“Now that the trend to aging rockers making albums of show tunes or standards seems to be over, it’s time to get back to vocalists who have a genuine understanding and feel for jazz and can do justice to the tradition.” Monica Ramey, a Nashville singer, is an excellent example. Her outstanding album Make Someone Happy features engaging, creative interpretations of The Great American Songbook material. -Ron Wynn from Nashville Scene. This type of reaction is a common theme in the case Monica Ramey, a Midwest native. Artists like Jim Ferguson, Jeff Steinberg and Lori Mechem, Roger Spencer and George Tidwell are all singing her praises. Monica hails from Francesville, Indiana, which is one of the smallest cities in Indiana. Her father, a retired farmer, is her youngest brother and her mother, a retired music teacher. Monica was a singer and dancer as a child with her mother’s high-school show choir. At the age of three, she performed Tomorrow from Annie on the school’s grand piano. After starring in professional Broadway musicals and local productions, she was well-known in Indiana by the age of 11. She attended Los Angeles County High School of the Arts as a teenager. In 1995, Monica was chosen to join the GRAMMY National All American High School Band and Choir. Monica would make this break one of her most memorable. Monica was one of twelve national choir members. She had no prior jazz experience. However, while performing with the best in the industry, she realized the importance of jazz music for her life and our society. Her profound and lasting impression was made by the responsibility that all musicians have for its preservation and authenticity. Monica studied Music Performance at Indiana State University. She was also a member the ISU Jazz Singers. Many faculty members loved her singing, and the president of the university was a fan. This resulted in many performances at university functions as well as sporting events. In Los Angeles, she interned at the NARAS Foundation where preservation of jazz music was a central focus of her responsibilities. She moved to Nashville in 2000 to pursue her singing career. There she found the Nashville Jazz Workshop. NJW gave Monica the chance to learn from some of Nashville’s most renowned musicians, including Roger Spencer, Sandra Dudley and Beegie Adair. She also had the opportunity to create a family outside of home. Monica’s debut album, Make Someone Happier, features the Lori Mechem Trio as well as Beegie Adair, a special guest. This special project features many standard tunes, with horn arrangements by Denis Solee, and two original tunes written by Lori Mechem and Beegie Adair. The album was produced by Lori Mechem and Roger Spencer, as well as Sandra Dudley. It is a great example of Monica’s music skills at this stage in her career. Make Someone Happy has received international airplay on Jazz Radio, Pandora, Music Choice, and DMX. Monica Ramey and The Beegie Adair Trio’s second album is highly anticipated. It accentuates the undeniable chemistry between one of the most successful jazz trios in the world (Beegie, piano; Roger Spencer on bass; Chris Brown on drums), with a singer (Ramey), who seamlessly combines lush, lyrical sophistication with an already flawless musical conversation. The album was produced by Adair and Spencer and features several tracks from two of Ramey’s most beloved musical friends, jazz masters George Tidwell, and Denis Sole. Adair co-wrote the original tune and some of jazz’s most loved and forgotten songs were reintroduced. Monica regularly performs at various festivals, venues and private events across the U.S., including Birdland, Nashville Jazz Workshop and F. Scott’s. Monica spends her time with family, friends and volunteers for the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Monica supports the Man