TROY RAMEY AND THE SOUL SEARCHERS
Troy Ramey Sr, was born on 28 June, 1940 in Monroe, Georgia, to Florence Ramey (I don't know the name of Troy's father); and lived his adult life in metro Atlanta, Troy passed away on 4 December, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Troy was the lead singer for Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers, an Atlanta, Georgia, quartet group which he joined in the early 1960's. The group was originally known as The Soul Searchers, but eventually became known as Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers. The group also consisted of Russell Wright who was also a lead singer in the group, Kenny Williams, James Banks, Johnny Rutherford, Edward Malcolm, John Carter and Ricky McKenzie. Troy worked as a house painter, which he continued to do while the group progressed as one of the best black quartet gospel groups, Troy was also a great gospel song writer, writing many of the songs that his group recorded. The group's first recordings were for the Ziontone label out of Atlanta. Over time the group line up would change, by 1982 it had changed to include Kenny Williams, Russell Wright, Troy Ramey, John Carter, Ed Malcolm, Robert Alexander, Larry Mapp, Rufus Fuller and Miguel Johnson, and by 1990 it had changed to include Troy Ramey, John Carter, Ed Malcolm, Robert Alexander, Larry Mapp, Alvin Scott and Derrick Ramey.
The group recorded two 45's with Ziontone records in the 1960's, before signing with Brother Love records out of Atlanta, before having that album re-released via Musicor Records in 1972, a reissue of their self titled "Soul Searchers" album that year, featured the song "Great Change". They released a second lp on Musicor "Singing The Gospel" in 1974, including the song "Move To A Better Home". The group signed with Nashboro Records out of Nashville, Tennessee in 1976, recording 7 albums for Nashboro. Troy usually recorded under the supervision of Bob Richardson. Their first release for Nashboro was the "Pickinem Up And Layinem Down" lp which was released in 1976 and was a hit for them locally and in the South, it featured the song "Save A Soul In Every Town (Pickin Em Up And Layin Em Down)", as well as "By The Power Of God". The next release was 1977's "Try Being Born Again" album which featured "A Charge To Keep". In 1978, their first Musicor lp was redesigned by Nashboro and released as "Great Change". 1979 saw the release of the "Try Jesus" lp, which became one of their biggest ever selling albums. By 1982 Nashboro had them recording as Troy Ramey And The Sensational Soul Searchers.
In 1983, the group signed with AIR Records out of Atlanta, Georgia; they recorded 8 albums on AIR, with "I've Been Picked Out To Be Picked On" being their first AIR release, this was followed by the 1986 release of their lp "Great Camp Meeting". One of their strongest albums was their 1995 release "Somebody's Gotta Do Something" which is one of my favorite releases by the group, "He Brought Me Out" was a live album issued in 1999 as was "Call Jesus:Live" in 2002. The group continued to tour for a number of years until health issues caused them to reduce their performances.
Troy had several children that followed him into singing gospel. Some of his sons sang with The Sensational Gents of Atlanta and his daughters recorded as The Daughters Of Troy, also singing on some of his songs.
When he passed away, Troy had 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters and his wife Jane Ellen Ramey.
4 Sons: Anthony T. Ramey, Derrick E. Ramey, Dexter Ramey and Troy Ramey Jr.
Daughters: Tammy Ramey Chambers, Sheila Dobbs, Sharon Ramey Dyson, Bonita Ramey Kornegay and Belinda Ramey. Troy's funeral services were held Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Rev Dr R. L. White officiating.
