Can Make The Morning (7", Single)RCA Victor102033Australia1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA VictorLSP-4671US1972
We Can Make The Morning (7", Single)RCA Victor, RCA Victor, RCA Victor74-0619, 49.850, 49850France1972
Elvis Now (8-Trk, Album)RCA, RCA VictorP8S-1898US1972
Elvis Now (LP)RCALSP 4671UK1972
Elvis Now (LP)RCA Victor, RCA Victor, RCA VictorLSP 4671, LSP-4671, LSA 4671Germany1972
Elvis Now (LP)RCA, RCALSP 4671, 26.21085Germany1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA VictorLSP-4671US1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA Victor, RCA VictorSF 8266, LSP 4671UK1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA VictorLSP-4671Canada1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA Victor443036France1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA VictorLSP-4671South Africa1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album)RCA Victor104.4020Brazil1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album, Gat)RCASHP-6240Japan1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album, Mono)RCA VictorLPM-4671Uruguay1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RP)RCA Victor104.4020Brazil1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE)RCA Victor, RCA VictorSF-8266, (APRS-2007)UK1972
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RERCARCA-6120Japan1973
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE)RCA Victor, RCA VictorAFL1-4671, LSP-4671US1976
Jay Ramsey Draggin' Chains/The Saddest Song ABC Records ABC-11385 US 1974
Billy Mize California is Just Mississippi United Artists Records UA-XW265-W US 1973
Lord Let it Rain United Artist Records UA-XW503-X US 1974
River City Wind Me Up Enterprise/Stax ENA-9097 US 1974
Jay Ramsey Sunshine In My Morning/Smokey Mountain Cowboy Casablanca Records NB-820 US 1975
Henson Cargill It Hurts the Man Electra E-45234-B US 1975
Larry Mahan King of the Rodeo Warner Bros. BS-2959 US 1976
Johnny Tillotson Johnny Tillotson United Artists Records UA-LA758-G US 1977
Conway Twitty Cross Winds MCA Records MCA-3086 US 1979
Cross Winds MCA Records MCA-3086 Canada 1979
Don't Take it Away/Draggin' Chains MCA Records MCA-41002 US 1979
Elvis PresleyElvis Now (LP)RCAPL-42360Spain1984
Elvis Now (Cass, Album, RE)Indalo45912Spain1984
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE)MirloCL-45912Spain1984
Elvis Now (LP)RCAPL 89543Germany1985
Elvis Now (LP, Album, RP)RCA Victor104.4020Brazil1986
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE)RCABVCP-1023Japan1993
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM)RCA07863, 54671-2Canada1993
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM)RCA74321, 148312Europe1993
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM)RCA07863, 54671-2US1993
Elvis Now (CD)BMG, Nederland BV74321, 90640 2Netherlands1996
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE, RM)RCA, BMG, Nederland BVSP5039Netherlands1996
Elvis Now (CD, Album)RCABVCM-35032Japan1999
Elvis Now (CD, Album)RBA Editores74321, 784992Spain2000
Elvis Now (CD, Album, Ltd, Pap)RCA, BMGBVCM-35501Japan2008
Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE)Sony MusicA761549US2009
Elvis Now (2xCD, Comp, RE, RM)Follow That Dream Records, RCA, Sony Music506020-975010Europe2010
Now...And Again (2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, S/Edition, 180)RCA Victor, Follow That Dream Records506020-975077Denmark2015
VariousCult Hits of the 1960s Vol. 3Fervor RecordsFVRCD06075US6/15/2010
Cult Hits of the 1970s Gold Vol. 1Fervor RecordsFVRCD06192US1/6/2015
Jay RamseyJay Ramsey Anthology, Vol. 1Fervor RecordsFVRCD06148US11/19/2013
Jay Ramsey Anthology, Vol. 2Fervor RecordsFVRCD06149US11/19/2013
Jay Ramsey Anthology Vol. 3Fervor RecordsFVRCD06150US11/19/2013

