The Beach Bum Pirate, Scott Ramsey, performs live throughout northern Pinellas County venues.

Article published in the Palm Harbor Beacon, April 2014

By KERRY SCHOFIELD

PALM HARBOR – Independent record label Tate Music Group has released a new album by local singer-songwriter Scott Ramsey. The CD, officially released March 18, features eight tracks of country songs about life on the beach.

“Living on Island Time” is a collection of captivating songs that embrace the escapades of a self-proclaimed pirate. Ramsey serves up relaxing tropical rhythms Jimmy Buffett-style with titles that include “Salt Life,” “Hangover in Paradise,” “Beach Bum Pirate” and “Island Time.”

Ramsey, 49, is a Kentuckian who moved to Florida in the early 1990s. His love of beach style living began when he was just a kid traveling to the sunshine state for two week stays on Panama City Beach.

“Every year my grandparents put us in the back of the station wagon and we’d ride down for a vacation,” Ramsey said. “I used to pray for those days … the smell of the salt air was intoxicating to me.”

Ramsey was born in Louisville and grew up in Custer, Ky. “Custer was so small that we had it carpeted,” he said.

After trying his hand at a number of jobs, Ramsey became a phlebotomist enjoying a 12-year career drawing blood. While living in Florida, he met his wife, Susan. They now have a 19-year old son who attends college at Florida Gulf Coast University. A second career change led Ramsey into the graphic arts for the past 15 years.

“I’ve been playing music in between all of that and have always had a guitar,” he said.

Growing up, Ramsey played in rock and roll bands for fun and listened to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan and Led Zeppelin. He performed as a Jimmy Hendrix impersonator. Today, many people tell him that he looks like another Kentuckian—actor and director George Clooney.

“I’m a big band fan, and I love Dean Martin,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey wrote “Island Hoppers” after a group of friends urged him to write a theme song to sing together while on their cruise ship getaways. It was something he had never thought of doing before. It took him 10 minutes to write the song.

“After that, I wrote three other songs including ‘Hangover in Paradise,’ which everybody loves,” he said. “It really just transpired from there.”

Between 2004 and 2006, Ramsey had written a number of songs mixed with computerized band music. During this same time, he posted the compiled songs on ReverbNation.com. Tate Music Group discovered his songs online and called him to sign a contract.

“They said they had been listening to my music on Reverb- Nation.com and they really liked it because it was different,” Ramsey said. “They wanted to invest in me.”

Three years ago, Tate Music Group told Ramsey that it was unusual to hear songs about the beach, pirates and rum. Ramsey said most songs on the radio today are love songs or sad songs.

“I’m trying to break away from that and write songs that are fun songs,” he said. “I would love to be able to go further with music forever.”

Ramsey said he developed the Beach Bum Pirate persona that would be liked by both children and adults and that people in general would find to be fun and adventurous.

“I have created a character that I’m happy to be involved with,” he said.

Ramsey’s CD, “Living on Island Time,” is available at Amazon. com, Tate Music Group.com and the iTunes stores. For more information, visit the Beach Bum Pirate on Facebook.