Gene Ramey

Gene Ramey (April 4, 1913 – December 8, 1984) was an American jazz double bassist.

Ramey was born in Austin, Texas, United States, and played trumpet in college, but switched to contrabass when playing with George Corley's Royal Aces, The Moonlight Serenaders, and Terrence Holder. In 1932, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri and took up the bass, studying with Walter Page. He became a fixture on the Kansas City swing jazz scene in the 1930s, and played with Jay McShann's orchestra from 1938 to 1943.

In 1944, he moved to New York City, where he played with Lester Young, Count Basie, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Hot Lips Page, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk (as a member of Monk’s first trio in 1947, together with drummer Art Blakey), and Miles Davis. He transitioned into the bebop style ably, but also continued to play in more swing-oriented outfits. Later in his life he toured Europe with Buck Clayton, and played with Muggsy Spanier, Teddy Wilson, Dick Wellstood, Jimmy Rushing, and Eddie Vinson, in addition to doing several reunion gigs with McShann. In 1976, he moved back to Texas, playing occasionally up until his death from a heart attack in 1984.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 4, 1913 (Austin), Died December 8, 1984 (Austin)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1958

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-33 of 33 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 93816 10-in. 11/18/1941 Hootie's ignorant oil Jay McShann Quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 105804 10/13/1958 Ornithology Tony Scott and the All Stars instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 105805 10/13/1958 Body and soul-1 Tony Scott and the All Stars instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 105806 10/13/1958 Unlisted blues Tony Scott and the All Stars instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 841 10-in. 5/4/1946 Surgery Eddie Davis Quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 842 10-in. May 1946 Lockjaw Eddie Davis Quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 843 10-in. May 1946 Afternoon in a doghouse Eddie Davis Quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Signature SRC 844 10-in. May 1946 Athlete's foot Eddie Davis Quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 26-33 of 33 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ramey, Gene," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339074.

Ramey, Gene. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339074.

"Ramey, Gene." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/339074

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