Biography
Larry Ramos ranked among the select New Christy Minstrels alumni—Gene Clark and Barry McGuire among them—who later built notable careers in rock. Born in Hawaii in 1942 into a musical household where his mother sang and his father played ukulele, he displayed innate talent early, winning an amateur contest alongside his sister at age five. By seven he appeared in the Esther Williams MGM feature Pagan Love Song, and shortly afterward entered Arthur Godfrey’s circle, performing on both the radio and television talent programs. During his teens he performed in the touring production of The King and I alongside Yul Brynner.
Following that extended engagement, Ramos completed his schooling in Southern California. While performing at a local coffeehouse he drew the attention of Randy Sparks, who had earlier assembled a studio iteration of the New Christy Minstrels and was now forming a live ensemble. Within the group Ramos primarily handled banjo yet proved a versatile multi-instrumentalist on guitar and various other stringed instruments. He remained for four years, gaining wide visibility through a series of hits—most prominently “Green, Green”—constant touring, frequent appearances on The Andy Williams Show, and network television specials.
By the mid-sixties the ensemble found itself on the conservative flank of the folk-music divide, catering to mainstream middle-brow listeners while Bob Dylan and the Byrds claimed the more innovative territory. Like others recruited by Sparks, Ramos received a fixed salary without participation in record, tour, or broadcast revenues. In 1966, chafing at the shift toward pop material, the restrictive finances, and the wish to remain closer to his wife and infant daughter, he departed. He cut the solo single “It’ll Take a Little Time” for Columbia Records, performed at the Playboy Club in Los Angeles, and later toured Japan. He also substituted on short notice for injured bassist Brian Cole of the Association, absorbing their repertoire from recordings in just a couple of evenings.
That temporary role prompted an early-1967 invitation from co-founder Terry Kirkman to join permanently in place of departing co-founder Gary Alexander. Ramos entered as lead guitarist in time to record the third album, Insight Out, and its hit “Windy,” on which he also sang, and to perform with the band at the Monterey Pop Festival. He contributed vocals to the subsequent major single “Never My Love,” and his guitar work remained central to the group’s sound until its dissolution in the mid-seventies. The Association regrouped in 1979; since the eighties Ramos and drummer Russ Giguere have jointly held the rights to the name.
Following that extended engagement, Ramos completed his schooling in Southern California. While performing at a local coffeehouse he drew the attention of Randy Sparks, who had earlier assembled a studio iteration of the New Christy Minstrels and was now forming a live ensemble. Within the group Ramos primarily handled banjo yet proved a versatile multi-instrumentalist on guitar and various other stringed instruments. He remained for four years, gaining wide visibility through a series of hits—most prominently “Green, Green”—constant touring, frequent appearances on The Andy Williams Show, and network television specials.
By the mid-sixties the ensemble found itself on the conservative flank of the folk-music divide, catering to mainstream middle-brow listeners while Bob Dylan and the Byrds claimed the more innovative territory. Like others recruited by Sparks, Ramos received a fixed salary without participation in record, tour, or broadcast revenues. In 1966, chafing at the shift toward pop material, the restrictive finances, and the wish to remain closer to his wife and infant daughter, he departed. He cut the solo single “It’ll Take a Little Time” for Columbia Records, performed at the Playboy Club in Los Angeles, and later toured Japan. He also substituted on short notice for injured bassist Brian Cole of the Association, absorbing their repertoire from recordings in just a couple of evenings.
That temporary role prompted an early-1967 invitation from co-founder Terry Kirkman to join permanently in place of departing co-founder Gary Alexander. Ramos entered as lead guitarist in time to record the third album, Insight Out, and its hit “Windy,” on which he also sang, and to perform with the band at the Monterey Pop Festival. He contributed vocals to the subsequent major single “Never My Love,” and his guitar work remained central to the group’s sound until its dissolution in the mid-seventies. The Association regrouped in 1979; since the eighties Ramos and drummer Russ Giguere have jointly held the rights to the name.
Singles