Biography
Born around 1950 in Detroit, Michigan, Montgomery approached the harmonica and vocals in ways that reached beyond his background into the traditions of Black American music. While enrolled at Boston University he assembled a band in 1970 that soon gained traction in local circles. Early on he collaborated, sometimes casually at first, with veteran blues figures including James Cotton, John Lee Hooker and Junior Wells; the club experience proved valuable when he entered a scene where white players often faced skepticism. Paul Butterfield offered support in Chicago, and although Montgomery later performed with rock and funk groups the blues remained central to his approach, shaping his style more deeply as the years progressed. He launched the East Coast Funkbusters alongside Alex Taylor, appeared with Dan Aykroyd in the Blues Brothers context and joined an All-Star Blues Brothers Band, toured with Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, supported Delbert McClinton and served as featured soloist for Johnny Winter.
For more than three decades Montgomery has fronted his own ensemble, which at various points has featured guitarists Marc Copley, Jeff Golub, Wayne Kramer, Jeff Pevar, Nunzio Signore, Billy Squier and Matt Woodburn, keyboardist Tom West, bassist David Hull and drummers Bobby Chouinard, Jim McCarty and Marty Richards. Beyond his performances he actively advances the blues through educational programs and radio work. Among the songs in his repertoire are “Back From The Dead,” “Mystery,” “Nobody Could Love You,” “Back On My Knees Again,” “Sinkin’ Blues,” “Miss You,” “Ramblin’ Man” and “Smokey’s Barbecue.”
For more than three decades Montgomery has fronted his own ensemble, which at various points has featured guitarists Marc Copley, Jeff Golub, Wayne Kramer, Jeff Pevar, Nunzio Signore, Billy Squier and Matt Woodburn, keyboardist Tom West, bassist David Hull and drummers Bobby Chouinard, Jim McCarty and Marty Richards. Beyond his performances he actively advances the blues through educational programs and radio work. Among the songs in his repertoire are “Back From The Dead,” “Mystery,” “Nobody Could Love You,” “Back On My Knees Again,” “Sinkin’ Blues,” “Miss You,” “Ramblin’ Man” and “Smokey’s Barbecue.”