Biography
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Born
12 May 1949 (age 75)
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Born In
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States
When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he "brings it on home". Whether it's recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells - at the legendary "Chessmate." Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.
In 1970, while attending Boston University, Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Band. His inimitable harmonica playing combined with his incredibly energetic live shows led to the band's quick ascension on the New England music scene. Within two years, the James Montgomery band was among the hottest acts in Boston along with J. Geils and Aerosmith, and they were quickly signed to a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records.
Since that time, James has recorded six albums. His first, First Time Out has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn. Other include James Montgomery Band on Island Records which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, Duck Fever with members of the David Letterman Band, Live Trax, with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, The Oven Is On.
Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller and many others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf to name a few. He was also part of an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax".
Over the years Montgomery's band has been a springboard for many musicians. Members of his band have included Billy Squire, Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Jeff Golub (Rod Stewart), Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), Nunzio Signore Bo Diddley), Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles Orchestra, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Bobby Chouinard (drummer with Ted Nugent, Squire and Robert Gordon), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), Aerosmith's Tom Gambel, and many others. James also performs with Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer, as the Kramer Montgomery Band.
Regarding his guest appearances with the Johnny Winter Band, the Nashville Tennessean writes "If ever the time came to use two "legendary" tags in one story, it is to describe both Winter and Montgomery. They are blues masters of the first and highest degree" The shows have been remarkable and Johnny is having his best time playing in many years. He puts his heart and soul into each performance, most of which sell out. The audiences have all been pleased. The highlight in the US, a packed house at Chicago's House of Blues attended by Johnny's old buddy Pinetop Perkins.
"…Blues journeymen usually miss out on the hosannas, but this perennial NE bandleader keeps on keeping on, earning his regional acclaim with much chutzpah. I still get a kick out of his harp playing and his rough-n-tumble combo can definitely make a room buzz" THE VILLAGE VOICE
See Also James Montgomery Band
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