Ramirez, Ram (Roger)
Ramirez, Ram (Roger)
Ramirez, Ram (Roger ), pianist, organist, songwriter; b. Puerto Rico, Sept. 15, 1913; d. Jan. 11, 1994. Raised in the San Juan Hill section (near Lincoln Center) of N.Y. Began playing piano at the age of eight, and five years later, joined the musicians’ union. He worked with the Louisiana Stompers in N.Y. during the early 1930s, briefly accompanying Monette Moore early in 1933. He left the Louisiana Stompers to join Rex Stewart’s Band at the Empire Ballroom, N.Y. (summer 1933). He worked with the Spirits of Rhythm in 1934, joining Willie Bryant early in 1935. He went to Europe with Bobby Martin’s Band in June 1937, returning to N.Y. in late 1939. He led his own small group for Asbury Park residency, then worked with Ella Fitzgerald and Frankie Newton before spending a year with Charlie Bannet (1942). He rejoined Frankie Newton (1943), and was then with John Kirby’s Sextet from early 1944 until joining Sid Catlett’s Band at the Downbeat Club, N.Y. (1944). From the late 1940s Ramirez usually worked with own trio in N.Y. area clubs. He played organ extensively from 1953. He again toured Europe in spring 1968 (accompanying T-Bone Walker) and continued to work regularly through the 1980s. He died of kidney failure. He composed “Lover Man,” “Mad about You,” and others.
—John Chilton, Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter