record deals and my time with Ramsey
When I was the Regional Sales Manager for GRP Records here in Chicago, the other responsibility I had taken on was Promotions. I transported countless artists including; Patti Austin, Michael Brecker, Carl Anderson and Arturo Sandoval in my Saab. Prior to Ramsey being the morning host on WNUA, he and Mark Ruffin had created this hour long syndicated show Legends of Jazz. When logistics permitted I would book an interview and transport all of the straight ahead players we had on the roster to WNUA where the show was recorded and produced. However, on this occasion, with Chick in town, we had a limo. Upon entering the WNUA studio, it was somewhat staggering to see these two very brilliant, yet diverse pianists meeting and spending time together.
Anyway, the interview ensued and at the conclusion while we were wrapping-up, I mentioned that it was recently made public that Chick and Ron Moss received a P&D Deal through GRP and, if by chance, ‘Ramsey, you’re looking for a deal, this might be an ideal fit.’ Chick concurred. The interview and meeting was over, we dropped Chick back at his hotel and I picked up my car at the MCA (Universal) branch and returned to my newly acquired, first townhome celebrating the deal I had helped broker. No sooner had I entered my place and the phone rang, it was Ron (Chick’s manager and already a good friend) and he says (in his British accent), “Kent, I thought we were friends.” I said “what?” He says, I just spoke with Larry (Rosen – the President of GRP) and he informed me, they (you guys) just signed Ramsey. He said he spoke with you inquiring how the interview with Chick went and you told him about the deal between Ramsey and Stretch Records, and he called Ramsey himself and offered him a deal.” So in essence, I was the conduit of getting Ramsey his record deal with GRP.
With Ramsey now being a GRP artist, residing here in Chicago, there were numerous meetings, luncheons, record release parties and dinners. The month long, three nights per week annual Holiday Christmas concerts ensued. The band, from what I have learned, in whatever incarnation was comprised of the top players in the city. Ramsey’s inherent ability to recognized change and hence the players on the sessions, and in the band, evolved with the times. The litany of talent that has played and performed with Ramsey is without a doubt the best in town, all too many to mention but you know who you are. However, since 1979 there has been one constant musician accompanying Ramsey both on stage and on record and that would be guitarist Henry Johnson. All shows and hangs with Ramsey were always fun and he was always his congenial self. For the next several years while I was living here in Chicago and later in New York our friendship endured.
Fast-forward five years latter, I’ve just accepted a gig with Virgin Records heading up Virgin Associated Labels and we meet for dinner at 160 Blue (Michael Jordan’s place). While dining, I tell Ramsey about my new gig and explain that one of the labels that falls under the aegis of Virgin Associated Labels is Narada, and Ramsey exclaims, ‘We just turned down a deal with Narada, now that you’re there we gotta get this deal done.’ Out of that came a five+ record deal with Narada (including recordings with Nancy Wilson). I may be paraphrasing, but this was the friendship and trust we had in each other. As a side-bar, it was always fun to be out in public anywhere, much less in Chicago with Ramsey – at the time, everyone knew who he was.
In no way have I traveled the world with Ramsey, as many of our musician friends have, however, for more than fifteen years, I (and often times we) had the great pleasure of spending time dining with Jan and Ramsey and every minute was memorable and what I think Ramsey would have coined as ‘fun’.
If there is anything that any of us can take away from Ramsey, aside from his talent as a pianist, is that everyday is a good day and strive to always be upbeat and positive. In closing, what one ultimately took away was the fact that you were in the presence of someone special, with an aura and talent that far surpassed the vast majority of us.