Richie
Ramsay was born on February 9 1969. Youngest of seven children, his
artistic bent was shown at an early age when he started writing
poetry in primary school. He was as part of the Lawrence Tavern
Primary School drama group given the opportunity to perform these
poems.
At ten years old Richie joined the Jamaica Combined Force Cadet
Band. He was given the percussion perimeter in a full piece
schoolboys band. There were woodwinds, brasswinds , strings and
percussion sections represented. He was a member of this band for 5
years. It was the premier schoolboys band in Jamaica at the time.
Richie penned his first song at about 14 years old. He still has
that and every other song he has written since then. That’s when he
knew undeniably what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
After leaving high school Richie travelled to then West Germany
where he was exposed to a wide range of musical styles on the
streets of Munich. Also the end of an era as it was at that time the
Berlin wall came down. He was there to help to dismantle the wall
November 1989.
When he returned home to Jamaica 1990 he recorded his first album
"It's A Black Thing" with Tony Soyemi and Chris Beck at the Music
Asylum 1991. After that musical stint he joined the Jamaica Defence
Force 1993 to 96. He quickly became disillusioned with the system
and returned to music.
Richie participated in a songwriters workshop with Colin Channer and
Mikey Bennett in Newcastle 2002 and was nominated ‘best songwriter’
and asked to give the valedictorian speech. 2003 invited to do a
workshop with Dick Weisman of the ‘Mommas and Poppas’ and was
selected to go to Denver/Colorado to record an album with the
University of Denver called ‘Paradise and Illusion’.
Richie started recording with Dean Fraser. He worked with musicians
like Nambo Robinson, Desi Jones, Alvin Haughton , Obeah Denton and
many other Jamaican greats. He did songs like "Poverty Is A Crime",
“Guilty Leaders", "People Need Hope" and others which got great
reviews and airplay from the Jamaican media. There was more to do
though.
Richie sold his ride hopped on a bus to Kingston and hooked up with
Leebert "Gibby" Morrisson and "Seek the Revolution" was born.
This is Richie Ramsay's first self produced album that will be his
signature style. A fusion of Reggae Folk Rock .A true testament to
the man himself.
Richie Ramsay