Discography
45's
ZIONTONE
377 -: Soul Searchers- Nobody Knows (Lead Troy Ramey)/ Strengthen Me (Leads: Troy Ramey, Russal Wright)
494 -: Soul Searchers- Mother Prayed Again (Lead Russell Wright)/ Stay With me Jesus (Lead Ramey Wright)
FEVRE
3645-: The Soul Searchers Of Atlanta With Troy Remey and Bob Washington- Beat The Devil Running/ Burying Ground
SONG BIRD
1079-: The Soul Searchers- How Far Is Heaven/ Just A Little Talk
1093-: The Soul Searchers- Since Mother’s Been Gone/ My Work
1121-: The Soul Searchers- Let Me Walk/ My Testimony
1140-: The Soul Searchers- I Made A Vow/ Your Friend
1187-: The Soul Searchers- Christmas In Vietnam/ Lord Help Me
MUSICOR
1462-: Soul Searchers- Great Change/ Lord I’ve Done What You Told Me To Do, 1972
1486-: Soul Searchers- My Soul Needs Rest/ Precious Lord, 1973
1505-: Soul Rearchers- Move To A Better Home/ I Got Rid Of My Heavy Load, 1974
NASHBORO
1053-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Lord I Want You To Touch Me/ By The Power Of God, 1977
1066-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- 99 1/2 Won’t Do/ A Charge To Keep, 1978
1071-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Great Change/ Jesus Paid It All, 1979
1083-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Death Is Writing A Letter/ Try Jesus, 1979
1094-: Troy Ramey and The Soul Searchers- I Heard The Voice/ Good News, 1982
1097-: Troy Ramey and The Soul Searchers- Prayer Is A Part Of Man/ Life's Evening Sun, 1983
LP'S
BROTHER LOVE (Atlanta Label)
137-: The Soul Searchers Featuring Their Hit "Great Change" - Self Titled
MUSICOR
3244-: Soul Searchers- Soul Searchers, 1972
3256-: Soul Searchers- Singing The Gospel, 1974
NASHBORO
7171-: Troy Ramey And The Show Stoppin’ Soul Searchers- Pickinem up and Layinem Down, 1976
7190-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Self Titled
7201-: Troy Ramey and the Soul Searchers- Great Change
7213-: Troy Ramey & The Show-Stopping Soul Searchers- Try Jesus, 1979
7239-: Troy Ramey and the Show Stoppin’ Soul Searchers- Good News, 1981
7245-: Troy Ramey And The Soul Searchers- The Best Of Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers, 1981
7253-: Troy Ramey and the Sensational Soul Searchers- Self Titled, 1982
AIR
10079-: Troy Ramey and the Soul Searchers- I’ve been picked out to be picked on, 1984
10110-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Great Camp Meeting, 1986
10144-: Troy Ramey And The Soul Searchers- Live (Recorded in Macon, Georgia)
10173-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Earth Has No Sorrow..., 1992 (label lists the album as Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Cannot Heal)
10203-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Somebody's Gotta Do Something, 1995
10234-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- We’ve Come This Far, 1997
10253-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Live, He Brought Me Out, 1999
10280-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Call Jesus, 2002
Troy was the lead singer for Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers, an Atlanta, Georgia, quartet group which he joined in the early 1960's. The group was originally known as The Soul Searchers, but eventually became known as Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers. The group also consisted of Russell Wright who was also a lead singer in the group, Kenny Williams, James Banks, Johnny Rutherford, Edward Malcolm, John Carter and Ricky McKenzie. Troy worked as a house painter, which he continued to do while the group progressed as one of the best black quartet gospel groups, Troy was also a great gospel song writer, writing many of the songs that his group recorded. The group's first recordings were for the Ziontone label out of Atlanta. Over time the group line up would change, by 1982 it had changed to include Kenny Williams, Russell Wright, Troy Ramey, John Carter, Ed Malcolm, Robert Alexander, Larry Mapp, Rufus Fuller and Miguel Johnson, and by 1990 it had changed to include Troy Ramey, John Carter, Ed Malcolm, Robert Alexander, Larry Mapp, Alvin Scott and Derrick Ramey.
The group recorded two 45's with Ziontone records in the 1960's, before signing with Brother Love records out of Atlanta, before having that album re-released via Musicor Records in 1972, a reissue of their self titled "Soul Searchers" album that year, featured the song "Great Change". They released a second lp on Musicor "Singing The Gospel" in 1974, including the song "Move To A Better Home". The group signed with Nashboro Records out of Nashville, Tennessee in 1976, recording 7 albums for Nashboro. Troy usually recorded under the supervision of Bob Richardson. Their first release for Nashboro was the "Pickinem Up And Layinem Down" lp which was released in 1976 and was a hit for them locally and in the South, it featured the song "Save A Soul In Every Town (Pickin Em Up And Layin Em Down)", as well as "By The Power Of God". The next release was 1977's "Try Being Born Again" album which featured "A Charge To Keep". In 1978, their first Musicor lp was redesigned by Nashboro and released as "Great Change". 1979 saw the release of the "Try Jesus" lp, which became one of their biggest ever selling albums. By 1982 Nashboro had them recording as Troy Ramey And The Sensational Soul Searchers.
