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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.
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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][failed verification]
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]).[better source needed]
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][better source needed] 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][better source needed]
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]
| The Kids from Texas | Long-Legged Linda/I'm So Lonely (7", single) | Hanover Records | 4500 | US | 1958 |
| Long-Legged Linda (7", single, promo) | Hanover Records | 4500 | US | 1958 | |
| Expression | California Is Just Mississippi/Let Us Pray (7", single) | United Artists Records | 35 250 | Germany | Unknown |
| California Is Just Mississippi/Let Us Pray (7", single, promo) | Mediarts Records | ME-104 | US | Unknown | |
| Walk Away Son/Fallen Angel | Mediarts Records | ME-110 | US | unknown | |
| The Expressions | Thrill/ (Come Back) Karen (vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, single) | Smash Records | S-1848 | US | 1963 |
| 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 Presley | Until It's Time for You to Go / We Can Make the Morning (7", single) | RCA Victor | 74-0619 | Germany | 1972 |
| Until It's Time for You to Go/ We Can Make the Morning (7", single) | RCA Victor | 74-0619 | Canada | 1972 | |
| Until It's Time for You to Go (7", single) | Jugoton, RCA Victor | SRCA-88560 | Yugoslavia | 1972 | |
| Until It's Time for You to Go / We Can Make the Morning (7", single) | RCA Victor | 102033 | Australia | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | LSP-4671 | US | 1972 | |
| We Can Make the Morning (7", single) | RCA Victor, RCA Victor, RCA Victor | 74-0619, 49.850, 49850 | France | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (Album) | RCA, RCA Victor | P8S-1898 | US | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP) | RCA | LSP 4671 | UK | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP) | RCA Victor, RCA Victor, RCA Victor | LSP 4671, LSP-4671, LSA 4671 | Germany | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP) | RCA, RCA | LSP 4671, 26.21085 | Germany | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | LSP-4671 | US | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor, RCA Victor | SF 8266, LSP 4671 | UK | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | LSP-4671 | Canada | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | 443036 | France | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | LSP-4671 | South Africa | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album) | RCA Victor | 104.4020 | Brazil | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, Gat) | RCA | SHP-6240 | Japan | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, Mono) | RCA Victor | LPM-4671 | Uruguay | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RP) | RCA Victor | 104.4020 | Brazil | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE) | RCA Victor, RCA Victor | SF-8266, (APRS-2007) | UK | 1972 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE | RCA | RCA-6120 | Japan | 1973 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE) | RCA Victor, RCA Victor | AFL1-4671, LSP-4671 | US | 1976 | |
| 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 Presley | Elvis Now (LP) | RCA | PL-42360 | Spain | 1984 |
| Elvis Now (Cass, Album, RE) | Indalo | 45912 | Spain | 1984 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RE) | Mirlo | CL-45912 | Spain | 1984 | |
| Elvis Now (LP) | RCA | PL 89543 | Germany | 1985 | |
