Coco Montoya

Last updated
Coco Montoya
Coco Montoya 7Dec2007.jpg
Coco Montoya – Live in Concert
Background information
Born
Henry Montoya

(1951-10-02) October 2, 1951 (age 74)
Santa Monica, California, United States
Genres Blues, blue-eyed soul, country rock
Occupations Musician, songwriter
Instruments
Years active1977–present
Website CocoMontoyaBand.com

Henry "Coco" Montoya (born October 2, 1951, Santa Monica, California) is an American blues guitarist and singer and former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. He is of Mexican heritage. [1]

Contents

Musical career

Montoya's career began in the mid-1970s when Albert Collins asked him to join his band as a drummer. Collins took Montoya under his wing and taught him his "icy hot" guitar style. The two remained friends even after Montoya left Collins' band to start a career of his own.

In the early 1980s John Mayall heard Montoya playing guitar in a Los Angeles bar. Soon after, Mayall asked Montoya to join the newly reformed Bluesbreakers. He remained a member of the band for 10 years.

In 1995 he appeared with the Cate Brothers for the resumption of their recording career on their release, Radioland. [2] Also in 1995, Montoya started his solo career with the release of his debut solo album, Gotta Mind to Travel. To date, he has released twelve solo albums.

In 2002, Montoya featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album Hey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!, performing the song "Pills."

Montoya's 2019 recording, Coming In Hot, was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic. [3]

Left-hand style

Montoya is left-handed but plays a left-handed guitar with a right-handed neck (i.e. strings upside down). [4]

Personal life

Montoya and his longtime girlfriend Lenora married in 2009. He has two daughters: Jasmin (born 1980) and Donna (born 1988).

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "Coco Montoya serves it hot and bluesy". The Georgia Straight . March 5, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ Cate Brothers biography, VH1.com
  3. ↑ "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic . Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Guitarplayer interview". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
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