‘Promo Monkey’ a B.C. man’s glimpse inside the world of rock stars and record-selling
The now-retired South Surrey resident has authored two books about his days as a “Promo Monkey” who helped sell records, starting in the late-1960s.
Self-published by Friesen Press, the books kept Ramsay busy during the COVID pandemic, and in the years before that, too. As a young man Ramsay got into the commercial fishing business, following in family footsteps, but eventually put his passion for music to work, as a guy with a creative mind and a way with words and ideas.
“I did meet Colonel Parker at an Elvis convention centre in Vegas,” continued Ramsay, talking about The King’s notorious manager. “He was sitting there counting stuff, and Ricky Nelson, his latest victim, was sitting next to him. Years later we found out about Parker’s treatment of Elvis and I thought, you son-of-a-bitch, why didn’t you look after him?’ Taking 50 per cent of what he made was outrageous. I haven’t seen the movie , and it kind of angers me to see Elvis being used that way.
Pride didn’t perform at the Newton Inn that night, but Ramsay said Kenny Rogers did on another night there.