| Elvis Now (LP, Album, RP) | RCA Victor | 104.4020 | Brazil | 1986 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE) | RCA | BVCP-1023 | Japan | 1993 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM) | RCA | 07863, 54671-2 | Canada | 1993 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM) | RCA | 74321, 148312 | Europe | 1993 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RM) | RCA | 07863, 54671-2 | US | 1993 | |
| Elvis Now (CD) | BMG, Nederland BV | 74321, 90640 2 | Netherlands | 1996 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE, RM) | RCA, BMG, Nederland BV | SP5039 | Netherlands | 1996 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album) | RCA | BVCM-35032 | Japan | 1999 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album) | RBA Editores | 74321, 784992 | Spain | 2000 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, Ltd, Pap) | RCA, BMG | BVCM-35501 | Japan | 2008 | |
| Elvis Now (CD, Album, RE) | Sony Music | A761549 | US | 2009 | |
| Elvis Now (2xCD, Comp, RE, RM) | Follow That Dream Records, RCA, Sony Music | 506020-975010 | Europe | 2010 | |
| Now...And Again (2xLP, album, Ltd, RE, S/Edition, 180) | RCA Victor, Follow That Dream Records | 506020-975077 | Denmark | 2015 | |
| Various | Cult Hits of the 1960s Vol. 3 | Fervor Records | FVRCD06075 | US | 6/15/2010 |
| Cult Hits of the 1970s Gold Vol. 1 | Fervor Records | FVRCD06192 | US | 1/6/2015 | |
| Jay Ramsey | Jay Ramsey Anthology, Vol. 1 | Fervor Records | FVRCD06148 | US | 11/19/2013 |
| Jay Ramsey Anthology, Vol. 2 | Fervor Records | FVRCD06149 | US | 11/19/2013 | |
| Jay Ramsey Anthology Vol. 3 | Fervor Records | FVRCD06150 | US | 11/19/2013 |
| Artist | Song Title | Program | Episode # | Type | Network/Source | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jay Ramsey | Boogie Mama | American Ultra | -- | Film | Lionsgate | 11/26/2015 |
| Bloodline | 309 | SVOD | Netflix | 5/26/2017 | ||
| Awkward | 208 | TV | MTV | 8/16/2012 | ||
| Better Luck Next Time Little Girl | Ascension | 103 | TV | SyFy | 1/1/2015 | |
| 104 | ||||||
| The Good Wife | 619 | TV | CBS | 4/12/2015 | ||
| The Playboy Club | 106 | TV | NBC | 10/2011 | ||
| Mad Men | 306 | TV | AMC | 9/20/2009 | ||
| Summer Day Lucky Day | Ascension | 103 | TV | SyFy | 1/1/2015 | |
| 104 | ||||||
| Kings and Queens | The Astronaut Wives Club | 102 | TV | ABC | 6/25/2015 | |
| 6/28/2015 | ||||||
| The Playboy Club | 106 | TV | NBC | 10/2011 | ||
| Bumble, Superswipe Campaign | -- | Ad | Internet | 2017 | ||
| SMILF | 103 | TV | Showtime | 11/19/17 | ||
| The Handmaid's Tale | 209 | SVOD | HULU | 6/13/18 | ||
| How Many Times | Chicago PD | 103 | TV | ABC | 1/26/2014 | |
| Somewhere to Dream | Colony | 107 | TV | USA | 2/25/2016 | |
| Fallen Angel | God's Pocket | -- | Film | Independent | 1/17/2014 | |
| Blindspot | 210 | TV | NBC | 1/4/2017 | ||
| Golddigger | Mad Men | 709 | TV | AMC | 4/12/2015 | |
| Rocking Chair Blues | Parenthood | 521 | TV | NBC | 4/10/2014 | |
| High Wide & Handsome | Recovery Road | 107 | TV | Freeform | 3/7/2016 | |
| Cast the First Stone | Stonewall | -- | Film | Independent | 9/18/2015 | |
| Gotta Keep Movin' | The Astronaut Wives Club | 106 | TV | ABC | 7/23/2015 | |
| Write Me an Ending | The Frontier | -- | Film | Independent | 3/15/2015 | |
| Smooth Talking Woman | The Playboy Club | 105 | TV | NBC | 10/2011 | |
| Whatever Linda | 105 | SVOD | -- | 10/2011 | ||
| You're My Lady | Red Oaks | 207 | SVOD | Amazon | 11/11/2017 | |
| Falling Out of Love with Love | My Friend Dahmer | -- | Film | Independent | 4/21/2017 | |
| Hideaway | Chuck | -- | Film | IFC | 5/5/2017 | |
| Homefront | TV | ABC | 11/26/2013 | |||
| Wake Me in the Morning | Wrecked | 209 | TV | TBS | 8/15/2017 | |
| Call Me Free | American Made | -- | Film | Universal Pictures | Europe: 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]
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