So on this date “Monk” was born. Yes, William “Monk” Montgomery the older brother of Wes, was born on October 10,1921. What’s that I hear, you say, you thought I meant the other Monk – yeah, Thelonious Monk was born on this date, too, only a few years earlier in 1917! Anyway, here’s some background on Monk Montgomery! From Wikipedia:
William Howard “Monk” Montgomery (October 10, 1921 – May 20, 1982) was an American jazz bassist…..
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Montgomery was the older brother of guitarist Wes Montgomery; younger brother, Buddy Montgomery played vibraphone and piano. The brothers released a number of albums together as the Montgomery Brothers.[1] He also had an older brother, Thomas (died at 16), who played drums, and a younger sister, Ervena (Lena), who plays piano.
He is perhaps the first electric bassist of significance to jazz, introducing the Fender Precision Bass to the genre in 1951, although he is most famously seen playing the later Fender Jazz Bass which became his signature instrument. Montgomery also played the double bass……Read More
Monk was the second of the three musical brothers to pass away, when he lost his battle with cancer in 1982. Wes passed away in 1968 and younger brother Buddy left us in 2009. But all three left a legacy of fine music, both as individual performers, and collectively as The Montgomery Brothers
Now I going to use a video either of Monk and brothers Wes and Buddy, maybe something from Groove Yard, which is a great album,by the way! But then I saw this video of the funky song “Fuselage” from Monk’s album Bass Odyssey and I thought even though it was short it showcases Monk’s fine bass playing! So let’s wish Monk a Happy Birthday! I do think I’ll listen to Groove Yard this afternoon!!
