The Ramong Sound was a British R&B, soul and ska band, active from 1965 to 1966.
Background The Ramong Sound was a London-based outfit, that featured two black lead singers doing Sam & Dave styled duets, one of them being Raymond Morrison (aka Ramong MorrisonIt's Psychedelic Baby Magazine, 22 July 2011 - Pluto interview with Paul Gardner & Alan Warner), and the other being a former professional boxer, Clem Curtis50 Connect -A Chat With The Foundations' Clem Curtis who had also done some wrestling.Melody Maker, 31 August 1968 - Page 4 Clem to quit Foundations?
Morrison had left Jamaica and arrived in London in 1954.BM Black Music & Jazz Review, April 81 Voll 3 Issue 12 - Publisher R.W. Daniell - Page 17 HAWK vs HAWK, Frances Taylor meets RAM, TAM & JO, During his time, Morrison (also known as Ray Morrison) had worked with Trev Thoms.Barking Spider, 6 October. 2005 - Hawkwind artistes JUDGE TREV & JAKI WINDMILL at The R.M.A on Friday.!!!!! He had also fronted or sung with The Graham Bond Organisation for a brief period.
Nigerian born Mike Falana was a member for a period of time and had been a star in his own right.The Wire June 2019 (Issue 424) - Page 37 Mike Falana: The talented Nigerian trumpeter was a star of UK jazz until he vanished from the London scene. By Val WilmerThe Musicians' Olympus - Trumpet Players, F, Mike Falana He had been a member of the African Messengers,Oxford Music Online - King (Adeyoyin Osubu), Peter The Johnny Burch Octet,Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945, By Jon Stratton, Nabeel Zuberi · 2016 - - Chapter 2 Melting Pot Page 30 - 31 the Graham Bond Organisation, having replaced Jack Bruce.Blowing the Blues, fifty years of playing the British blues, by Disck-Heckstall-Smith and Pete Grant, 1989, - 1:4 THE BEGINNING OF THE GRAHAM BOND ORGANIZATION Page 62
Prior to joining the Ramong Sound, 25 year-old Clem Curtis was a professional boxer and had worked as a painter and interior decorator.
Guitar player Alan Warner was an experienced musician, and joined the Ramong Sound after having worked in various bands. He would stay with the group through all of their name change evolutions from Ramongs to Foundations, until he left the Foundations in 1970 to join progressive rock band Pluto.
At some stage, the group was called The Ramongs, or The Ramong.The Original Pluto Rock Band – The Original Pluto Rock Band, Biography It may be that the last title in the succession of name changes was The Ramong Sound as the name was being used in early 1967.Melody Maker, 4 February 1967 - Page 13 CLUBS, THE NEW ALL-STAR CLUB
At one point, the group had been discovered by Ron Fairway.Strange Brew - The Ways and Means In August 2023, Alan Warner was interviewed by Jack Hodgins of the Australian radio station, 2NUR FM. The interview appears to suggest that Raymond Morrison was still in the group when Ron Fairway approached them.2NUR FM103.7, Wednesday 23 August 2023 - Vinyl Vibes by Jack Hodgins - Alan Warner - Original Guitarist of the Foundations 15:50 - 17:00
History and career Group leader Ramong (Raymond Morrison) was looking for backing singers. Clem Curtis's uncle told him about it, and he should give it a try. At this time Curtis' singing experience was more or less limited to singing with his uncle when he came around the house with the guitar. So, Curtis went along and joined up.40 Hits, 40 Stories Behind Top Songs of the 1960s and 1970s, by Rick Simmons (2023) ISBN 978-1-4766-4690-9 (ebook) - Page 183 #33 (R&B Charts), "Baby, Now That I've Found You" (1967), THE FOUNDATIONS He joined The Ramong Sound as a backing singer. He later was