- Monk Montgomery
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Monk Montgomery Birth name William Howard Montgomery Born October 10, 1921
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.Died May 20, 1982 (aged 60)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Genres Jazz Occupations Bassist Instruments Bass guitar, double bass Labels MoJazz, Chisa, Philadelphia International Associated acts Wes Montgomery, Lionel Hampton, Cal Tjader, Red Norvo William Howard "Monk" Montgomery (October 10, 1921 – May 20, 1982) was an American jazz bassist.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Montgomery was the older brother of guitarist Wes Montgomery; younger brother, Buddy Montgomery played vibraphone and piano. The brothers released a number of albums together as the Montgomery Brothers.[1]
Contents
Biography
He is perhaps the first electric bassist of significance to jazz, introducing the Fender Precision Bass to the genre in 1951. Montgomery also played the double bass. His professional career did not start until after his younger brother Wes, at the age of 30. From 1951 to 1953 he worked in Lionel Hampton's Orchestra. After that he worked with his brothers and Alonzo Johnson in the Montgomery Johnson Quintet. In 1955 he moved to Seattle to form the Mastersounds from 1957–1960. Later from 1966–1970, he freelanced with Cal Tjader and continued to play where he settled in Las Vegas, Nevada with The Red Norvo Trio. In his final years he was active in the Las Vegas Jazz Society, which he founded. He had also been planning a world jazz festival.
Montgomery died of cancer in Las Vegas on May 20, 1982. He had a wife, Amelia, three sons, and four stepchildren.
Discography
- It's Never Too Late (1969), MoJazz
- Bass Odyssey (1971), Chisa
- Reality (1974), Philadelphia International
References
External links
- "William (Monk) Montgomery, Bass Player With Hampton". The New York Times. May 22, 1982. Retrieved on May 5, 2008.
Wes Montgomery · Buddy Montgomery · Monk Montgomery Albums Almost Forgotten (1955) · The Montgomery Brothers Plus Five Others (1957) · Montgomeryland (1958) · Groove Yard · (1961)The Montgomery Brothers (1961) · The Montgomery Brothers in Canada (1961) · Love Walked In (1961) · Wes, Buddy and Monk Montgomery (1961)Wes solo Fingerpickin' · Far Wes · The Wes Montgomery Trio · The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery · Movin' Along · So Much Guitar · Bags Meets Wes! · Full House · Fusion! Wes Montgomery with Strings · Boss Guitar · Portrait of Wes · Guitar on the Go · The Alternative Wes Montgomery · Bumpin' · Movin' Wes · Smokin' at the Half Note · Smokin' Guitar · Goin' out of My Head · California Dreaming · Tequila · A Day in the Life · The Complete Riverside RecordingsMonk solo It's Never Too Late (1969) · Bass Odyssey (1971) · Reality (1974)Buddy solo Swinging with the Mastersounds · A Date with the Mastersounds · The King And I · The Two-Sided Album · This Rather Than That · Ties · Of Love · Ties of Love · So Why Not? · Live at Maybeck Recital Hall · Here Again · Icebreaker (2001) · A Love Affair in Paris (2001) · A Day in the Life (2006)Categories:- 1921 births
- 1982 deaths
- Musicians from Indianapolis, Indiana
- American jazz bass guitarists
- American jazz double-bassists
- Cancer deaths in Nevada
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