5 minutes with Willis Alan Ramsey
Willis Alan Ramsey joined Bruce Robison and the Next Waltz team at The Bunker to record a special studio session of his record, along with an exclusive long-form interview.
By Kaili Rose
Watch the full Willis Alan Ramsey studio video + long-form interview.
“I first met Willis in Colorado at a radio thing… the radio DJ didn’t know who Willis was! I guess that’s the world we live in. So I just played one of his songs instead of my own.”
A cult legend among fans of country and Americana music, Willis Alan Ramsey is often referred to as the songwriter’s songwriter. Having earned himself an indelible position in the industry among fellow songwriters, musicians and fans alike, Ramsey is living proof that quality over quantity can still yield longevity in an industry where artists too often create for the sake of creating.
“There are not a lot of great country records. Most country records are a collection of two singles and a bunch of filler. This record was incredibly formative to me. It’s one of the great ones. There are a few - Red-Header Stranger and Honky-Tonk Heroes - and Willis’ only record. It’s just so rare in the country world, because most people don’t really look at country albums as a kind of statement.”
With a sole album released at the age of 21, his highly influential self-titled 1972 album has just reached the 50-year mark – to great acclaim. And it still holds its’ own among the industry’s contemporary heavyweights. “His songs are sweet, emotionally guarded and often musically complex, fitting strains of melody together that seem as if they ought not connect” - Ben Ratliff for The New York Times.
Willis Alan Ramsey joined us at The Bunker to record a special studio session recently. We also sat down to chat at length about Willis’ prodigious career and reflections on the music industry from the 70’s until now.
The Next Waltz is preserving musical history for future generations - with impeccable sound and beauty. “Sometimes the legacy artists from 40 years ago we work with don’t have much content other than just people’s cell phone videos. We look at great content as a thing we can do that might help them. It is an incredible honor to be part of telling their story” - Bruce.
Kaili Rose
With a background in music photography, journalism & film, Kaili handles Social media, Marketing & A&R at The Next Waltz. She specializes in lamenting the by-gone days of great music, helping artists build their digital presence, and making documentaries far too ambitious for her budget.