"In Loving Memory of Kenneth Montgomery"
Kenny Montgomery still had the first guitar he ever owned, hanging on the wall in his music room. He was twelve years old when he got that guitar. He'd already been playing for six years on borrowed guitars.
Kenneth Paul Montgomery died April 5, 2012. He was 3 weeks shy of his 84th birthday. "Kenny" was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He played music everyday. Even when his shoulder ached and the doctor said he had worn the cartilage to the bone, Kenny would not stop playing lead guitar on his beloved Fender Stratocaster. He said it kept him young. One minute he was juicing the blues on his Strat, the next minute he'd strap on his 12 string and soar with Marty Robbins.
When he was 80, Kenny discovered the iPod and Pandora. His grandson, Eric Hardin, introduced him to the world of electronic wonders. Kenny would welcome family and friends into his music room. With a big smile, he'd proudly proclaim, "Today I'm going to be playing along with some friends of mine." His fingers were almost too big for the iPod controls, but he eventually mastered the new device, and with the delight of a child he'd settle into his favorite chair and listen for the next song. He could play everything, from Chet Atkins to Eric Clapton, from Muddy Waters to Les Paul.
Kenny's musical career started in a tent revival. He was six years old when he picked up a guitar and started playing along with the choir. His father, the Preacher, took this as a sign to spread the gospel throughout the land. They traveled in a Model T to small towns in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. They'd set up in a brush arbor or an old schoolhouse. Kenny would strap a pie tin on his overalls as a collection plate and stroll down the aisles strumming his guitar. But in his mind's eye it wasn't an old schoolhouse, it was the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. And he was playing to a packed house of country music loving fans.
By the time Kenny was a teenager he had joined a western swing band, the "Triple M Boys". Dude Rawson, age 86, played fiddle and sang. He says the first time he saw Kenneth was in a revival. "He was quite a showman and one fine guitar player. He'd take his left hand and come up over the finger board and play upside down like that." Kenny went on to play with the Oklahoma Playboys. They had their own radio show every Friday night at 5:00 PM. The band's name was a tip of the cowboy hat to everyone's western swing hero, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.
Kenny played lead guitar with many old time country music singers and musicians, like Freddy Hart and Leon McAuliff, Bob Will's sensational pedal steel player. He also played with Jack Guthrie, Woody Guthrie's cousin. Jack had a number one hit song, "Oklahoma Hills Where I Was Born."
Kenny remembers: "I was working at the Hob Nob in Oklahoma City. Jack played there off and on for a year. He sure could hold his own. We were playing on the bandstand. We probably played something the fellow didn't like, or we didn't play his song. I don't know what happened. But here come a big salt shaker sailing across the room and just barely missed Jack and me. I don't know whether it was meant for me or meant for Jack. Jack said, 'Whoever threw that salt shaker would he come up here and let me know?' A guy walked up to the bandstand. Jack hit him one time and knocked him to the floor. The guy came to in a little bit and went back to his seat and sat down. No more commotion after that. I didn't know at the time that Jack was already sick. He passed away that next year of Tuberculosis. He went out singing and swinging." Kenny was 19. Jack Guthrie was 32.
Over the decades Kenny entertained countless fans throughout Oklahoma and later, California, where he moved in 1956. He turned down several opportunities to go on the road with big name country entertainers like Hank Thompson and Wynn Stuart. Kenny loved country music, but there was one thing he loved even more - his family.
One time while playing in Vegas with Jack Reeves, Glen Cambell's cousin, Kenny returned home after only one week, and proclaimed he was never going on the road again. He said the fast life was not for him. Kenny preferred to play in smaller clubs near his home in Upland. During the week he worked as an electrician in the aerospace industry. On the weekends, he played fiery lead guitar at the local honky tonks and clubs with Jack Reeves and The All-Americans, and after that, with his long time singer and dear friend, Jerry Haney.
