John Michael Montgomery

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John Michael Montgomery

Background information
Born	January 20, 1965 (1965-01-20) (age 43)
Origin	Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA
Genre(s)	Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals Acoustic guitar
Years active	1992-present
Label(s)	Atlantic Warner Bros. Stringtown
Associated acts	Montgomery Gentry All-4-One

John Michael Montgomery (born January 20, 1965 in Danville, Kentucky^[1]) is an American country music singer-songwriter. He began his career in a band called Early Tymz, whose members included his older brother Eddie Montgomery and their friend Troy Gentry (who currently make up the country music duo Montgomery Gentry). John Michael made his solo debut on the American country music scene in 1992 with the release of his album, Life's a Dance, on the Atlantic Records label.

Overall, John Michael has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts overall, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" (1994) and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" (1995). Seven of Montgomery's singles have reached Number One on the country charts.

1 Biography
2 Acoustic Neuroma
3 2006 Arrest
4 Rehab
5 Discography
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Biography

Born Jan. 20, 1965, in Danville, Kentucky, John Michael Montgomery arrived on the country music scene in 1993 with a debut album, Life's a Dance, that became the only million-seller on the country charts by a new artist that year. Its title was a No. 4 hit single and was followed by his first country chart-topper, "I Love the Way You Love Me." The follow-up, Kickin' It Up, hit the top spot on both the country and adult contemporary charts and produced four more successful singles, the chart-topping "I Swear," "Be My Baby Tonight," "If You Got Love" and the No. 4 single "Rope the Moon".

Montgomery and his older brother, Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, received musical encouragement from their father, who performed in a local country band and taught his son his first chords. John Michael joined the family band as guitarist before taking the lead singing role when his parents divorced. Afterwards, he made a frugal living on the local honky-tonk scene as a solo artist playing what he referred to as "working man's country." Eventually, Atlantic Records signed him, although it was he, rather than the record company, who rejected his own material for inclusion on his debut. ("Mine just weren't good enough.") There were problems during the recording, typified in an anecdote regarding a late-night call to the head of Atlantic that resulted in a change of producer. Atlantic's faith in their artist was subsequently rewarded by his swift rise, even though some questioned his political correctness with songs such as "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)."

His fourth album, What I Do the Best, was released while the singer underwent throat surgery. He was almost back to full health for 1998's Leave a Mark, which, like the following year's Home to You, saw him heading in an increasingly middle-of-the-road direction. Following the release of 2000's Brand New Me, he switched labels after Atlantic closed its country division and transferred several of its artists to the Warner Bros. roster. He released Pictures in 2002 and The Very Best of John Michael Montgomery in 2003.

In early 2003, he scored another radio hit with " Letters From Home", a song about a soldier fighting in an overseas war. The song served as the title track for his album of the same name.

In 2007, Montgomery founded his own label, Stringtown Records. His first single for the label, "Mad Cowboy Disease", was released in March 2008.

[edit] Acoustic Neuroma

After an off-key performance of the National Anthem at a televised NASCAR event in March, 2005, Montgomery confirmed on his website that he had a condition known as acoustic neuroma, which is a non-cancerous growth that interferes with a nerve running between the brain and the ear. This condition can affect balance and hearing and can certainly make singing or any kind of public performing quite difficult for the patient. The problem was corrected, however, and did not alter Montgomery's touring schedule for the rest of 2005.^[2]

[edit] 2006 Arrest

At 2:20 a.m. on February 16, 2006, Montgomery was arrested at an intersection in Lexington, Kentucky for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance, which was identified as Endocet by the Lexington Herald-Leader. Police also found two loaded handguns in Montgomery's vehicle. Montgomery was charged with a count of a prescription drug not in its proper container, two counts of carrying a concealed deadly weapon, disregarding a traffic control device and performing an improper turn.^[3]

Montgomery's lawyer, Jon Woodall, has claimed that Montgomery is a hunter, and holds a concealed weapon permit, though Montgomery did not have the license with him at the time of arrest. Woodall also stated that the prescription was filled by Montgomery's physicians after Montgomery's recent hip replacement surgery ^[4].He has since been found not guilty of all charges.

[edit] Rehab

On May 9th, 2008 Montgomery announced he was in rehab for a disclosed substance abuse problem. He canceled all shows and public appearances for the 30 days following the date of entering. He stated he would "be disappearing for a while and will come out stronger after beating the demons that stripped me of my energy of life and good health. I will fight however long it takes and come out stronger". The addiction was cited to severe anxiety attacks and a sleep disorder. ^[5]