LITTLE BROTHER MONTGOMERY
Genres: Blues, Boogie Woogie Piano, Stride Piano, Jazz Related Gospel, Classic (1920s) Jazz • United States

A sophisticated musician, Little Brother Montgomery played (and sang) a style of piano blues from the '20s on that approached jazz in its finesse and harmonic complexity. A notable influence on the likes of Sunnyland Slim and Otis Spann, pianist Little Brother Montgomery's lengthy career spanned both the earliest years of blues history and the electrified Chicago scene of the 1950s. By age 11, Montgomery had given up on attending school to instead play in Louisiana juke joints. He came to Chicago as early as 1926 and made his first 78s in 1930 for Paramount, including two enduring signature items, "Vicksburg Blues" and "No Special Rider," recorded in Grafton, WI. Bluebird recorded Montgomery more prolifically in 1935-1936 in New Orleans. In 1942, Little Brother Montgomery settled down to a life of steady club gigs in Chicago, his repertoire alternating between blues and traditional jazz (he played Carnegie Hall with Kid Ory's read more...