Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramona Music Alliance. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Living in a community-rich environment such as the seemingly quiet backcountry town of Ramona, marvelous events can occur. Over time, local musician Doug Walker had the realization strike him that so many of his fellow musicians were singing and performing songs they’d written about the town they love; there had to be some way to showcase their collective, inspired talent. And so, a collaborative CD was born. Entitled “Our Ramona,” the resulting compilation of 16 original songs was officially launched at a “red carpet” launch party on December 18, 2023, to great success.
Song titles vary from Ashley E. Norton’s “Ramona Rockstar” to Dana Duplan’s “Evacuatin’ Chickens,” to Travis Billy Ross’s “Ramona’s Song,” to Desert Crossing’s “Take the 78,” each depicting their own take on a country life lived small town-style and to the beat of their own drum.
Aside from the aforementioned Norton, Duplan, Ross, and Desert Crossing, featured artists include Doug Walker, Tim Connelly, Tyler Stamets, Craig Fischer, Danielle Hughes, Thea The Band, Leah Keane, Chloe Lou, Brett Mackinga, Cathryn Beeks, Michael Dean Goodrich, and Dusty Recor.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, organizing and funding a community project of any type can be challenging, especially when the effort is all volunteer-based and, of course, the many months it took from conception to completion. Fortunately, the talent, the resources, the drive, and the enthusiasm were all a given in this case.
Ramona is, itself, a remarkable little town, obviously having inspired the artists to begin with. An active, collaborative music scene already existed and was stalwartly supported by a potential customer base of entertainment venues, including the region’s many boutique wineries and appreciative audiences. Realizing he had a winning idea, Walker stumped up the seed money personally to get the songs into production.
It helped that musical powerhouses Ashley E. Norton and Jon Hasz, owner of AfterHoursStudio, had already formed the Ramona Music Alliance in 2022, so there was a loose coalition of talent and volunteers in place to help out and realize his vision. Ashley and Jon both stepped up right away: producing, engineering, performing, and coaxing the project along with the attention to detail and top-notch professional skills needed to execute to plan.
Musical artist and impressario Cathryn Beeks steered art production, professional photographer John Hancock shot the iconic “Welcome to Ramona” monument by Leslie Souzaby used to illustrate the cover art, and Michael Dean Goodrich contributed web design. Leslie Liddie was born to fill the role of sales manager, and then, the piece-de-resistance, RamonaRadio.com, came aboard as a sponsor. Not only did RamonaRadio.com air the songs and jumpstart pre-sales of the CD, owners Eric and Cassie Goforth drew on their special event backgrounds to host a red-carpet premiere to launch the release, the like of which Ramona had never seen before.
Reds, Whites, and Brews in Ramona’s historic Old Town was the scene of the launch: limos rolled up, klieg lights illuminated and strobed the night sky, and the participating artists strutted their stuff before performing their original compositions on stage, along with a festive song, to a packed house of more than one hundred fans, friends, family members, and civic VIPs.
Contributing a percentage of CD sales to the ongoing restoration project of Ramona’s Town Hall lent an altruistic element to the project that resonated with the hometown crowd. The Town Hall was, itself, the backdrop on Main Street when the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration kicked off the pre-selling campaign in early December as the Holiday season got underway.
Perhaps the hardest challenge of all was selecting the songs and the artists for the CD. There may be a subsequent release based on the heartening surge of interest to participate. Certainly, there will be future RMA special projects.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Ramona Music Alliance is a natural outgrowth of the creative talent and musically skilled folk who live or work in Ramona. No membership fees are required. Members are drawn from all spheres of the town’s music community: singer/songwriters, musicians, producers, vendors, promoters, designers, venues, business owners, the media and more. The atmosphere is informal, collaborative, and collegial. Members can swap ideas, source advice, exchange services, make referrals, and learn or teach skills useful in their artistic expression and navigating a business environment that is increasingly technologically sophisticated.
The goal is to continue to encourage and support live music venues and each other, help build audiences, and share information and resources.
Besides networking and resource sharing, one aspect most enjoyed by Alliance members is just doing what they love most: performing and jamming together. Weekly “Dealer’s Choice” nights held each Monday between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. in the Hay Barn at Reds, Whites, and Brews, 629 Main Street, provides that outlet. The public is welcome to attend; 21 years or over, only. No cover charge required. Wine and beer, and frequently food truck fare, is available for purchase.
Musicians sign up for a 15-minute spot where they may perform two songs in the spirit of an overall theme designated ahead of time. Artists are free to play in their usual format, with or without featured guests, or switch it up entirely in terms of music genre. Artists wishing to be accompanied by the house band comprising bass, drums, and electric guitar should communicate their selection a minimum of three days prior to the event to allow for practice.
Another popular benefit of being involved in the Alliance is the opportunity for members to post their upcoming gigs for increased visibility on the RMA website calendar.
All in all, RMA is helping to make Ramona a happy place to live or visit with great music and wine!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication of the many Ramona musicians who inspire and support one another. There is some musical magic at work in Ramona! It’s evolving to be a “Little Austin (TX)” here.
The catalysts are undoubtedly Ashley E. Norton and Jon Hasz, RMA’s co-founders. Their dynamism and synergy was recently recognized on January 21, 2024, by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce when both were hailed as “Citizens of the Year,” the first time the award has ever been shared by two people. They have both helped nurture, direct, and structure an artistic community specific to a geographic/demographic area, making it stronger by association and in exchanging ideas and best practices.
The entire community of Ramona is fortunate, indeed. Living, working, playing, and socializing here just gets better. Live music can be enjoyed up to seven days a week.
Pricing:
- Digital downloads of the entire CD or individual songs are now available for purchase, up to $20, via RamonaMusicAlliance.Bandcamp.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rma.bio/
- Other: RamonaMusicAlliance.Bandcamp.com
Image Credits
John Hancock Photography
Doug Walker