sharing the lead with Raymond Morrison.Noise 11, 28 March 2017 - R.I.P. Clem Curtis of The Foundations 1940-2017 by ROGER WINK, VVN MUSIC The group had a steadily growing reputation and following around the London club scene due to their energetic performances. Morrison and Curtis performed duets.Cherry Red Records, 13 June 2022 - NEWS, THE FOUNDATIONS| DISCOVER THE ‘PYE’ RECORDINGS OF THE FOUNDATIONS IN THIS NEW COLLECTION – ‘AM I GROOVIN’ YOU’ Even though Curtis lacked the experience, he was able to work on his style then.Vinilo Negro, 28 marzo, 2017 - Muere a los 76 años, Clem Curtis, vocalista principal, de The Foundations
It appears that the original lead singer, Ramong Morrison (Raymond Morrison), whom the group was named after, was imprisoned for six months in January 1967 for assault,Melody Maker, 27 July 1968 - Page 4 MORRISON CLAIM the group attempted to recruit Rod Stewart, but Stewart had other plans.It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine, 22 July 2011 - Pluto interview with Paul Gardner & Alan Warner, You were in The Foundations and recorded four albums. Later, a friend of the band called Joan suggested Arthur Brown as a replacement.Alan Warner Website – THE FOUNDATIONS When Brown walked in for his rehearsal at the Westbourne Grove bar, he saw the drummer was bent backwards over the bar with Clem leaning over him with a spear at his throat.Louder, 15 January 2004 - Arthur Brown: Fire Starter by Hugh Fielder Contrary to his wild image he had with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, he was very straight when he joined the band and he didn't drink, smoke or take drugs.The Little Box Office - The Foundations, Story of The Foundations By Ralph Gowling, Deputy Editor of The Beat magazine While with the group, Brown and Curtis would do songs separately as well as together in Duets. They were covering mainly soul music material. Years later in an interview Brown stated that he was "chuffed" to be singing with Curtis. Incidentally Brown already had his Crazy World band up and running at the same time. Around this time they had gone through a succession of name changes that included The Foundation Sound, The Foundation Squad,Noise 11, MARCH 28, 2017 - R.I.P. Clem Curtis of The Foundations 1940-2017 by ROGER WINK and would eventually evolve into The Foundations.Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2017, By Harris M. Lentz III, (2017) ISBN 978-1-4766-2912-4 (ebook) - Page 88 Curtis, Clem Arthur Brown would leave the band after a couple of months. He may have left in June that year.Disc and Music Echo, 21 October 1967 - Page 10 FOUNDATIONS -EIGHT NAMES FROM NOWHERE, *STARNOTE One pop name who got away from the Foundations is the much-publicised Arthur Brown"He was with us for a while about four months ago-but left to start his own scene," said Tony.
The group emerged in early 1967 with a new horn section consisting of Dominican trombonist Eric Allandale and Jamaican saxophonists Pat Burke and Mike Elliott filling roles once held by Mike Falana and the other horn player(s). Drummer Tim Harris filled the position once held by Lyndsay Arnold, and Clem Curtis was now the lead singer.
The group had been living in a former gambling den called The Butterfly Club which they ended up running. They were eventually forced out by a protection racket gang and had to move next door into what was described as a squalid disused mini-cab office.
The 4 February 1967 issue of Melody Maker shows a booking for The Ramong Sound (misspelt as The Ramog Sound) at the All-Star Club at 9a Artillery Passage, London E1 on Sunday, 5 February 1967.
