Ransom-Band

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Ransom Bios

Randy Rock:
Randy Rock (Randy Ortman, Rando) is a founding member and the acknowledged leader of RAN$OM. Randy is a lead vocalist who also plays bass, guitar, piano and drums.

Randy’s distinguished musical career began around 1965 with the Camaro Brigade, playing for parties and teen dances in central Illinois. By 1969 the Camaro Brigade had released a 45 rpm original single record, which received airplay on numerous area radio stations.

Randy’s next venture was the original rock band Uno. From 1971-74, Uno enjoyed success at bars, clubs and festivals throughout central Illinois and Missouri. Uno did some recording in Peoria, Illinois before travelling as a band to London, England where they visited Apple studios. It was in London that Randy was bitten by the “recording engineer" bug. Randy met with Apple engineers, who generously shared some of their vast knowledge and expertise with the young musician. Randy now owns his own recording studio, where he has helped several young area musicians gain recording experience. Randy is also the engineer/producer of all RAN$OM recordings.

Randy’s next band, Hickory, was very successful, playing country and rock music across the Midwest region. Hickory performed at bars, clubs, fairs, wedding receptions and festivals in Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana from 1974 to1987.

Since 1987, Randy has been involved with RAN$OM, performing at many regional venues. RAN$OM has performed as the opening act for such artists as Del Reeves and Rex Allen.

RAN$OM was represented by Howie Bowe’s Band Organization (representing artists nationwide including Garth Brooks and Loretta Lynn) from its inception until 1997, when Howie passed away. “I knew Howie from 1983 when he began as booking agent for Hickory”, according to Randy.

Through Howie, Randy met Waylon Jennings, who became a friend and mentor. “Ironically, a lifelong friend of mine, Fred Newell (respected Nashville studio musician) was playing steel guitar with Waylon when I met him. We all had some great times together”, Randy tells us.

Howie also introduced Randy to Jerry Reed around the same time. “I was in awe, but was soon put at ease by Jerry’s warmth and sense of humor”.

Randy enjoyed a friendship for years with the great Marty Robbins, after having met him backstage at one of his concerts.

“These folks were all as friendly and humble as could be, whenever I was with them. They treated my wife Nancy and me like family, and couldn’t have been more generous or helpful”, says Randy.

Randy is an accomplished solo artist as well. Having produced two CD’s from his own studio, he has also recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The 1996 album Randy Ortman was engineered by Skip Mitchell (formerly of the Oak Ridge Boys) and produced by Bobbi Seymore (formerly with Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Reba, and Conway Twitty). The album contains all original material and has received airplay on over 250 radio stations nationwide. Randy has also recorded original material in Branson, Missouri.

Randy: “I’m still having a great time playing music. With RAN$OM, we incorporate all the best from our past experiences. We’re looking forward to many more years of great music and great times!”

Randy has been married to his wife Nancy for twenty-five years. They have a daughter, Abigail and a German Shepherd dog named Rocky.