Alto, tenor, baritone sax.
Ramsay grew up in Centralia, Wash., taught himself to play saxophone and learned to play jazz while stationed at Ft. Lewis from 1948-1952. where he met and played with other soldier-musicians such as Eric Dolphy and Leo Wright. Ramsay gigged often in Tacoma and around Olympia and Seattle. In 1958 Ramsay assembled an all-star big band featuring players such as Chuck Metcalf and trumpeter Don Smith. He later became a regular contractor of pit bands for touring stars such as Billy Eckstine, Tony Bennett and Johnny Mathis. From 1979 forward, Ramsay toured with nationally known jazz players, such as Buddy Tate, Maynard Ferguson and Benny Goodman and in 1984 began a long relationship with the Count Basie Band. When he i not on the road, Ramsay plays in town with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and the Ramsay-Kleeb Big Band, which he co-leads with Milt Kleeb.
Jackson Street After Hours (print). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ramsay