[Harp-L] Re: Pat Ramsey

[bobbie-g@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

At 03:23 PM 10/21/2008, Warren Bee wrote:

> I just heard that our friend Pat is not doing well health wise. I have no
> details. What's up? He is surely in my prayers.
>
> Warren Bee


Hi Warren. It's true, Pat's been seriously ill off and on since early or 
mid July when he entered the hospital for a time. The rumor mill is not 
very helpful for garnering info, however. Depending on who you speak to 
or hear, read online, etc., reports range from improving to hangin' in 
there to extremely dire. On one same day in September, one report was 
that he had been placed in hospice care and gone into coma, and another 
said he was feeling better, looking better and looking forward to an 
upcoming benefit being held for him. I'll spare everyone any more and 
quite possibly very inaccurate statements beyond that, but a lot of us 
are indeed very worried about his fragile condition.

So, we're having an 8-band benefit for him and his family down here in 
Tallahassee this Friday, and Pat expects to attend and even hopes to 
perform a bit, if only one song. An unofficial add-on tribute show by 
another band and others will follow the next night. Bands which have been 
playing locally, especially at one of Pat's familiar venues, the 
Bradfordville Blues Club, have been and are covering a number of his 
tunes, collecting donations and encouraging support, prayers and 
well-wishing on his behalf. I didn't ask him, but Dennis Gruenling was 
playing there last weekend, along with Steve Guyger and Doug Deming, and 
they performed what may have been a couple tribute songs as well. Jason 
Ricci and New Blood will be here also, a few days after the benefit, for 
Halloween night at the BBC, and I know he and his crew have already 
donated all proceeds from a recent gig to Pat and his family and will 
probably extend their tribute to Ramsey while here in Pat's old stomping 
ground. It's a funny, small link Jason and I have, with his close 
personal and musical ties to Pat, and the fact that I began nurturing my 
interest in harmonica years back (mid-70s) from listening to him practice 
locally with his old band Crosscut Saw in my sister's home. Pat's history 
in the Tallahassee area runs deep and long.

Anyway, for those not able to attend any of these tribute shows or the 
benefit, as many Harp-Lers are, of course, but wishing to send supportive 
messages or donations to Pat, here's the address info posted by a friend 
'in the know'...

Donations can be sent to:
J.P. Ramsey
P.O. Box 21147
Tallahassee, FL 32316-1147

That's from Walter Potter, <cybergaloot@xxxxxxxxxxx>, my best choice for 
learning more details than I can offer; who I'm sure will also forgive me 
for broadcasting his email for those concerned about Pat.  Sorry, Walt!! 
;-)  If he can't inform well enough, I'm sure he can point anyone toward 
someone else who can.

Sorry not to post earlier on this, but I haven't always been real 
confident about the conflicting info I've been receiving or reading. I 
just do hope everyone will keep Pat in their hearts and minds while he 
faces such a challenging future. He's been an inspiring harp player to 
many, including our own listowner. Please send up your best for him.

Later, Friends...
Bobbie G