Obray ramsey biography of george
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*1913, +1997
By Praguefrank, Thieu Front De Vorst
SESSIONS also adherent of Snowwhite Lightin‘ (1969-1970)
July 1957 Western Direction Carolina Do up Hospital, ?, NC – Obray Ramsey (Obray Ramsey [vcl/banjo]. Producer: Kenneth S. Goldstein)
001 THE Discursive BOY Waterside RLP 12-649
002 KEEP Contemplation THE Compel SIDE Waterside RLP 12-649
003 POLLY Set aside THE Containerful ON City RLP 12-649
004 Small MARGARET City RLP 12-649
005 I Graph A Haji Riverside RLP 12-649
006 CRIPPLE Bay Riverside RLP 12-649
007 DOWN Stop THE Neptune's SHORE Shore RLP 12-649
008 Ticket OF Representation FRENCH Finish RIVER Water's edge RLP 12-649
009 Genius GAVE Patriarch THE RAINBOW SIGN Metropolis RLP 12-649
010 SHORTENIN' BREAD City RLP 12-649
011 WILDWOOD Floret Riverside RLP 12-649
012 MY Nobleman, WHAT A MORNING Shore RLP 12-649
013 LONESOME Proverbial BLUES Bank RLP 12-649
014 WEEPING Tree Riverside RLP 12-649
1961 [live] Town, NC – Obray Ramsey and h Gentry (Obray Ramsey [vcl/banjo], Henry Landed gentry [gt])
01401 LITTLE MAGGIE Washington WLP 712
01402 POOR Minute ELLEN Pedagogue WLP 712
1961 unidentified – Obray Ramsey (Obray Ramsey [vcl/ banjo/ gt], Tommy Huntsman [gt].Producer: Kenneth L. Goldstein)
015 T FOR TEXAS Prestige Strain 13009
016 BLUE Warble #
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INFP47 - Posted - 03/02/2007: 12:44:00
Back in the early 70's I had the pleasure of sitting at the feet of OT banjo picker Obray Ramsay as he played with a group of others that included fiddler Tommy Hunter and traditional singer Betty Smith at the Bascomb Lamar Lunsford Festival in Mars Hill, NC. I did record some of that on cassette but it was very poor quality. I have since not been able to find a recording of Ramsay. He recorded an album for Prestige Records in 1963 and that album was re-issued by Shanachie in 1995 but it seems to be out of print again.
Does anyone know where I might find a recording of Ramsay, on-line or otherwise? I've been searching with no luck yet.
His two-finger style was very fluid and mellow and it greatly suited his singing voice. He influenced many younger musicians of the 60's and 70's including the Grateful Dead who recorded his version of "Cold Rain and Snow". and even Mel Lyman of Jim Kweskin's Jug Band and cult commune notoriety.
I'm hoping I can get to hear more of Obray's music. Any help wou
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FRC113
By Eugene Chadbourne
Obray Ramsey is the banjo-picking cousin of old-time music instrumentalist Byard Ray, and the two worked regularly as a duo until they were “discovered” playing at an Asheville folk festival during the folk music revival of the ’60s. From that point on, the two men’s musical career took a strangely twisted path. Late-night television mongers who may have made it all the way through the strange psychedelic rock western Zachariah, may wonder who the two old-time musicians are that show up in one of this epic’s many strange musical wonders, and the answer would be Ray and Ramsey. The same viewer may also wonder why they have become attached to their seat with cement, the only condition under which an intelligent human being would endure the length of the aforementioned film. In 1962, producer John Simon invited the duo to New York City, or “thawt New Yawk,” as it is known south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The players were swept into experimental recording projects with a strange combination of players, although perhaps something a bit more threatening than a broom was needed to get these old-timers to pick alongside players such as avant garde classical guitarist Sam Brown, studio pro and funkmeister Chuck R