ALLEN ORGAN INSTALLATIONS

Memphis, Tennessee
"Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack®"

David Ramsey plays along with the game at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee. As the home-field organist for the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League (a St. Louis Cardinals Class AAA affiliate) David's job is simple: just play along with the action on the field. But there is one provision: he has to anticipate what is going to happen and translate the action into music in a split second. Beginning with the 2001 season he has had the pleasure of playing a new Allen Theatre Organ. Compact, but well-packed with features, the Allen is a perfect match for all of the game's eccentricities that David encounters. The Redbirds play 144 games in a regular season, which means the club's organist is scheduled to play 72 home games--more if they make the playoffs. When David is not at the ballpark, he teaches as an associate professor of music at Rhodes College in Memphis, is the Director of Music and Choral Director at First Presbyterian Church in Memphis, and is a noted concert musician--a musical grand slam, so-to-speak.

Mr. Ramsey has watched and played along with the foul balls and line drives of the likes of Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, and Mark McGwire. He has been the organist for the Memphis Blues and Memphis Chicks as well. Working from a loose script for the routine parts of the game but keeping all of his improvisational options open, Mr. Ramsey says, "The organ is the only permanent instrument in baseball."

The trend for music during the game now leans toward playing recorded music for certain parts of the game, such as when a player hits a homer or between innings pop music interludes. David Ramsey's playing opportunities occur during actual playing time and special traditions such as the seventh-inning stretch's "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Plus, pre game crowd-warmers are always needed.

With Allen technology, Lumitech™ Capture, and Allen's Console Controller™ the organ is an all-star organ console that offers a wide range of sounds and features, never loses control, and is a hit every time!

Memphis