Ramona Collins

Ramona Collins You've Been Cheatin'

I was recently came across Ramona's website while carrying out some research. Ramona is best known in the UK for her Northern classic. Please drop by her site because there is a lot more to the lady than one 45!

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Ramona was reared in Lansing, Michigan, by a jazz pianist/singer mother - the late Alice (Collins) Carter - who encouraged her daughter to sing at an early age to combat her shyness. Today, anyone fortunate enough to witness the veteran performer at work will detect not a whit of shyness. Sultry, seasoned, witty and cool are words that come to mind when experiencing this engaging performer whose command of the stage and vast repertoire have helped her establish a solid rapport with club, concert and festival audiences wherever she goes.

Ramona recorded early in her career. She made her debut at 16 singing standards on a recording accompanied by her mother and a drummer. Her voice attracted attention from local musicians and before long, she was sitting in at jam sessions and clubs with her mother's musician friends. Her reputation as an exceptional song stylist and performer continues to attract musicians and songwriters of all ages, even today.

One such Toledo writer/producer recorded Ramona in 1970 in a studio located in the rear of his record store. The result, the sassy soul single "You've been Cheatin'", b/w "Now That You've Gone," is now a collector's item in the United Kingdom. Ramona was recently interviewed by Kev Roberts, a popular radio personality in the UK to find out what she's doing these days. He also wanted to let her know she has many fans in the UK who still enjoy dancing to that song she recorded so many years ago. In fact she was invited to attend the Classic Soul Festival in Hilton, New Jersey. The event is a celebration of lesser known heroes and heroines like Cuba Gooding, Barbara Mason, The Ambers, Sandra Philips, The Escorts, The Persuaders and many others. What a kick to meet and party with folks who are some of Ramona's favorite old-school artists. The Europeans love these singers and their music, and Ramona is one of them in addition to being a stellar jazz vocalist.

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Here she is singing Around About Midnight: