PATTAYA, Thailand – Singer-songwriter Ramon Jackson brought a mix of blues, R&B, pop and personal storytelling to the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) during a “Words and Music” presentation on September 16 that combined original songs, humor, audience participation and reflections on the life experiences behind his music.
Ramon, originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, told the audience he is now retired in Pattaya, a city he called his favorite in Thailand. He said he had not known Pattaya existed before a vivid dream in 2024 led him to sell his house and belongings and move to Thailand with only a suitcase, a duffel bag and a backpack of electronics. After first looking at condos in Bangkok, Ramon said he found a waterfront view near Pattaya that matched what he had seen in the dream and decided that was where he was meant to live.
Taking the stage, Ramon quickly established an informal and engaging tone. He joked about his name, saying he was not “the Ramones” but “the Ramon Jackson,” and teased the audience that “the more you drink, the better I sound.” He described himself as both a storyteller and a blues artist, saying the morning’s performance would include songs he had written and the stories that inspired them.
His first number, “Home,” was introduced as an original song and the opening track from his blues album Juke Joint, A Blues Story. The song’s lyrics centered on family, belonging, warm embraces and the idea that home is where the heart is. Ramon used the song as a bridge into a more personal story about why he began singing later in life.
Ramon said his music career was shaped by his mother’s final encouragement. In 2013, after brain surgery led to a stroke, he moved across the country to care for her. The night before she died, he said, she told him to sing. He told the audience he chose to follow that encouragement rather than remain overwhelmed by grief. That story led into “Make It Rain,” which performed as a deeply emotional blues piece.
Between songs, Ramon spoke about the influence of his mentors Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, describing them as major figures in soul and Motown songwriting. He credited them with helping guide the start of his own music career and mentioned their connections to songs and artists including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” He said Valerie Simpson particularly liked two of his songs, “Elevator” and “Don’t Wanna Die by Murder.”
“Elevator,” which Ramon introduced as a “sexy R&B song,” gave him room to show both vocal range and comedic stage presence. He joked about his age, his clothes and the humidity in Thailand before asking the audience to sway along. He also noted that the background vocals on the recording were all his own, saying there was “no AI music” involved.
Ramon then turned to “Don’t Wanna Die by Murder,” explaining that the title came from a story about hearing gunshots after moving to Brooklyn and later being challenged at an open mic connected to Ashford and Simpson’s Manhattan venue to turn the phrase into a song. He said the blues number used pain and danger as metaphors for love.
The set continued with “Been Kinda Rough,” another song from Juke Joint, A Blues Story, which Ramon framed as a relationship song about conflict, communication and the tradition of emotional pleading in classic soul music. He referenced artists such as Donny Hathaway and Teddy Pendergrass while setting up the song’s theme of love that has become difficult but not beyond repair.
He also promoted an upcoming Sunday performance at Birdland, where he said he would perform cover tunes and originals with his band. Ramon used that announcement to talk about Champion, an album he described as an uplifting pop record infused with rock and hip-hop. He said the project was inspired partly by friends battling cancer.
Later, Ramon introduced “Walk Out” with a humorous story about being kicked out of his house by his ex-wife despite his name being on the deed. He said creative people can turn almost any experience into a story, and the song transformed a painful domestic episode into an upbeat performance. He followed with “Day & Lay,” an R&B track he introduced through jokes about “Netflix and chill” and romantic directness.
The audience requested “Supernova” for an encore. Ramon described it as an Afrobeat song with a Caribbean feel and invited the room to move their shoulders with the rhythm. The performance ended with applause, a certificate of appreciation and praise from the host, who said the club had rarely featured a performer presenting almost entirely original material. You can visit his YouTube channel to check out his many songs: https://www.youtube.com/@RamonJacksonVEVO.
Following the presentations, MC Ren Lexander brought everyone up to date on upcoming Club events followed by the Open Forum portion of the meeting where questions are asked and comments made about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya. To learn more about the PCEC, visit their website at https:/pcec.club. A video of the presentation can be viewed on the PCEC’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOjAXSXLQCk.
