Album Notes

Chris Ramey's performing career began in the San Francisco North Beach folk scene in the early 60's. At the time the young musician was sharing the bill in Bay Area coffeehouses with such well-known folk artists as Jorma Kaukonen and Jerry Garcia, prior to the electric migration.

1965 found Chris in Japan where his youthful presence and remarkable ability to deliver a sensitive, yet powerful, solo performance earned him a place among top professionals on the Tokyo folk concert circuit. After a year in Japan, Chris returned to California. His home base was in the hills of Los Gatos but, he spent most of his time playing club dates in Los Angeles and San Francisco with several extended road trips through Canada. Along the way he met up with Neil Cassady, the Beat Generation icon and pilot of Ken Kesey's day-glow international school bus, "Furthur." Chris climbed aboard and road with the troop for an "interesting" time with the Merry Pranksters ... somewhere between six months and five years ... it's hard to be sure.

Following his bus ride with the Pranksters, Chris returned to Los Gatos and was immediately recruited by the seminal 60's rock group, "The Chocolate Watch Band." "I was writing songs and singing lead vocals ... it was a good band that stalled out," says Ramey. Shortly after the band played its last gig, Chris teamed up with young country singer, Kacey Jones. This proved an excellent match of talent with tight vocals and clean instrumental arrangement, to say nothing of steady work and a life-long friendship. Two years later, Chris formed another duo, this time with the late folk-singer and popular songwriter, Tom Jans. From the start, this new team of seasoned performers was the buzz among folk artists and audiences alike until their split in 1974.

Chris spent the next few years touring as a soloist, mostly outside California, working the summer season on Cape Cod and the winters in Colorado. The road work earned him a rest ...maybe. He put down his ax and disappeared from the music scene for several years.

Chris resumed performing in 1997, much to the delight of his loyal fans and new followers. He met harmonica player Jimmy Dewrance in 1999. This fine duet performs together often and delivers a provocative mix of Americana, Blues, Roots Music, and Folk, including original songs as well as selected obscurities, many of which can be heard on the Kinkajou Records CD release, "Chris Ramey, Something Borrowed, Something Blue." This is the only CD Chris ever recorded and released. He passed away in 2003 and is still greatly missed by his friends and family.