Coco Montoya

{{Short description|American blues guitarist and singer}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2009}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Coco Montoya | image = Coco Montoya 7Dec2007.jpg | caption = Coco Montoya – Live in Concert | image_size = | birth_name = Henry Montoya | years_active = 1977–present | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|10|2|mf=y}} | birth_place = Santa Monica, California, United States | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|drums}} | genre = Blues, blue-eyed soul, country rock | occupation = Musician, songwriter | label = | website = [http://www.cocomontoyaband.com/ CocoMontoyaBand.com] }}

'''Henry "Coco" Montoya''' (born October 2, 1951, Santa Monica, California) is an American blues guitarist and singer and former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. He is of Mexican heritage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straight.com/music/1369096/coco-montoya-serves-it-hot-and-bluesy|title=Coco Montoya serves it hot and bluesy|date=March 5, 2020|newspaper=The Georgia Straight|access-date=September 2, 2023}}</ref>

==Musical career== Montoya's career began in the mid-1970s when Albert Collins asked him to join his band as a drummer. Collins took Montoya under his wing and taught him his "icy hot" guitar style. The two remained friends even after Montoya left Collins' band to start a career of his own.

In the early 1980s John Mayall heard Montoya playing guitar in a Los Angeles bar. Soon after, Mayall asked Montoya to join the newly reformed Bluesbreakers. He remained a member of the band for 10 years.

In 1995 he appeared with the Cate Brothers for the resumption of their recording career on their release, ''Radioland''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002350/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/cate_brothers/bio.jhtml Cate Brothers biography], VH1.com</ref> Also in 1995, Montoya started his solo career with the release of his debut solo album, ''Gotta Mind To Travel.'' To date, he has released twelve solo albums.

In 2002, Montoya featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album ''Hey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!'', performing the song "Pills."

Montoya's 2019 recording, ''Coming In Hot'', was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2019/favorite-blues|title=Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review|website=AllMusic|access-date=December 24, 2019}}</ref>

==Left-hand style== Montoya is left-handed but plays a left-handed guitar with a right-handed neck (i.e. strings upside down).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/1139/coco-montoya/12955, |title=Guitarplayer interview |access-date=2014-04-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045036/http://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/1139/coco-montoya/12955, |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal life== Montoya and his longtime girlfriend Lenora married in 2009. He has two daughters: Jasmin (born 1980) and Donna (born 1988).

==Discography== * 1995 ''Gotta Mind To Travel'' (Silvertone; Blind Pig) * 1996 ''Ya Think I'd Know Better'' (Dixie Frog; Blind Pig) * 1997 ''Just Let Go'' (Blind Pig) * 2000 ''Suspicion'' (Alligator) * 2002 ''Can't Look Back'' (Alligator) * 2007 ''Dirty Deal'' (Alligator) * 2009 ''The Essential Coco Montoya'' (Bling Pig) - compilation * 2010 ''I Want It All Back'' (Ruf) * 2014 ''Songs From The Road'' [live] (Ruf) * 2017 ''Hard Truth'' (Alligator) * 2019 ''Coming In Hot'' (Alligator) * 2023 ''Writing On The Wall'' (Alligator)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.cocomontoyaband.com/ Official website] * [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p106950/biography|pure_url=yes}} Biography] at AllMusic

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoya, Coco}} Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:American blues guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Contemporary blues musicians Category:American musicians of Mexican descent Category:American blues rock musicians Category:John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers members Category:Electric blues musicians Category:Musicians from Santa Monica, California Category:American blues singers Category:Guitarists from California Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:21st-century American guitarists Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians