Eric Ramsey
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2007 | SELF
Music
Press
"Incendiary resonator work, flawless delivery and tunes that beg you to immerse yourself in the music. More than just the Blues….” ~ Phoenix Blues Society - Jim Crawford, President
“A class act, in every sense, Eric Ramsey has it all - great vocals and extraordinary guitar playing, intentional and interesting storytelling and prolific songwriting. A true professional, Eric has raised the quality at The Listening Room Phoenix, setting a new standard for all performers and audiences to follow.” ~ Jim Colletti, Owner, The Listening Room Phoenix - Jim Colletti
"Eric Ramsey is a gifted songwriter with an equally keen talent for captivating his audiences. He sings, writes and performs from the heart, and has been a welcome addition to our festival for two years running." ~ Jim Halfpenny,
Submissions/Talent/Media Promotions, Dripping Springs Songwriters' Festival - Jim Halfpenny
They say you can’t judge a book or an album by its cover and, yet, looking at Eric Ramsey on the cover of It’s a Rough World Baby, it sounds exactly as you’d expect. Ramsey has an easygoing, roots rock, folk vibe that’s just as much electrified blues as it is Americana. Somehow between the cover and the title, I anticipated just how easy on the soul the entire six-song experience was going to be. Not only is the man a guitar maestro that will have you marveling the entire time, but he’s an intelligent and clever lyricist.
The title track is a humorous take on Biblical stories and Christian tropes that comes off as relatable rather than righteous. The first track on the record, “Big Old Bunch of Your Love,” is obsessed with holes, and emptiness in general. From holes in the windows and your jeans to a hole in your soul, there’s even a clever nod to Gabriel’s trumpet. “Highway” is a long-stretched road in the desert heat and plays out like a reflective drive in the Sonoran sandscape. There’s an intoxicating vibe to the song that invites you to get lost in the reverie, smooth and warm, with Ramsey’s charming drawl painting each frame.
If you want something soaked in blues and slide guitar, direct your attention to the stunning “Please.” It’s heart wrenching, introspective and self-reflective, but immaculate in its confessional beauty. “Somehow She Loves Me” is everything the title suggests – a wildly romantic ode to a woman who, beyond his own understanding, returns his love manyfold, and really that’s all most of us are looking for in life. The record finishes with “Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood),” a number steeped in the blues that allows you to once again marvel at this man’s guitar. - JAVA Magazine
Meet Eric Ramsey of Eric Ramsey Music, from Scottsdale Arizona.... - VoyagePhoenix
Discography
The Kitchen Table Tapes 2014
Right, Wrong Or Raw - Live! 2014
Wills And Won'ts 2015
Up We Go 2016
It's A Rough World, Baby 2017
Photos
Bio
With soaring vocals and organic arrangements, Eric Ramsey writes from experience about the human condition - at times sensitive, at times humorous, always thought-provoking. His arrangements and delivery encompass a spectrum of styles, from delicate fingerpicking to raucous, bluesy bottleneck slide.
Eric is two time champion of the Phoenix Blues Society's Blues Showdown. He was a semi-finalist at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and a Finalist in the Telluride Blues Challenge. He's the winner of the Stefan George Memorial (Tucson Folk Festival) Songwriting Competition, a two time Featured Performer at the Dripping Springs (TX) Songwriters Festival, and has been tapped for the prestigious Songwriter's Showcase produced by Tempe Center for the Arts, filmed for PBS distribution.
"It's A Rough World Baby" is his third release, following the acclaimed "Up We Go" in 2016 and 2015's debut "Wills And Won'ts.
His live performances are captivating, entertaining and accessible, and he's a favorite on the Blues and Folk Festival circuits not only for his dynamic performances but for his workshops on slide guitar techniques and tricks.
Eric lives in the Phoenix area with his long-suffering and patient wife, three kids, four (yes, four, to date) dogs of indeterminate pedigree, and can often be found in the garage, where his family prefer he practice....
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