Kevin MontgomeryMaster of his own DestinySeptember 2001 -
His father, Bob Montgomery, is a veteran country songwriter and producer, as well as being an early partner and friend of Buddy Holly. His mother Carol, was a respected Nashville session singer, and was one of the backing singers on Elvis Presley's 'Suspicious Minds'. So it is hardly surprising that Kevin was destined to find his niche somewhere in the music industry. I had been trying hard for some days to hook up with Kevin, but the time difference always seemed to get in our way. When I eventually found him, he was strolling down the aisles in WalMart, which he says is one of his favourite ways to relax when he is on tour. I asked him how he would adjust to the time difference when he comes back to the UK in September. "I do pretty well because I'm up pretty late over here. So when I get back to the States, I feel like a pretty together, normal kind of person, 'cause I want to go to bed around 10pm." |
"It's hard for a day or two, and on the next tour I'm going to come from Key West to arrive in London on the day I'm doing the London gig, and I guess that Jeffrey (our promoter) will have all sorts of neat little promotional things going on, so it'll be interesting. I'll just have to sleep as much as I can on the plane, and say this day will be hell." "I grew up with music, being around songwriter s everyday, and being inspired by what they did. Sure I went to college for a couple of years, but then began playing the subways of New York to make some money. I decided to quit college, and go out and become a singer / songwriter." I wondered what his folks had to say about that. "Not much really," Kevin laughed. "I moved to LA, and played every open mike, and anything I could. About a year after I got to LA, I got a deal with AKM Records, and cut an album for them." "I toured with Sheryl Crow and David Crosby and people like that. I started going on the road, and there was no turning back after that." I asked him if he ever had any intention of ever getting a 'proper' job. "Well, I have done that too, but music is in your blood, it's in your heart and it's pretty much difficult to imagine doing anything else. I went through a period after A&M, where I'd left my publishing deal, my contract, I pretty much walked away from the music industry, I left everything. I was working on another deal with Decca records, but then they shut down the label and so I was just working, doing everything I could to make a living." |
"I was waiting tables, delivering papers, valeting, anything that came along. At times I was quite happy just doing that, but I knew I had to go for it, so I put this current record out myself, and made a few videos, and financed the whole deal myself." "I sent it to Bob Harris at the BBC, and he started playing it, and that's pretty much what has given me my new start so that I can get back over and start doing it again." I asked Kevin if he thought that the desire to categorise everything in the States may have hampered his success. "That was my problem with my first record. A&M didn't know what to do with it when it came right down to it, and it fell between the cracks. It was a little rock, a little country and I guess it was too difficult to tag." I wondered if he would fit in with the Western Beatscene. "That's a pretty broad category, and I've always been involved with Billy Block's shows from my days back in LA, and I'm playing a show with my band Paint. I have a band with a couple of the guys from the Mavericks called 'Paint'. But, you know, the majors all seem to want to chase the big ticket and sometimes I think my favourite stuff just doesn't seem to get covered." "I guess I'm happy with my success at the moment, so I'll just hope that it keeps moving along like this in the future." Kevin Montgomery is a very talented young man with an unassuming manner, nobody deserves success more than he does. Make sure you don't miss him! PeeBea Mac |
Although
Kevin Montgomery has a Nashville pedigree most artists would die for,
he is an iron-willed singer / songwriter who is determined to follow
his own destiny.