Jim Ramsey
James McNair Ramsey (born 20 June 1961) is an Anglo-American singer-songwriter and recording artist who emerged as part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee music scene in the 1990s. He is known for his romantic, spiritually conscious folk-rock which blends British progressive rock and American pop influences and for his critically acclaimed album, On the Dying Breath of Wisdom.
Career
During his late teens, Ramsey made his first songwriting efforts while playing electric piano in a garage band. After graduating from Hixson High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he played a critical role in the re-activation of 2nd Chemical Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas.
Ramsey began recording his debut album, On the Dying Breath of Wisdom, in 1997 while simultaneously developing his clinical career. Produced and arranged by keyboardist/composer Joseph Akins, and engineered by Glass Hammer's Fred Schendel, the album features guest appearances by soprano, Unita, on backup vocals and former Legend guitarist Ed Holub. The music combines introspective lyrics, soulful melodies, and lush keyboards with a mix of folk, rock, pop, and classical elements reminiscent of the British art rock of the 1970s. Its ten songs comprise a MusicAL portrait of Ramsey's spiritual evolution as reflected in his relationships and the historical events of the time, and "offers the timeless message that humankind has the power to realize its highest destiny by transcending age-old divisions and embracing the unity of all life.
While recording on the album was completed in 2000, Ramsey's ensuing life challenges prevented its release until 2012, a year which coincided with the revival of his music career. As he prepares to record his second album, Ramsey's notoriety has continued to grow through a well-received series of live solo shows, as well as positive reviews in music blogs such as the Chattanooga Pulse., JamSphere, and Indie Band Guru. Ramsey is also an interfaith minister and pastor of Crossvine Church, a community ministry he founded in 2013.