In this episode of Thinkin’ & Drinkin’, Bart talks with Lisa Ramsey-Perkins. She shares how she got her start in the music business with Wynonna Judd as an assistant and the journey she went on that led her to running publishing companies and A&R at Sony working with some of the top artists in the business. Tune in to this episode to hear tons of great stories and have some great laughs!
Meet Lisa Ramsey-Perkins
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Lisa was exposed to music at an early age, when her mother took her to the Saturday night tapings of the Johnny Cash Show at the Ryman Auditorium. Her grandmother taught her to play piano when she was a young girl, listening to Hank Williams and Dolly Parton. By high school, Lisa was writing songs and playing keyboards in a band with some of her classmates. After attending MTSU, Lisa met Wynonna Judd around the time WHY NOT ME was becoming a huge hit for the Judds. Wynonna and Lisa bonded over their mutual love of music and became fast friends. Not long after that, Wynonna hired Lisa to be her personal assistant, a job she did for 4 years. “That time was some of the best of my life, and I was able to observe and learn so much about the music business” say Ramsey-Perkins. “I got to be in the studio some when the Judds were recording, I got to go on the road and see how a major tour comes together, and what it takes behind the scenes to pull that off night after night. I learned from people at their record label and at their management company. It was like college, only better!”
In 1990, Lisa met then Head of A&R at Polygram Harold Shedd, who also owned the Music Mill studios and publishing company. Shedd was impressed with Lisa’s passion and love for music, and offered her a position as a song plugger at his publishing company. For 7 years, Lisa flourished in that role, and was instrumental in securing # hits like “WHAT KIND OF FOOL DO YOU THINK I AM” for Lee Roy Parnell, “TAKE IT LIKE A MAN”, for Michelle Wright, and the huge hit “ACHY BREAKY HEART” for Billy Ray Cyrus, just to name a few.When Harold sold the Music Mill publishing division in 1997, Lisa went to work for another strong independent publishing company, Hamstein Music Group. Hamstein was owned by Bill Ham, who managed and produced rock legends ZZ Top. As Vice President of Writer Development, Lisa not only placed hit songs with hit artists, she nurtured and developed up and coming songwriters newly signed with the company. Lisa signed songwriter/producer Jimmy Ritchey (Jake Owen) and future BMI Songwriter of the Year Bobby Pinson, and worked with award winning songwriters Tony Martin, Lee Thomas Miller, Monty Criswell, and others. Some of the songs Lisa had a hand it getting recording during that time were: “Living and Living Well”, “Go On” for George Strait, “I Miss My Friend” Darryl Worley, “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” for Lee Ann Womack, “The Impossible” for Joe Nichols, “I Just Wanna Be Mad” for Terri Clark, and many others. When Hamstein sold to L.A. based Mosiac Media Group in 2003, Lisa was named VP/GM of the Nashville division and oversaw all operations of that office. During the first 18 months, under Lisa’s leadership, the company had 5 number one singles, and 3 top ten singles.
In 2005, Disney Music Publishing tapped Lisa to open an office in Nashville. There, she signed hit songwriters Jessi Alexander, Mark Nesler, Phillip White, Sonya Isaacs, Gordon Kennedy, Bart Allmand, Charlie Pate and Kevin Denney. Lisa was responsible for pitching the song “The Climb” to the Disney producers of the Hannah Montana movie. The film’s producers were so impressed with Lisa, that they offered her a small role as a background singer in the movie! “That was a trip”, says Lisa. Again, a huge learning experience about songs in film, synch licensing, and how that whole side of it works. I loved it!” She went on to experience more chart topping success with songs like “You Look Good In My Shirt” by Keith Urban, “Why, Why, Why” by Billy Currington, “A Different World” by Bucky Covington among others. Jessi Alexander would later have success from songs at the Disney company like “Drink On It” and “Mine Would Be You” for Blake Shelton, and CMA Song of the Year “I Drive Your Truck”. “I am so proud of the work I did at Disney, the writers I signed and continue to be amazed by their success!” adds Lisa.
In 2008, Sony came calling, recruiting Lisa to be Senior Director of A&R for the Arista, RCA & Columbia Record labels. Using her years of experience as a “song person”, who had a knack for recognizing a hit song, and finding the best artist to record it, the A&R role was a natural fit. Lisa worked with such artists as Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson and others. Lisa was responsible for placing Miranda’s #1, award winning single “Mama’s Broken Heart.” In September of 2013, after leaving Sony Records, Lisa decided to get back to her first love…publishing. She opened LITTLE EXTRA MUSIC, a full service publishing and management company.
In 5 short years, she signed songwriters Kylie Sackley, Tia Sillers, Rob Snyder, Kelsey Waters and Will Bowen. Little Extra has had over 100 cuts and song placements in film and TV, including the top ten hit “YOU BROKE UP WITH ME” with Walker Hayes, and the 4 week #1 smash, multiplatinum single “SHE GOT THE BEST OF ME” with Luke Combs, both winning ASCAP and BMI Awards respectively.
What Bart has to say: Lisa has been a dear friend for years. Not only was she my publisher when we were both at Disney, but she introduced me to my wife Amy, back when they worked together at Hamstein/Mosaic Media Group.
In this episode, you’ll hear
How someone went from working as an assistant for Wynonna Judd to running publishing companies and A&R at Sony
How Lisa is the connection between Bart & Amy
Links to Connect: