Tough Times

 

Marvin Ramey
and The Cama Rockers Band

Tough Times
(M. Ramey  R. Fouch)
Lupine & Cape Ann Music, BMI

RBM Records, Inc. #100
(1964)

Marvin Ramey and Romeo Fouch, both born in 1941, attended the Booker T. Washington High School for Negroes. They were two among others named the winners of scholarships and prizes, according to The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia. (June 9, 1959 issue).  The Cama Rockers came also from the same high school and there is at least one mention of the performing band led by one Clarence Chandler.  That was probably the same band who had a record on the Fairlane label in 1961, backing George Hughley.

Marvin Ramey, Romeo Fouch and Henry Anderson (b. 1920) later composed several songs which were issued on James F. Brannon Jr & Martin Haley's Lou-Neita Records and on Minnie Records, nearly all were recorded by The Bishop. Aural evidence is suggesting that Marvin Ramey is indeed The Bishop.

Cape Ann Music was owned by famous Nashville DJ John Richbourg, perhaps an indication of a Nashville recording session for this RBM record. But, little mystery, I am not able to resolve the credit to Lupine Music.

Lupine Music was owned by Robert West who had a few record labels in the late 50s and was a pioneer of R n' B in Detroit : Silhouette (1956-57), Kudo Records (1958), Flick Records (1959), Bumble Bee Records (1959), Contour Records (1959-61), and owned LuPine Records, which he operated from 1960-1969 in Detroit.  Perhaps someone involved with the RBM release had some ties in Detroit.

According to a local Georgia newspapers dated Oct 4, 1997:

Marvin Wilson Ramey, 55, a truck driver from Atlanta, was traveling west on Edgewood Avenue at 12:30 a.m. when his truck veered right onto a concrete island. The truck, traveling at a high rate of speed, jumped the curb and struck a large oak tree. The impact threw Ramey, who was not wearing a seat belt, through the front windshield. A half-empty whiskey bottle was found at the scene.

A final note : the artist named The Bishop on the "Phone Call From Heaven" LP on Michal MR-249-isn't Marvin Ramey

Billboard ad from August 1970 for a LP
which was apparently never released

Discography

As Marvin Ramey
   Tough Times / Darling I Love You - RBM 101 - 1964

As The Bishop
   You Can't Take It With You / Minnie Skirt Minnie ~ LOU-NEITA 0207 (1968)
   Roll over Beethoven / Folsom Prison Blues ~ LOU-NEITA 0211 (late 60s)
   You can't take it with you / Roll over Beethoven ~ MINNIE 1522 (late 60s)
   Minnie skirt Minnie / Honky tonk woman ~ MINNIE 1971 (1971?)            

Achnowledgments : Sir Shambling, Evil Eye (YouTube channel)