Kid Ramos

Old School

Rip Cat Records

David “Kid” Ramos just turned fifty-nine years old. He was born in Fullerton, California. On March 7^th, 2014 Ramos received the Orange County Music Awards Lifetime Achievement award.

Ramos played guitar with The James Harman Band from 1980 to 1988. Ramos came to national attention as the lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds from 1993 until 2002. He recorded his solo debut “Two Hands One Heart” in 1995 on The Black Top Records label, a subsidiary of Rounder Records. Between 1999 and 2001 Ramos released three more albums on The Evidence label including West Coast House Party; Greasy Kid Stuff, and one self-titled. In 2008 Ramos was part of the band “Los Fabulocos” and they released their first album on Delta Groove Records. He continued to do a lot of session work with Delta Groove and appears on albums by Rod Piazza, Lynwood Slim and The Mannish Boys. In 2010 Ramos appeared on Los Fabulocos follow up “Dos”; and on The 44’s “Boogie Disease” on Rip Cat Records. In August of 2012 Ramos was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. That same year his friend harmonica ace Bob Corritore released “Phoenix Blues Sessions” with all proceeds being donated to help Ramos with his medical bills; the album is still sold by The Blues Foundation. At the Orange County Award show Ramos announced he was cancer free.

This is Ramos first solo album in seventeen years. The band includes Kid Ramos, guitar and vocals; Bob Welsh, keyboards; Kendar Roy, bass; Marty Dodson, drums; and Danny Michal, 2^nd guitar. Guest vocalists include Johnny Ramos; Johnny Tucker; Kim Wilson and Big Jon Atkinson. The album is produced by Kid Ramos with Atkinson.

Ramos kicks off the album with, “Kid’s Jump”, an instrumental tribute to B.B. King; the band is tight as Kid works out on his guitar. “Mashed Potatoes And Chili” is another great instrumental from Kid featuring Bob Welsh on organ. Ramos’ guitar is once more highlighted on a third instrumental “Wes Side (Bumpin’)” from Wes Montgomery.

“All Your Love”, the Magic Sam classic which was first recorded in 1967, is beautifully sung by Johnny Ramos, Kid’s seventeen year old son, Kid says “Johnny has joined the family business”. Johnny Ramos sings again on “Anna (GoTo Him)” from Arthur Alexander.

Johnny Tucker sings on three songs co-written by him and the Kid, “Tell Me What Ya Want”; “You Never Call My Name” with a great guitar solo from Kid; and “I Can’t Wait Baby”. Tucker sings again on the traditional gospel tune “Jesus Come By Here”.

We get to hear Kid sing on two classics. “Mona Lisa” first sung by Nat King Cole in 1950; while “Heartbeat” was recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958.

Recording Engineer Atkinson gets to sing on his fabulous tune “Weight On My Shoulders”. The closer features Ramos’ ex-bandmate Kim Wilson singing on T-Bone Walker’s “High Society” with some more fabulous guitar from Kid.

We have been waiting a longtime for this album. It’s good to have Kid Ramos back. Here’s to health, happiness and the “Old School”.

Richard Ludmerer

[amazon_link asins=’B078Y34P79,B078XX3SMM,B00005OAD3,B00004W5D8,B00I9BU3O0,B00000JZ12,B001B0BAZW,B078Y21JVW,B00AIMIZL6′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’maasc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’198be96f-3c2b-11e8-98da-bb17eb44f680′]