You may not immediately recognize the
name Willis Alan Ramsey. I would guess,
however, you know his work. Ramsey is
songwriter. Early in the 1970s he wrote
a song that became known as “Muskrat Love.”
America recorded the song on an album in 1973. The Captain and Tennille ushered the song to
#4 on the pop charts in 1976. Jimmy
Buffett, Jerry Jeff Walker, Waylon Jennings, Widespread Panic, and Shawn Colvin
are among a few other artists who also recorded his songs.
That’s quite a feat for a guy who
recorded just one album back in 1972.
Interestingly, Willis Alan Ramsey
played gigs in Montana way back when.
One of the songs on his album is “Goodbye to Old Missoula.”
After recording his album in 1972,
Ramsey had a falling-out with Shelter Records.
He stopped commercially recording his songs.
Ramsey remains out there playing and
writing songs. In 1996, Lyle Lovett
recorded his song “That’s Right, You’re Not From Texas” and navigated it into a
hit.
Still, his fans (I am one of them)
await a second album.
When pressed by someone about
recording a second album, Ramsey says the coolest thing: “What’s wrong with the
first one?” he asks.
-- Mitchell
Hegman
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