The PennZone

LANCASTER, Pa. - PennZone -- On his first album in five years, Strange Things Happening, internationally renowned guitarist and producer Kid Ramos shares a musical message of faith, joined by featured vocalists Brian Templeton (The Radio Kings) and his son, Johnny Ramos. Produced by Chris Lizotte (singer/songwriter and worship leader), the session includes Dave Limina on Hammond organ (Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters), international touring bassist Mike Tuturro, and Stephen Hodges (James Harman, John Hammond, Tom Waits) on drums. A gospel blues fusion accompanies songs made famous by icons including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, The Soul Stirrers, and Bob Dylan as well as original compositions by Brian Templeton, in this spiritual salve for modern times.

In a career spanning more than forty years, Orange County, California native Kid Ramos has been a member of the James Harman Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Mannish Boys, Los Fabulocos and The Proven Ones. Ramos was awarded The Orange County Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and has received 14 Blues Music Award nominations to date. He also produced legendary pianist Floyd Dixon's final recording, Time Brings About A Change, as well as the accompanying documentary.

More on The PennZone

• LCC Asia Pacific Sponsors CubeSatPlus 2026 at UNSW Sydney
• Kellyn Endorses National Push to Expand Food is Medicine
• LATO AI Automates Customer Communication to Help CSide Sports Academy and BAT 24 Nation Grow
• Real Estate Syndication Attorney Tilden Moschetti Releases The Real Estate Private Equity Blueprint
• 5X Gross Margin Improvement to Beat EPS Consensus; $54.6 Million 10-Year Contract Award Puts Cybersecurity Leader on Path to a $30 Million Run Rate

Featured vocalist and harmonicist, Brian Templeton, is a forty-plus year veteran of the Boston, Massachusetts music scene. Templeton was the iconic voice of The Radio Kings, with recordings on the Memphis-based Icehouse Record label. He has been a featured performer with Jerry Portnoy, Sonny Rhodes, James Cotton, Otis Grand and has toured under his own name in Europe, Canada and the United States. Templeton's independent label, Straight Street Records, presents his approach to Christian music. Featured vocalist and Kid's son, Johnny Ramos is a singer/songwriter and guitarist from southern California. His music is heavily influenced by the blues and rock 'n' roll of the 50s and 60s.

The inspiration for this record came when Kid Ramos received a phone call from an old pastor friend, James Rasmussen. "James was telling me about missionary work he was supporting overseas. He had lost confidence in the people he was supporting and where the money was being spent," says Ramos. "He decided he was going to start supporting musicians that were playing gospel music and spread the word that way, and he wanted to know if I wanted to make a God record. Of course I had to call my brother Brian Templeton up and he was down for the project. We recorded everything live in basically two days.  I had my son Johnny on there, and Stephen Hodges, Mike Turturro and the great organ and piano player Dave Limina from back East that Brian recommended," Ramos continues. "Meeting producer Chris Lizotte and discovering many mutual friends turned into a great friendship. My first gospel record is really from the heart, and I hope people enjoy it."

More on The PennZone

• Tina Hasselbusch, Turnstone Creative Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Named to LVB 300
• Pittsburgh Family Law Attorneys at Pollock Begg Earn Top Honors in 2027 Best Lawyers Guide
• Independent Colbert Packaging Thrives Amid Industrywide Consolidation
• Free Commercial Glass Estimating and Code Compliance Tools Launched by Landmark Construction - The Leading Glass Company in Los Angeles
• Tallahassee Million-Dollar Home Sales Rise in 2026 as Median Selling Time More Than Doubles

"To hear gospel music presented with a West Coast Blues vibe is such a unique and compelling approach to combining two styles of roots music with shared influences," says Sallie Bengtson, Nola Blue Records president. "Having worked on previous albums featuring Kid Ramos and Brian Templeton (together and independently), I'm honored to join forces with them once again."

Album preorders will begin February 28, 2025.

Follow Kid Ramos at facebook.com/KidRamosMusic for all news and updates.

"Jesus is the holy light. Turning darkness into light. There are strange things happening everyday." - Sister Rosetta Tharpe