RAMP
Encyclopedia
RAMP was an American
soul
/jazz
band
from Cincinnati, Ohio
. RAMP has mistakenly been said to stand for "Roy Ayers
Music Production" and "Roy Ayers
Music Project", but Ayers was not a member, though he did write and produce songs on their debut album.
The group released one album, Come Into Knowledge (1977), which is now considered a classic among rare groove collectors, artists (such as PM Dawn and A Tribe Called Quest
who have used RAMP sample
s in their music) and Roy Ayers fans. Featuring the vocals of Sharon Matthews and Sibel Thrasher, the album was recorded in New York
and California
. The group were a vehicle for the songwriting talents of Roy Ayers and Edwin Birdsong
. Released in 1977, the set featured a version of Roy Ayers' "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" along with the 'rare groove' track "Daylight". The 12" vinyl release of the album used to (and still does) command very high prices as the album had originally never been released on any other format. The album was eventually re-released on CD in 2007.
The group split up shortly afterwards, but reformed in 2006 for new tours and recordings.
RAMP performed June 30, 2007, with Washington, DC, jazz pianist Will Rast at Central Park SummerStage in New York City.
In 2008, the song "Daylight" was featured on Grand Theft Auto IV's
fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8.
– Come Into Knowledge (ABC Blue Thumb)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
/jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. RAMP has mistakenly been said to stand for "Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
Music Production" and "Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
Music Project", but Ayers was not a member, though he did write and produce songs on their debut album.
The group released one album, Come Into Knowledge (1977), which is now considered a classic among rare groove collectors, artists (such as PM Dawn and A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
who have used RAMP sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s in their music) and Roy Ayers fans. Featuring the vocals of Sharon Matthews and Sibel Thrasher, the album was recorded in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The group were a vehicle for the songwriting talents of Roy Ayers and Edwin Birdsong
Edwin Birdsong
Edwin Birdsong is a keyboard/organ player who was known in the 70's and 80's for his experimental funk/disco music. He never achieved chart success, but developed a strong fan base, and has also been sampled by other artists many times, most famously by Daft Punk who sampled "Cola Bottle Baby" in...
. Released in 1977, the set featured a version of Roy Ayers' "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" along with the 'rare groove' track "Daylight". The 12" vinyl release of the album used to (and still does) command very high prices as the album had originally never been released on any other format. The album was eventually re-released on CD in 2007.
The group split up shortly afterwards, but reformed in 2006 for new tours and recordings.
RAMP performed June 30, 2007, with Washington, DC, jazz pianist Will Rast at Central Park SummerStage in New York City.
In 2008, the song "Daylight" was featured on Grand Theft Auto IV's
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
fictional Soul/R&B radio station The Vibe 98.8.
Members
- John Manuel (drums and percussion)
- Sharon Matthews (lead vocals)
- Sibel Thrasher (lead vocals)
- Nate White (bass)
- Landy Shores (guitar)
Discography
19771977 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977.-January–February:*January 1 – The Clash headline the gala opening of the London music club, The Roxy....
– Come Into Knowledge (ABC Blue Thumb)
- Side A
- The American Promise
- I Just Love You
- Give It
- Everybody Loves The Sunshine
- Side B
- Come Into Knowledge
- Try Try Try
- Daylight
- Look Into The Sky
- Deep Velvet
External links
- Official site: http://www.myspace.com/ramp77
- The band's detailed history: http://www.digisoul.co.uk/artists.php?id=17