This year Kenny and his beautiful bride, Marysue, were celebrating 60 years together. Kenny loved to tell the story of how they met. "I thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world when I saw her singing in a choir. I asked a friend who she was and where she went to church. I changed my church and started going to her church. So the next Sunday, after church was over there were about six guys trying to talk to her and I thought, here's my chance. Of course I was playing in the band, the church band, which helped some. Being a musician that helped me out. It wasn't my good looks because I never had that. So the next Sunday, I walked up to her and said, 'How would you like to go out and get some ice cream.' And she said, 'Okay.' And six guys standing around said, 'What happened here? Who is this guy?' About six months later we got married."
Kenny always tears up and flashes his signature smile when he gets to the final part of the story. "We've had a very enjoyable life together. Seems like I've been married all my life. All my success I give to her."
Kenny counted himself one of the lucky ones. His grandson, Christopher, a fellow guitar picker and songwriter, asked him recently, "If you had it to do all over again, how would you do it?" Kenny immediately answered with a smile, "Oh, I'd do it the same. I wouldn't change a thing if I had it to do all over again. I'd do it the same."
(Kenny loved to make music and his music lives on. We invite you to explore this site as you listen to great Blues and Country Music, including Kenny playing banjo, guitar and piano, while his dear friend, Jerry Haney, sings, or while Kenny jams along with the likes of Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Junior Brown.
This Memorial website will remain forever as a place for friends and family to visit with our beloved Kenny. We can meet here and share a smile, a tear, or a song. There are so many great stories to tell about this beautiful man who touched us all.)
11/02/2015 10:30PM
I senta note to my friend Peggy Jones who books the Sings Like Hell Series at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. She would love to talk with you about booking a show. Here's a link to their site: singslikehell.org We've been going to the series for years and have seen great shows from people like Greg Brown, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Randy Newman, Tracy Chapman, Rufus Wainwright. When I mentioned you to Peggy, she quickly emailed back and said - "I'm in!" This years film festival is Febr 3-13. It would be great to coordinate Sings Like Hell with the film festival.11/03/2015 5:00PM
Hi Jo-El, I've been working on the music licensing today for "I Want To Be With You Always." It's on your "LA Sessions" album and it has Sonnier International listed as the Publisher. Does that mean your company holds the rights to the recording? I didn't have any luck yet getting through to the right person at Mercury but the 3 people I spoke with didn't think they could help me. I'm on to person #4 tomorrow! I contacted BMI about the songwriting. I was told by filmmaking friends that clearing music is not easy. I hope it's easier for musicians when you want to perform or record someone else's song. Any thoughts about "Sings Like Hell?' Well it looks like you are correct, I do own the rights to that recording but the publishing does belong to Lefty. So I can give you permission to use the song. I'll need to check with my publishing people to see about the license fee. I don't handle that part of the business. I will have my agent contact the lady about the venue you sent me. Thanks for the tip on it. Thank you for your help.11/05/2015 9:23AM
Hi Jo-El, First, I want to tell you how much I love your new song "Healing Song." It made me cry - so beautiful and powerful - and all the musicians - what a treasure to get them all together! My husband and I watched the video several times. I went to the Arcadiana Foundation site to make a contribution. Is there a particular charity you recommend or is a general donation best? Your work in putting all that together reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead. Great news on the licensing front: I got in touch with Peermusic who owns the publishing on Lefty's song and they gave me permission to use it for just $250 a year. Let me know when you find out the fee for licensing the performance. I'm very excited about this project and your generosity of time and spirit and your heartfelt connection to my Daddy have inspired me. Love, Lynnwe will miss you forever
I'm so glad to have had the opportunity to meet this wonderful person. I remember every time he used to come to his daughter, Lynn's house, he was the nicest guy ever. Kenneth was very loving with me and my brother. He always gave us really good advice. Unfortunately he can't give me those advices any more BUT since he is another star in the sky he is guiding me and sending me those warm hugs that he used to give me with the light of that brighter star.Thank you God for giving us the opportunity to meet this special person......ONE IN A MILLION! We are going to miss you.
