Kid Ramos

Strange Things Happening

Nola Blue Records

David “Kid” Ramos was born in Fullerton, California, with both of his parents being professional opera singers. After playing guitar at the parties of friends and at local nightclubs in his teenage years, he turned fully professional when joining James Harman’s band in 1980. Kid played guitar for Harman until 1988, when he briefly helped out Roomful of Blues, before taking a break from music to raise a family. In 1994, Ramos joined forces with Lynwood Slim. Ramos’ debut solo album “Two Hands One Heart” was released the following year. Ramos joined The Fabulous Thunderbirds, following an invitation from Kim Wilson, in 1993. Kid recorded and appeared with the T-birds up to 2002, while he also continued to release his own albums including 1999’s self-titled album, 2000’s “West Coast House Party”, and 2001’s “Greasy Kid Stuff”. In 2005, Ramos played with the Mannish Boys, and in 2008 formed the roots quartet, Los Fabulocos with accordionist Jesse Cuevas. In 2009, Kid backed the Mannish Boy’s Bobby Jones.

In August 2012, Ramos was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. A medical campaign was launched to assist with the costs of his treatment. Kid received the Orange County (Ca.) Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award on March 7th, 2014, at the event he announced he was cancer free. Kid has received fourteen Blues Music Award nominations and won a BMA for Song of The Year. Kid produced and also plays on the Los Angeles based “44’s” 2011 recording “Boogie Disease”; on his own album 2018’s “Old School” on Rip Cat Records; and in both 2018 and 2020, with the all-star band “The Proven Ones”.

“Strange Things Happening” was recorded, mixed, and mastered by John Andrew Schreiner, Colin Heinrich, and Chris Lizotte at Jasmine Sound in San Clemente, Ca. The album is a gospel-blues fusion pairing guitarist Kid with an ensemble including vocalist and harmonica player Brian Templeton (The Radio Kings, The Proven Ones); Dave Limina (Ronnie Earl); Jesse Cuevas (Los Fabulocos); trumpet players Takazo and Kaizo Hall; Mike Turturro, bass; Stephen Hodges, drums and percussion; and Kid’s son, vocalist Johnny Ramos.

The album opens with the title track, written by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, as Templeton sings “Jesus is the holy light, turning darkness into light, there are ‘strange things happening every day'”. “How I Got Over” was written by Clara Ward in 1951, and covered by Mahalia Jackson in 1976, as Templeton belts “Soon as I can see Jesus, the man that made me free, the man that bled and suffered, and died for you and me”. “I’m Working On A Building” was written by Alvin Pleasant Carter a.k.a. A.P. Carter, head of the Carter Family, featured is some great B-3 organ from Limina. “Oh, What A Meeting”, written by Arthur Lee Crume features a beautiful vocal from Johnny Ramos.

On “Jesus Dropped The Charges”, written by Richard ‘Mr. Clean’ White, Templeton sings “I was guilty, of all the charges, doomed and disgraced, but Jesus with his special love, saved me by his grace, he pleaded, and he pleaded, he pleaded my case, I’m so glad that Jesus dropped the charges, Jesus dropped the charges, now I’m saved through grace and faith”.

“An Answer for Isaac” is the first of two songs written and sung by Templeton. “God Walks The Dark Hills”, was written by Audrey Czarnilow, with a stunning vocal from Johnny Ramos as he sings “God walks the dark hills, the rain, and the sunshine…” “Satan’s Jeweled Crown”, written by Edgar Edens, is another beautiful vocal from Johnny Ramos with Jesse Cuevas on accordion, and Kid switching to the Bajo Sexto. “Nobody But The Lord” is the second song from Templeton, with Limina on the organ, as Templeton chants “nobody but Jesus, no body but the lord, I tried lord knows, I tried to find my way”.

“Every Grain of Sand” is a cover of a Bob Dylan song first recorded in 1991, sung by Templeton with some piano from Limina. “More Love Than Power” written by Jude del Hierro is a vocal duet with Kid and Johnny. The closer “I’m A Pilgrim” is written by Senior Roy Crain, and sung by Templeton “I’m A Pilgrim, and a stranger traveling through this land…”

This album is a gospel revival. The inspiration came when an old pastor friend James Rasmussen called Kid Ramos. He stated he was going to start supporting musicians that were playing gospel music and “wanted to know if I wanted to make a God record”. Kid states “my first gospel record is really from the heart, and I hope people enjoy it”. Kid Ramos, Brian Templeton, and the rest of the musicians involved, Shine on this fabulous album.

Richard Ludmerer

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