Biography

With the release of Just Let Go, his third recording for Blind Pig, Coco Montoya continues to prove he's one of the most formidable blues and roots rock guitar slingers on the scene.

Montoya was born in Santa Monica, California in 1951. He was raised by his working class parents on the west side of Los Angeles and took an early interest in music. His dad had a large record collection of mostly jazz and big bands, and the house was always filled with music. Although he used to enjoy picking out notes on a guitar, Montoya's main instrument while growing up was drums, playing in rock 'n' roll bands. "Then one day I went to a concert featuring Creedence Clearwater and Iron Butterfly. Albert King played between the two groups and I had never heard of him. Boy, after he got done playing, that changed everything. That revolutionized my whole life and showed me what music and guitar playing really were about. I knew that was what I wanted to do."

Another turning point came when Montoya was playing drums at a little bar in Culver City, California in 1972. He met Albert Collins and, "When I saw him play a little later, it was the ultimate. He even let me sit in on a song. A few months later Albert gave me a call and asked if I'd like to go on the road with him for a few weeks to Oregon and Washington. Of course, I immediately said 'yes' even though I was frightened. I asked him when we were going, thinking we would have time to rehearse. He told me that he'd pick me up in about three hours! I was very scared because I had never really played blues before, but Albert was desperate for a drummer. A little later I told him that I loved his music, but if he wanted to replace me I'd understand. Albert asked if I wanted to learn to play blues, because if so, I should stick with him, he would teach me. What a great gift he gave me! I stayed with him for around five years and he was like a father to me."

It was during this period that Coco began doubling on the guitar. Collins went out of his way to teach him what he knew. "We'd sit in hotel rooms and play guitar. He'd play that beautiful rhythm of his and just have me play along. He was always saying, 'Man, don't think about it, just feel it.' He taught me to tap into an inner strength."

"Then in the 1980's I was playing guitar at a club when John Mayall came in to celebrate his birthday. I dedicated a real bastardized version of "All Your Love" to him. Unknown to me, the guy running the board made a mix for John. A little later John gave me a call, asking if I wanted to join a new version of the Bluesbreakers. I was sure it was one of my English friends playing a joke, so I hung up on him! Luckily, he called me back. I knew I shouldn't pass up the chance to play with this great legend, so I joined him and ended up staying ten years. We played everywhere. My guitar advanced very fast with him, simply because of the pressure of being in that band and following in the footsteps of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. John always wanted us to play like ourselves and not copy the records. I learned a lot from him."

During nearly ten years with the Bluesbreakers, Coco toured all over the world, playing the most prestigious festivals - North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and the San Francisco Blues Festival, to name a few. This important period was documented on several recordings, including Behind The Iron Curtain, The Power Of The Blues, Chicago Line, A Sense Of Place, and Wake Up Call. Coco was also a guest performer on Collins Mix, Albert's 1993 recording. It was Collins who inspired Coco to leave the Bluesbreakers for a solo career. "He was dying of cancer when he told me, 'I know John's been good to you, but it's time for you to do your own thing.' That really shook me." Montoya struck out on his own in 1993 and immediately established a reputation as one of the strongest performers on the circuit, tearing up the clubs and knocking out festival audiences around the country with his spectacular shows.

Coco's debut as a solo artist, Gotta Mind To Travel, was released on Blind Pig in 1995. On the release he rips through a set of blues and R&B songs with from-the-heart vocals and fiery, intense guitar solos. The album is further enlivened by guest appearances by his mentors Collins and Mayall, as well as Al Kooper, Richie Hayward of Little Feat and label mate Debbie Davies. Gotta Mind To Travel became an instant favorite with radio, appearing for months on the radio charts (as well as holding the #1 position for many consecutive weeks) of Living Blues and The Hard Report , a radio trade publication. The Hard Report called it "one of the best blues albums this year and sets the stakes incredibly high for any other releases the rest of the year. Montoya's passionate vocals and expressive guitar are the foundation for what will surely be an album that stands well in the test of time." Coco appeared twice on the House Of Blues syndicated radio program hosted by Dan Akroyd, and was featured in articles by the Associated Press and Guitar Player magazine.

In early 1996, Coco won the prestigious W.C. Handy Award (the Grammy Awards of blues music) for Best New Blues Artist. He was also nominated in the categories of Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year, Best Instrumentalist/Guitar, and Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year for Gotta Mind To Travel.

Coco's scorching sophomore album, Ya Think I'd Know Better, came on the heels of his Handy Award and firmly placed him in the top ranks of today's rock and roots music performers. The release stayed on the Billboard Magazine Blues Chart for 14 weeks and earned the number six spot on the "Top 10 Best-Selling Independent Label" blues releases of 1996. Blues Revue magazine said "Montoya's strat leads rage across the disc like brush fire.....(he's) a modern blues master." Guitar Magazine called the release "a ripping trip through 11 lively blues-rock sides," while Guitar World exclaimed Coco to be "in the forefront of contemporary blues guitarists."

Montoya's latest album, Just Let Go, continue's to showcase his steely guitar licks and impassioned vocals. After the success of Ya Think I'd Know Better, Coco asked Grammy Award winning producer Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan and Santana) to rejoin him in the studio, and Jim quickly agreed. Special guests include Ernie and Earl Cate from the Cate Bros and Shaun Murphy. Just Let Go features inspired versions of songs such as "Fear No Evil" and "Do What You Wanna Do" as well as refreshing originals like "My Side Of The Fence" and "Just Let Go", which caught the attention of mainstream audiences, media people and fans alike.