Buddy Montgomery

Buddy Montgomery
Birth name Charles Montgomery
Born January 30, 1930(1930-01-30)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died May 14, 2009(2009-05-14) (aged 79)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupations Musician
Instruments Piano, vibraphone
Associated acts Wes Montgomery, Slide Hampton, Big Joe Turner, Miles Davis, many others

Charles "Buddy" Montgomery (January 30, 1930, Indianapolis, Indiana - May 14, 2009) was an American jazz vibraphonist and pianist. He was the youngest brother of Wes and Monk Montgomery. He and brother, Monk, formed the "Mastersounds," in the late 50's and produced ten recordings. When the "Mastersounds" disbanded, Monk and Buddy joined their brother Wes on number of "Montgomery Brothers" recordings, which were arranged by Buddy. They toured together in 1968, and it was in the middle of that tour that Wes died. Buddy continued to compose, arrange, perform, produce, teach and record, producing nine recordings as a leader.[1]

Contents

Biography

Buddy first played professionally in 1948; in 1949 he played with Big Joe Turner and soon afterwards with Slide Hampton. After a period in the Army, where he had his own quartet, he joined the Mastersounds as a vibraphonist with his brother Monk, pianist Richie Crabtree and drummer Benny Barth in 1957.[2] He led the Montgomery-Johnson Quintet with Ray Johnson from 1955 and 1957. His earliest sessions as a leader are from the late 1950s. He played briefly with Miles Davis in 1960. In 1969 he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and taught jazz music locally. Early in the 1980s he moved to Oakland; there he released more solo material and played with the Riverside Reunion Band, Charlie Rouse, David Fathead Newman and Bobby Hutcherson.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

References