Ram Jam was a hard rock band best known for their hit version of the traditional African-American work song “Black Betty.” ∙ Originally called Creekside Killshack, the band was renamed American Ram Jam in the UK to avoid confusion with a British outfit already called Ram Jam. ∙ Their hit version of “Black Betty” is actually a recording by Ram Jam guitarist Bill Bartlett’s previous group, Starstruck. ∙ “Black Betty” has gone on to be used in dozens of movies, TV shows, commercials, and video games and is a walk-on song for several professional athletes. ∙ Ram Jam’s second (and final) album, Portrait of the Artist As a Young Ram, saw the band switch to a more heavy metal sound and is considered a lost classic of the genre.