- Ryan Montbleau
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Ryan Montbleau 
Background information Birth name Ryan Michael Montbleau Born June 18, 1977
Peabody, MassachusettsGenres Folk, blues, funk, Americana Occupations Singer, songwriter Instruments Guitar Years active 1999-present Website www.ryanmontbleau.com Ryan Montbleau (born Ryan Michael Montbleau on June 18, 1977 in Peabody, Massachusetts) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He annually tours across the U.S. with the Ryan Montbleau Band.
Contents
Style
Montbleau's style includes a combination of rock, soul, blues, jazz, Americana, folk, reggae, and funk. At many of his shows he will play several acoustic songs.
Background
Montbleau was born and raised in the town of Peabody, Massachusetts. Although he received his first guitar at the age of nine, it was not until attending college at Villanova University that he seriously began to focus on his playing and songwriting.[1] He began singing during the last semester of his senior year, at age 21.
After college, Montbleau began playing on his own at the House of Blues in Boston, where he started working in 1999. Eventually, Montbleau began performing his original music on-stage at the House of Blues and other Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston area coffee shops, folk and music venues, developing a passionate local fan base.[2] He occasionally performed his music with a percussion player, under the duo name "Palabra", before building what would become the Ryan Montbleau Band.[3]
Montbleau eventually joined up with Matt Giannaros (acoustic upright bass, electric bass, backing vocals) Laurence Scudder (viola, backing vocals), Jason Cohen (piano, organ, clavinet, Moog synthesizer) and James Cohen (drums) to form the Ryan Montbleau band. In 2006 the group released its first collective album, One Fine Color. A sixth member, Yahuba Garcia Torres (percussion, backing vocals) tours frequently with the band. In February, 2011, the band announced the departure of viola player, Laurence Scudder and also the addition of guitarist Lyle Brewer (Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, Seamonsters). The Ryan Montbleau Band plays upwards of 200 gigs per year.[4]
Montbleau has opened solo/acoustic for many established artists including John Hammond, Melissa Ferrick, Ani DiFranco, Martin Sexton, and Rodrigo y Gabriela. In the spring of 2010, the Ryan Montbleau Band toured with Martin Sexton, as his backing band and opening band. Before departing for that tour, Sexton produced the band's latest album, Heavy On the Vine, recorded at Camp Street Studios in Cambridge, MA.[5]
Awards
Montbleau was named the Best Local Male Vocalist in the 2007 Boston Music Awards.[6] He also won second prize for performance in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition [7].
Equipment
Montbleau plays a Collings acoustic guitar model OM2H Cut.[8] Montbleau plays a Fender electric guitar.
Discography
- Begin. (2002) *Solo
- Stages (2003) *Solo/live
- One Fine Color (2006)
- Patience on Friday (2007)
- Stages: Volume II (2009) *Solo/live
- Heavy On The Vine (2010)
- Live at Life is good (2011) *Live
References
External links
Press:
- State of Mind interview (March 27, 2008)
- The Phoenix article (June 25, 2007)
- Melody Trip interview (September 6, 2006)
- Boston Globe article (April 1, 2006)
- WERS interview (April 11, 2005)
- Boston Beats interview (2005)
- OurStage.com Interview (May 27, 2007)
Categories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- American singer-songwriters
- American blues guitarists
- American folk guitarists
- American funk guitarists
- Live Music Archive artists
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