Asia Society Texas pays tribute to Larry Ramos, the first Asian American Grammy winner, with film screening and concert

A new documentary about Filipino American musical artist Larry Ramos—lead singer and lead guitarist of the iconic ’60s band The Association—will screen at Asia Society Texas on Friday, June 27 at 6pm, followed by a live performance by The Association.

Along Comes Larry: The Larry Ramos Story (2025) was written, directed, and produced by Rick Quan, an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist and veteran documentarian based in Honolulu, Hawaii and a native Houstonian. The film chronicles Ramos’ groundbreaking career as the first Asian American to win a Grammy Award.

Growing up in Waimea, Kauai and Southern California, Larry Ramos (1942-2014) was a child ukelele prodigy, singer, and dancer who won statewide contests, landed movie roles, and performed on a tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I, starring Yul Brynner.

As a member of the folk group The New Christy Minstrels—singing and playing ukelele, guitar, and banjo—Ramos broke racial barriers on television when he performed on The Andy Williams Show. His appearance with the band as a non-white member had to be “cleared” by the show’s producers, as recounted by his daughter Tracy.  With The New Christy Minstrels, Ramos won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Performance by a Chorus for their debut album Presenting the New Christy Minstrels.

A pioneer for Asian Americans in the music and entertainment industry, Ramos faced and overcame racist incidents and remarks, even from bandmates in the early days, as he told in a 2013 interview.

In 1967, Ramos joined The Association, the band with whom he would have the most success and longest run for more than four decades, making their mark together with Billboard hit songs like “Cherish,” “Never My Love,” and “Windy,” winning Gold and Platinum Awards, and earning Grammy nominations—and eventually becoming the band’s leader.

Quan’s documentary spotlights Ramos’ story as one of “resilience, talent, and cultural significance,” stated Asia Society Texas.

Tickets for the June 27 event include the film screening and concert by The Association. VIP and sponsorship tickets, which include an additional reception, dinner, and meet-and-greet with the band, are also available.