In 1983, the group signed with AIR Records out of Atlanta, Georgia; they recorded 8 albums on AIR, with "I've Been Picked Out To Be Picked On" being their first AIR release, this was followed by the 1986 release of their lp "Great Camp Meeting". One of their strongest albums was their 1995 release "Somebody's Gotta Do Something" which is one of my favorite releases by the group, "He Brought Me Out" was a live album issued in 1999 as was "Call Jesus:Live" in 2002. The group continued to tour for a number of years until health issues caused them to reduce their performances.
Troy had several children that followed him into singing gospel. Some of his sons sang with The Sensational Gents of Atlanta and his daughters recorded as The Daughters Of Troy, also singing on some of his songs.
When he passed away, Troy had 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters and his wife Jane Ellen Ramey.
4 Sons: Anthony T. Ramey, Derrick E. Ramey, Dexter Ramey and Troy Ramey Jr.
Daughters: Tammy Ramey Chambers, Sheila Dobbs, Sharon Ramey Dyson, Bonita Ramey Kornegay and Belinda Ramey. Troy's funeral services were held Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Rev Dr R. L. White officiating.
Discography
45's
ZIONTONE
377 -: Soul Searchers- Nobody Knows (Lead Troy Ramey)/ Strengthen Me (Leads: Troy Ramey, Russal Wright)
494 -: Soul Searchers- Mother Prayed Again (Lead Russell Wright)/ Stay With me Jesus (Lead Ramey Wright)
FEVRE
3645-: The Soul Searchers Of Atlanta With Troy Remey and Bob Washington- Beat The Devil Running/ Burying Ground
SONG BIRD
1079-: The Soul Searchers- How Far Is Heaven/ Just A Little Talk
1093-: The Soul Searchers- Since Mother’s Been Gone/ My Work
1121-: The Soul Searchers- Let Me Walk/ My Testimony
1140-: The Soul Searchers- I Made A Vow/ Your Friend
1187-: The Soul Searchers- Christmas In Vietnam/ Lord Help Me
MUSICOR
1462-: Soul Searchers- Great Change/ Lord I’ve Done What You Told Me To Do, 1972
1486-: Soul Searchers- My Soul Needs Rest/ Precious Lord, 1973
1505-: Soul Rearchers- Move To A Better Home/ I Got Rid Of My Heavy Load, 1974
NASHBORO
1053-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Lord I Want You To Touch Me/ By The Power Of God, 1977
1066-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- 99 1/2 Won’t Do/ A Charge To Keep, 1978
1071-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Great Change/ Jesus Paid It All, 1979
1083-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Death Is Writing A Letter/ Try Jesus, 1979
1094-: Troy Ramey and The Soul Searchers- I Heard The Voice/ Good News, 1982
1097-: Troy Ramey and The Soul Searchers- Prayer Is A Part Of Man/ Life's Evening Sun, 1983
LP'S
BROTHER LOVE (Atlanta Label)
137-: The Soul Searchers Featuring Their Hit "Great Change" - Self Titled
MUSICOR
3244-: Soul Searchers- Soul Searchers, 1972
3256-: Soul Searchers- Singing The Gospel, 1974
NASHBORO
7171-: Troy Ramey And The Show Stoppin’ Soul Searchers- Pickinem up and Layinem Down, 1976
7190-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Self Titled
7201-: Troy Ramey and the Soul Searchers- Great Change
7213-: Troy Ramey & The Show-Stopping Soul Searchers- Try Jesus, 1979
7239-: Troy Ramey and the Show Stoppin’ Soul Searchers- Good News, 1981
7245-: Troy Ramey And The Soul Searchers- The Best Of Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers, 1981
7253-: Troy Ramey and the Sensational Soul Searchers- Self Titled, 1982
AIR
10079-: Troy Ramey and the Soul Searchers- I’ve been picked out to be picked on, 1984
10110-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Great Camp Meeting, 1986
10144-: Troy Ramey And The Soul Searchers- Live (Recorded in Macon, Georgia)
10173-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Earth Has No Sorrow..., 1992 (label lists the album as Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Cannot Heal)
10203-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Somebody's Gotta Do Something, 1995
10234-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- We’ve Come This Far, 1997
10253-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Live, He Brought Me Out, 1999
10280-: Troy Ramey & The Soul Searchers- Call Jesus, 2002
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