Del Ramos, in many different capacities, worked with The Association (“Along Comes Mary,” “Cherish,” “Windy,” “Never My Love”) longer than any other member--51 years! He's the younger brother of Larry Ramos—who sang co-lead on those last two million-selling hits. When others wanted to file for bankruptcy in late 1984, Larry took over leadership of the band, paid off their debts, and kept the group going.

In late 2013, Larry Ramos fired his partner Russ Giguere after two shows that were so bad, the venues didn’t invite them back. Larry asked Del to take over leadership of The Association. Giguere still continued to reap 50% of the profits of the group, but Larry told me he stipulated in contracts that if Giguere went onstage with the band again, the show would be canceled.

https://rafu.com/2014/05/into-the-next-stage-larry-ramos-and-the-unfinished-interview/

After Larry died in April 2014, his widow assumed management of the group, but that didn’t last long, and by 2015, she’d sold her interest to Giguere. On November 19, 2025, there was a terse statement on the group’s Facebook account saying Del had retired and would give a final show on November 23.

No “thank you” for being part of the band since 1971 (when Del began mixing the sound of their concerts, writing “Indian Wells Woman” for and singing background on the original group’s last album “Waterbeds In Trinidad!,” later adding his vocal harmonies to the band offstage, eventually becoming an official member in the late 1980s, and acting as an agent in scheduling and negotiating their gigs without the usual 15% commission). No well wishes for his future.

Assuming he’d been pushed out, I reached out to Del asking what really happened. But he didn’t begin explaining until late February, when he asked me to help sell his bass guitar for $500. He was in dire financial straits. Two weeks ago, he was in danger of losing his phone, having to decide between paying for that or his electric bill. He doesn’t have a car and has to walk an hour and a half to and from grocery stores to do his shopping. He needs $700 by April 17 so he can move into an apartment he’ll share with a friend. And he’s worried about not having life insurance to help sustain his daughter when he’s gone.

It turns out Russ Giguere had fired Del.

If Larry Ramos knew the man he’d fired had turned around and fired his brother—whom he wanted to lead his band and sing lead on all his songs—he’d be turning over in his grave.

I originally met Larry when I was writing syndicated radio shows for Dick Clark in 1998 and interviewed him in 2013 ahead of an Association concert in Los Angeles. He was shocked that everything I wrote about his long history was accurate and asked me to help write his autobiography. We only got so far, as he died in April 2014.

Del Ramos is a humble man. Back in 1972, original Association member Brian Cole made him promise that if anything happened to him, Del would take his place. Cole died of a drug overdose two weeks later, but Del never told a soul about his promise, wanting to earn his place in the group. That didn’t happen until the late ‘80s.

Del has worked with The Association longer than any other member, from late 1971 through November 2025, except for three years in the late ‘70s. That’s 51 years!

Through his friendship with Flo & Eddie of the Turtles, Del also got the group back on the “Happy Together” tours. If you’ve enjoyed the music of The Association and the joy it’s brought you over the years, you have the Ramos brothers to thank for its continued existence.

Whether you’re a fan of the group or someone who simply gets angry at injustices, please give what you can to help Del Ramos live comfortably (he turns 81 on April 3) and to raise his spirits, just as The Association has throughout our lives. He’s more than earned it.

Thank you.

Guy Aoki

To read up more about Del, Larry, and The Association, please check out my interviews with them below & click on video of Del performing with the group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y91YlUItIF4&list=RDY91YlUItIF4&start_radio=1

https://rafu.com/2014/08/into-the-next-stage-the-associations-new-leader-has-had-an-interesting-career/

https://rafu.com/2013/04/into-the-next-stage-interview-with-larry-ramos-of-the-association/?relatedposts_hit=1&relatedposts_origin=117518&relatedposts_position=0

https://rafu.com/2013/04/into-the-next-stage-why-the-association-rejected-macarthur-park-and-other-fun-ramos-stories/