Passion and Inspiration Are Important, but for Tony Ramey, Craft

SONGWRITING A man dedicated to his craft Passion and inspiration are important, but for Tony Ramey, craft makes the difference By Mary Jane Farmer, Sceme In Town FOR A SONGWRITER AS PROLIFIC AND AS writing in Nashville, put- recorded as Tony Ramey has been over the ting the best song on F records, I do some co- Fpast two decades, he’s definitely set in the writing now.” music industry and taking steps to keep on keepin’ He likes the ‘have fun, write together, no expec- on.’ tations’ mode best. That So many musicians favor their copy CDs for sale, and in addi- mindset was the basis for right, or artistic brain, and let tion to the cover charges for his a songwriting clinic he others do the left-brain, every- concerts, Ramey created the TR and other Nashville day work. Tony isn’t one of them. Club, a way for fans and friends hitmakers held in Sep- He writes, sometimes a song ev- alike to get a constant stream of tember, having the stu- ery day, sometime with a little music from Ramey as it comes dents co-write and help- more time between new songs; off the presses. He brings his ing them with critiques he records, and has his own stu- club members three new songs and advice and joining in dio; he teaches up-and-coming each month and access to live on the co-writing, They songwriters; he books himself, streaming concerts. There’s other also shared what they had for the most part; and he travels perks for membership, and this learned in the Nashville to and from Nashville, perform- provides Ramey with supple- music business as well. ing all along the way, as well as mental income. There are a lot of How to make a little all over Texas. people who want to support an money in the business Ramey was raised in West independent artist. I give away takes a little more exper- Virginia, and raised on bluegrass. the music to people who are tise,” he said. It’s about Then, he found Willie, Waylon, supporting my music.” the passion for the craft, Kris, and some others who added But he, like to many artists they really want to learn gasoline to that fire burning in- and fans, still like the hard CD how to write better side him to write. copy. “I think it’s because you songs.” He moved to Nashville. And can hold and make it a part of One of those songs he write he did. One of the first your library. I spend time listen- co-wrote, this time with songs Ramey turned out earned ing to music. I still like music for South Texas songwriter him is first Gold record; John the sake of the song, an art form, Kelly Kenning, recently Michael Montgomery recorded tangible and real.” He said he won the Texas Country “Don’t Want This Song To End,” still reads the credits at the mov- Music Association’s released in 1998. Since then, ies and still reads books, too. I Christian Country such artists as George Strait, Ala- appreciate the hard work that Songwriter of the Year bama, Moe Bandy, Aaron goes into it all,” Ramey said. Award for their God’s Got Watson, Johnny Bush, Doug “I created the TR Club for the This.” Stone, Craig Morgan, and others super fans, who really want to Ramey sings, too… have recorded Tony-Ramey- support my music. I don’t lean well! He holds audiences penned songs. on it.” But among the most exciting captive with his enthral- He also provides concerts on ling style and crystal-clear for Tony was when Ray Price Facebook Live. That series is lyrics. He said he likes chose a Tony Ramey song to go called the County Lines and the smaller listening ven- on his last CD. Mr. Price re- Country Roads series, which he ues, including house con- corded the project, Beauty Is…” said has been built into a legiti- certs and private parties, before his late-2013 death. mate production. People can but also enjoys im- The CD was released in 2014. drop money into the tip jar, and Mr. Price recorded 12 songs on that goes to help build the pro- mensely the large venues it, and only two of them were duction,” he said. where he sometimes first-time recordings. One was “Most of my shows are going works with his band and Tony’s “No More Songs To into feeders and listening rooms, festivals. Wineries are Sing.”Now, Ramey had a hard people are talking to you on Live, working now in Ramey’s time finding out if his song had maybe on a larger screen. I like favor, he’s become a regu- been included. He knew Mr. doing it in the studio and taking lar at several of them in Price recorded it, but Mr. Price it on the road. Johnny Lee hosts North Texas. There are a also recorded more than the 12 people in concert right there at lot of Texas festivals. songs that made the cut. Mean- Those are neat places to He will be playing at El Patio Escondido in Van Alstyne on January 8 and at Moore’s Store in Ben Wheeler on February 9 : his house. It’s a branding exten- Tony Ramey while, I had made friends with sion and it doesn’t cost anything.” try out the new music. Mrs. Ray (Janie) Price, and she Festivals are always a favorite, about his first Nashville pub- and held his hand as high as he There have been Texas artists told me that not only did the Nashville especially the old country music lisher, Tom Collins. He tried to could get it.)” who have recorded Ramey’s song make the CD, but it was her RAMEY WROTE FOR ABOUT and bluegrass ones.” He’s work- get writers to understand that it Somewhere in the middle of songs, too, including “Summer- favorite song of them all. Tony 16 years in Nashville, most often ing on an East Coast music tour, is the craft that makes great songs. his Gold and Platinum records time Girl” recorded by Aaron was beside himself when he signed with some of the biggest including one festival, for spring. Passion and inspiration are im- as an award-winning Watson. And soon, if it hasn’t learned that! agencies there. That’s where Did I forget to mention that portant, but with craft skills, a songwriter, Ramey earned a already happened, Jon Wolfe is “So many of the online music George Strait obtained and re- Tony’s music distinctly qualifies good song can become a great Master’s degree in Literature, and laying one down. sites are not paying writers and corded Ramey’s “Hot Grease and as true country? The real kind, song. It’s just like writing an ar- taught at colleges and No gimmicks, no smoke or artists for their talents. I am a mirrors in Tony Ramey’s music, Zydeco” and so many others not today’s ‘pop’ country, as many ticle — you write, edit, rewrite, universities part-time while independent artist and live off just solid lyrics mixed with opted to record Ramey-penned non-fans call that which is hit- rework, and make word changes working on his PhD. He’s still the content that I provide. I get unique tunes, all well-crafted, songs. ting the charts today, even in and substitutions. You take it part-time teaching. He said the paid directly from fans.” Songwriters there, now, are spite of the true country music and performed with panache. from there (as Ramey holds his great poets keep him sharp... For more about the TR Club or probably turning out 25 or 30 still coming out of Nashville. TR Club hand up shoulder height) to way grounded in the craft and disci- Ramey’s schedule, go to songs a year. I did a lot of co- Ramey talks with admiration In addition to the usual hard up there (and with that he stood pline of writing. TonyRamey.com. 10 BUDDY DECEMBER 2017.

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