Bob Montgomery (songwriter)

Bob Montgomery (born May 12, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.

Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school. Initially, they were playing a variety of bluegrass music that evolved to the rockabilly sounds.[1]

Bob Montgomery met Buddy Holly at Hutchison Junior High School in Lubbock, Texas in 1949. They joined up and started playing at school assemblies and on local radio shows. Bob sang lead and Buddy harmonized. They soon had a weekly Sunday radio show on station KDAV.[2] On October 14, 1955, Bill Haley and the Comets did a concert at the Fair Park Auditorium which also featured Montgomery, Holly and bassist Larry Welborn on the bill.[1] Eddie Crandall, Marty Robbins' manager, spoke to KDAV station owner Pappy Dave Stone and told him he was interested in Holly as a solo performer. Holly's career then began after demo recordings of his music were made and sent to Decca Records.[3]

Bob co-wrote some of Holly's songs, such as "Heartbeat", "Wishing", and "Love's Made a Fool of You" as well as the pop standard Misty Blue. He also wrote "Back in Baby's Arms" for Patsy Cline. His son Kevin Montgomery recently recorded a version of this song, which appears on his album "True".

References

  1. ^ a b "Texas Music History Online – The Crickets". Center for Texas Music History, Texas State University-San Marcos. http://ctmh.its.txstate.edu/artist.php?cmd=detail&aid=582&start=0&letter=. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 
  2. ^ "Bob Montgomery and Buddy Holly". http://www.fearnothingonline.com/bio/bobmontgomery.htm. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 
  3. ^ "Buddy Holly Timeline: 1936 to 1956". Buddy Holly Center, City of Lubbock. http://www.buddyhollycenter.org/gallery/1936to56.aspx. Retrieved 25 July 2010.