At some stage the group was discovered by Ron Fairway who introduced them to Barry Class.The Strange Brew - The Ways and Means
The Foundations would go on to have several hits,Goldmine, 25 Jul 2022 - CD box sets for summer 2022, from The Foundations to Bubblerock by David Thompson, The Foundations, Am I Groovin’ You - the Pye Anthology, Strawberry - 3 CDs including "Baby Now That I've Found You" with Clem Curtis on lead vocalsThe Guardian, 28 March 2017 - Foundations lead singer Clem Curtis dies aged 76 by Kevin Rawlinson and later with Colin Young on "Build Me Up Buttercup".American Songwriter - The Meaning Behind the Classic "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations, Colin Young BY JACOB UITTI
Later years Raymond Morrison Having completed his six-month prison sentence, Morrison took legal action against The Foundations. As reported in the 27 July 1968 issue of Melody Maker, Morrison took it to court in a bid to put a freeze on a proportion of the group's earnings. Morrison claimed that he had discovered the talent of the group. But with his association to the group having been severed by his imprisonment etc., the Judge who heard the case, Judge Stamp said that he couldn't understand how he could have any share or interest in a song ("Baby Now That I've Found You") that came into existence after he had severed his connection with the group.
Raymond Morrison would record a single "Girl I Want to Hold You" backed with "Money Can't Buy Life", released on the Sugar label in January, 1970. It had a short review by Chris Welch of Melody Maker. Noting Morrison's distinctive vocals and the bright backing beat, he referred to it as A sort of bluebeat come reggae come throat pastille boogaloo.Melody Maker, 31 January 1970 - NEW POP SINGLES BY CHRIS WELCH, RAYMOND MORRISON: "Girl I Want To Hold You" (Sugar)
Hawk & Hyfan Records Later in the late 1970s, Morrison founded his record label, Hawk Records located at 243 Finchley Road, London NW3. He ran it with his wife Tamara. A co-director was Carl Lewis.Tighten Up!: The History of Reggae in the UK, Michael De Koningh, Marc Griffiths · 2003 - PAGE 248 Name: Hawk In a duo with Tam (Tamara) called Ram & Tam, he recorded a succession of singles in the late 1970s for the Hawk and Hyfan labels. One of their singles, "Hawk in Flight" (Part 1) was the Cup Winner in Kelly Pike's Saturday Afternoon Fever review in the 24 June 1978 issue of Record Mirror. Pike said it was well-worth a listen, and mentioned the great backing track and the occasional Althea & Donna-type vocals drifting over it.Record Mirror, 24 June 1978 - Page 10 Singles Referred by Kelly Pike, SATURDAY AFTERNOON FEVER Another single, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", released on Hawk HSP in 1979,James Hamilton's Disco Page - RAM & TAM: ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’ (HAWK HSP 8) got onto the reggae chart for a few weeks, and by 15 December that year, it was at no. 25.Music Week, 10 November 1979 - Page 47 DISCS, RAM & TAM New Single "WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW" in the reggae charts at no. 32Music Week, 15 December 1979 - Page 32 DISCS, RAM & TAM New Single "WILL YOU STILL LOVE ME TOMORROW" in the reggae charts at no. 25 When their record was charting, the Duo had been appearing every Friday and Saturday at the Black-owned Ramaras Club & Restaurant, a venue known for featuring reggae music.Black Enterprise, August, 1980 - Page 116 HER MAGESTIE'S ISLES, Pubs, bagpipes, and reggae- all yours in the culturally diverse British Isles, Have a cold beer in a Scottish club and meet the warm, friendly people ... By 1981, the duo had expanded into a trio called Ram Tam & jo. They had a 12" single "Cherries" released on Hawk HSP 9.Music & Video Week, 14 February 1981 - Page 26 SELECT SINGLES Reviewed by TONY JASPER, RAM TAM & JO Cherries (Hawk HSP 9, Indie) 12" Ram & Tam also released an album Love & Life in 1986.Who Sampled - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Ram & Tam
The Ramong name would be used for "Reggae's Back in Town", an Owen Grey release on the Hyfan label. The record was produced by Ramong and Totoman.Discogs - Hyfan Records, Owen Grey* Reggae's Back In Town (12", Single)
Clem Curtis Clem Curtis quit the Foundations around September 1968 to embark on a solo career.Melody Maker, 14 September 1968 - Page 4 Clem finally Quits