Tony Ramey all week long — Music doesn’t get any better than this

Tony Ramey, Love & War in Texas

Mark your calendars for Friday, Nov. 29, and be at Grovers Grill & Bar for the next Tony Ramey show. And he’ll be giving away free T-shirts at that show.

Been hanging out with singer/songwriter Tony Ramey a lot of this week — and it’s not over yet. Tony, for those still not yet familiar with him, is a singer/songwriter with about 16 or 17 successful years of Nashville songwriting under his belt, gold records and all. And that isn’t slowing down at all. This year, alone, superstars Ray Price, Johnny Lee, Alabama, Jon Wolfe (a co-writer at times with Tony) and Bobby Cyrus cut his songs. But nowadays, Tony is concentrating at least 50 percent of his time in performing, too, and he’s got the voice, the stage presence, the stamina of a star. And I’m happy t o be a part of the Dig It Deep/Tony Ramey team.

I promised, and a person is only as good as the keeping of the promises! Johnny Rodriguez, Saturday night, at Stagecoach Ballroom, Belknap Road, Fort Worth. What an incredible, fun night — before, during, and after the show. Tony and I got there early, met his songwriting buddy Kelly Kenning, and the story-swapping started. These two have such a history together, a history blended of friendship and  songwriting. They, like old friends do, caught up with “how are you, fine I hope” within about two minutes, and then it was on, tale after remembrance, after jokes, after plans.  Johnny was in and out, as his band showed up in staggering times, having come from different places across Texas and beyond. Also showing up were solid fans from as far north as Kansas and Missouri. 

Time to get to the Stagecoach, caravan style. Joe King band was on stage, another solid-country band worth hearing and seeing. A complete two-hour performance by Johnny and his band, playing many of his numerous hits from his four decades in the industry, and covering other classics, too.. It was during that time that he, first, called up Kelly  to share some songs, Johnny playing acoustic guitar with the band, behind Kelly. Then, he called Tony up. It being a dance hall, full of country-music lovers, Tony — as did Kelly before him —sang two classic country covers, and threw his “Throwback” in the midst of them. “Throwback” is the title of his latest CD, an acoustic (but with background instrumentation and harmonies). 

Back to the hotel and the after-party, small, as that’s the way Johnny likes it. He sat there and smiled while Tony and Kelly swapped songs and the one lone guitar.

I haven’t stopped smiling yet!

For Saturday night photos, click here

Tuesday, Tony was one of a baker’s dozen songwriters playing at Love & War in Texas, Plano. There, he pulled out his not-yet-released single “Bullets First.” And that baker’s dozen consisted of a bunch of great songwriters, the third group of four in the Rusty Wier Songwriting Preliminaries. Before anyone blinked twice, they were all around shaking each other’s hands and ‘attaboying’ everywhere. More on that in a separate story.

For photos of Tuesday night’s fun, click here:

Wednesday, we ventured over to Paris, for an interview with Radio station 95.5’s Texas Talk host Shane Oats. Tony followed Zane Williams. The

Shane Oats and Tony Ramey

two had never met, but have the commonality of both having worked extensively in Nashville. Zane has been in Texas now for about 5 years, and he, too, had some songwriting success in Tennessee. Shane and Tony talked, all recorded for future release, and Tony sang. He again struck up the upcoming release “Bullets First.” A great song for 2nd Amendment enthusiasts, or anyone who believes in people’s rights. Just wait’ll you hear it. This time, he added “The Last Ride,” a commissioned song for an independent movie of the same name, depicting the last few days of Hank Williams’ life. Plus a couple more. Then, Shane jumped into Interview No. 3 with Cyrus James. Those air dates/times will be released.

Believe it or not, this is true! Mary Jane actually got there without a camera, but it would have been in the way. I/she had to sit really still in the recording room, so just got this one with my cell phone. We’ll let you know more about some plans for that far-northeast side of Texas soon.

Thursday, wow, what a Thursday… Loose Wheels Texas, in Denison, with Fred Spears & Friends‘ regular Thursday night show. There was so much talent on that stage: 3x  Hall of Famer Jack Brown; versatile and individual-style drummer Richard Burleson; Capt.Bill Capshaw on the bass guitar and a few hot-dang good vocals to boot;my bud Phillip Wildman with his special cowboy western style voice; Ted Williams, guitar, who understates his own talents, and Lee Walt, with all his vocals and smiles and good times. The dancers hit the floor on the first lick and stayed there all night long, with one especially-talented couple shimmying and shaking it up on Burleson’s almost-solo “Wipe-Out.” No, Tony “Bullets First” off the set list this time… gotta save a little for the next time he gets with Freddie Lee and the guys! Of course, he’s got somewhere around 2,500 songs of his own to choose from, so probably not going to run out of songs to sing anytime soon.

Tony Ramey at Loose Wheels Texas

For photos from Loose Wheels Texas, click here

Notice I said it’s not all over yet. Tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 23), Tony goes over to get on stage for a few tunes with Johnny Rodriguez at the long-time favorite Stagecoach Ballroom in Fort Worth. Me? I’ll be in the crowd, and hopefully can take some pix. If so, I’ll put them in here Sunday, so come back then. Want a reminder? OK, I’ll re-submit the link on my Facebook.

I am so lucky and happy to be working with Tony Ramey. If you don’t know his songs, yet, you will. Oh, there was Jason Meadows‘ hit “(if you don’t believe in God… ) You Ain’t Never Been To Texas.” And a bunch more. Go to TonyRamey.com.

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