TV, film, and advertising

Artist Song TitleProgramEpisode #TypeNetwork/SourceAir Date
Jay RamseyBoogie MamaAmerican Ultra--FilmLionsgate11/26/2015
Bloodline 309 SVOD Netflix 5/26/2017
Awkward 208 TV MTV 8/16/2012
Better Luck Next Time Little GirlAscension103TVSyFy1/1/2015
104
The Good Wife619TVCBS4/12/2015
The Playboy Club106TVNBC10/2011
Mad Men 306 TV AMC 9/20/2009
Summer Day Lucky DayAscension103TVSyFy1/1/2015
104
Kings and QueensThe Astronaut Wives Club102TVABC6/25/2015
6/28/2015
The Playboy Club106TVNBC10/2011
Bumble, Superswipe Campaign--AdInternet2017
SMILF 103 TV Showtime 11/19/17
The Handmaid's Tale 209 SVOD HULU 6/13/18
How Many TimesChicago PD103TVABC1/26/2014
Somewhere to DreamColony107TVUSA2/25/2016
Fallen AngelGod's Pocket--FilmIndependent1/17/2014
Blindspot210TVNBC1/4/2017
GoldiggerMad Men709TVAMC4/12/2015
Rocking Chair BluesParenthood521TVNBC4/10/2014
High Wide & HandsomeRecovery Road107TVFreeform3/7/2016
Cast the First StoneStonewall--FilmIndependent9/18/2015
Gotta Keep Movin'The Astronaut Wives Club106TVABC7/23/2015
Write Me an EndingThe Frontier--FilmIndependent3/15/2015
Smooth Talking WomanThe Playboy Club105TVNBC10/2011
Whatever Linda105SVOD--10/2011
You're My LadyRed Oaks207SVODAmazon11/11/2017
Falling Out of Love with LoveMy Friend Dahmer--FilmIndependent4/21/2017
HideawayChuck--FilmIFC5/5/2017
Homefront TV ABC 11/26/2013
Wake Me in the MorningWrecked209TVTBS8/15/2017
Call Me FreeAmerican Made--FilmUniversal PicturesEurope: 8/23/2017 US: 9/29/2017
Lonely Girl Mad Men 404 TV AMC 8/15/2010
Lovin' Is a Full Time Job The Deuce 101 TV HBO 9/10/2017
Don't Have to Answer to Nobody SMILF 107 TV Showtime 12/17/17
Look Away Love Darling -- Film Amazon Studios 4/1/2016[16][17]

− Source:[18]

References

  1. "Sanger Native is Performing in Las Vegas". Denton Record-Chronicle. October 6, 1971. p. 3D. Retrieved 2017-12-10 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "The Kids From Texas* - Long Legged Linda". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  3. "The Expressions (3) - Thrill". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
  4. "Ramsey Grows Tall in Vegas: Sanger Native Finds Success". Denton Record-Chronicle. September 4, 1974. p. 3D. Retrieved 2017-12-10 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "BMI Repertoire: Ramsey Gerald Hugh". BMI.
  6. "Tonopah Highway - Kenny Price". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  7. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  8. "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. March 11, 1972.
  9. "Elvis Presley Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  10. "Roy Clark Roy Clark Country! Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  11. "Roy Clark Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  12. "Billy Mize Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  13. "Conway Twitty". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  14. "Robert Kelly Interview with Pictures from Lance Monthly, article by Robert Kelly". Booksie.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  15. "Jay Ramsey Loves Parenthood". Fervor Records. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  16. "Darling (2016) - Soundtrack.Net". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  17. "A short, sharp shocker, Darling is a house-sitter's worst nightmare". National Post. 2016-03-31. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  18. Lounge, ABC Music (August 6, 2015). "Now playing on @AstronautWives, "Look Away Love" by Jay Ramsey & the Contempos". @abcmusiclounge. Retrieved 2017-10-06.

Further reading

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