BEHIND THE MUSIC
Riding on the fringe of mainstream, the “Ghost Town Ramblers” wander into the local music scene in dusty old cowboy boots, ready to take their listeners to the edge of “twang town”. Hailing from the back roads and small towns of New York, songwriters Lou Kaplan and Kay Miracle found themselves at a cross road where an outlaw and a troubadour collided in a storm of Southern Rock, Alt Country, Blues and Folk. Combining their love of harmony laden vocals and hard driving acoustic guitars, Lou and Kay decided to take the road less traveled and return to where it all began in the roots of American music.
Together with their songwriting at the forefront, the “Ghost Town Ramblers” hit the studio hard and released a compilation recording in May 2018. The self-titled CD was featured at several major New York showcases and radio programs. Armed with an array of original material, the duo’s hardest decision is deciding which songs should be featured on their next CD as 2018 reaped new co-written tunes which they plan to release in 2019.
“After years of roaming the music scene in search of the ghost of what inspired us as an artist, it’s rewarding to find a kindred spirit who shares that same vision” quotes Kay upon her first meeting with Lou. The connection as writers was immediate and became even more apparent during their first rehearsal session in which Lou and Kay realized that not only did they have a similar style of writing but they shared the same influences as songwriters. From the very first note, the “Ghost Town Ramblers” were able to merge their past experiences into a new direction and sound with their brand of raw, untamed, original music.
Singer Songwriter Lou Kaplan began his career heeding the call of his southern rock heroes by packing up his guitar and bass to follow in their footsteps to California. Once there, he found that the West coast music culture had changed and he was not about to conform into the new 1980’s era of music. Not one to give up on his dream, Lou returned home and founded the Southern rock band “Mad Jack” with local “like-minded” musicians. Together they stood against the onslaught of modern rock by writing and playing their own brand of Outlaw music throughout the East. During the bands hugely popular 20 plus year history, Mad Jack released five CDs and played an excess of 1000 shows, appearing with National acts such as The Outlaws, Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot. During this time Lou Kaplan signed as the bass player to tour across the country and record for legendary blues rockers “Savoy Brown”. After a long successful run, “Mad Jack” eventually ended and Lou continued his journey fronting both the classic rock band Last Train Out and the outlaw country outfit, Lonesome Crow while releasing his ninth and tenth CD’s respectively. Constantly writing, Lou started performing his material at songwriter showcases while keeping true to his Outlaw roots and eventually ended up on the same stage as Singer/ Songwriter Kay Miracle.
Kay Miracle’s musical journey began at the knee of her Grandfather Claude Wood, who played bass with such notables as Hank Williams and Doris Day. Under his tutelage, Kay and her sister Kim would travel the West coast as “The Miracle Sisters” performing their fusion of folk rock, old school country and bluegrass at various State Fairs and TV shows. In her senior year, Kay won the “Best Talent Award” and a college music scholarship for a song she wrote and performed at the “Junior Miss Washington” pageant. Catching the attention of the PACAF (Pacific Air Force) and USO military tours, she was signed to entertain troops stationed in the Far East and other points across the globe. After 7 years abroad, Kay settled in New York and became the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the Alternative Country band “Reckless Drivin”. The band released 2 CD’s, won 5 “Sammy Awards” honoring local artists, was selected by the Syracuse New Times to perform at the NXNE music festival in Toronto Canada, opened for various National acts, and made “No Depression” magazine’s “Ultimate New Band List”. With a desire to return to her songwriting roots, “Kay & The Miracle Cure” was formed in which musical guests were invited to perform her original songs at various events and festivals across the country. Kay released her CD “Buck Naked Demos”, joined the “Last Honky Tonk Music Series” artist roster showcasing at the “Road to 3rd Street Songwriter Festival in Morgan City, LA was elected as a “TeXchromosome” board member in which she performs at the Women with Texas Spirit showcase during SXSW in Austin TX. Kay has won various song contests and has been invited to showcase her original music at the Tumbleweed Music Festival in Richland, WA., the Tucson Folk Festival in AZ, and the SAW folk songwriter finals in Washington, DC. Cuts from Kay’s CD “Buck Naked Demos” can also be heard on Women of Substance Radio, TeXchromosome radio, YouTube, SongLadder and Reverbnation.
Lou Kaplan said it best when he heard of the passing of yet another Outlaw music icon… “As our heroes leave us, it’s up to those left behind to take up the torch and keep the flame alive”. The “Ghost Town Ramblers” plan to do just that by telling the “story” behind the song in a roots revival of America’s heartland here in Upstate New York.
Influences:
Steve Earle, Neil Young, John Fogerty, the Outlaws, the Byrds, Allman Brothers Band, John Hiatt, Tom Petty, Hank Williams, Lucinda Williams, Kim Richey, Rolling Stones, the Band, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Eagles, Poco, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Gram Parsons, Grateful Dead.