{{Short description|American musician and songwriter (born 1993)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ricky Montgomery | image = RickyMontgomery ReithHumphreys1.jpg | label = {{Flatlist| * Election Day * Warner * Many Hats }} | website = {{URL|rickymontgomery.com}} | alt = A shoulders-up portrait of Ricky Montgomery in concert. He is wearing a tank top and light raincoat, and is singing passionately into a microphone. | caption = Montgomery in 2024 | birth_name = Richard Owen Holmes Montgomery | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|4|3}} | birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | years_active = 2014–present | origin = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | spouse = {{Marriage|Jess Joho|2025}} | genre = {{Flatlist| * Indie pop * alternative pop * bedroom pop }} }}
'''Richard Owen Holmes Montgomery''' (born April 3, 1993) is an American singer-songwriter. He{{Efn|Montgomery uses both ''he/him'' and ''they/them'' pronouns. This article uses ''he/him'' for consistency.|name=pronouns|group=lower-alpha}} is best known for his breakout hits "Mr. Loverman" and "Line Without a Hook," which went viral on TikTok in 2020.
== Early life == Richard Owen Holmes Montgomery<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-12-29 |title=Best of 2023: Albums |url=https://georgetownvoice.com/2023/12/29/best-of-2023-albums/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The Georgetown Voice |language=en-US}}</ref> was born in Los Angeles<ref name=":3">{{Cite tweet|number=1348733278103113729|user=rohmontgomery|title=i am *from* LA, i lived in st. louis from ages 12-21|first=Richard Owen Holmes|last=Montgomery|access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref> on April 3, 1993.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1113501207266377728|user=rohmontgomery|title=it's official, baby!! I just turned 26 and no longer have health insurance 🥰😜 who wants to come over and kick my ass?|first=Richard Owen Holmes|last=Montgomery|access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref> His father was a gaffer,<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1678893571800457219|user=rohmontgomery|title=by "worked at warner bros" i mean he was a gaffer in a stage lighting union and most of his gigs were at the warner bros lot in burbank. so unofficial. and yet it still gives me the willies|first=Richard Owen Holmes|last=Montgomery|access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref> and he has described his mother as "changing careers a lot".<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=rohmontgomery|number=1993404898407526899|title=My divorced parents didn’t have money. Mom changed careers a lot, and the recession drove my dad to ending his life. I couldn’t afford lessons. didn’t matte rI taught myself guitar I booked my first show on myspace at age 14 (pic below) Real artists find a way. AI is loser shit }}</ref> When Montgomery was young, his parents got a divorce,<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|last=Myszkowski|first=Max|date=December 3, 2019|title=The Honeysticks Sweeten Storke Plaza|work=Daily Nexus|department=Music|url=https://dailynexus.com/2019-12-03/the-honeysticks-sweeten-storke-plaza/|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> and in 2005, he and his mother moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived from ages 12–21,<ref name=":3" /> and also attended college.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=894347700438573056|user=rohmontgomery|title=my old college in st. louis did local plays and 17-75 year olds would do it. don't know if there are any local colleges doin that in CA tho|first=Richard Owen Holmes|last=Montgomery|access-date=2023-07-18}}</ref> At the age of 14, he began to play in various bands.<ref name=":1" /> In 2014, he gained a following on Vine, a short-form video service, posting comical original songs.<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine|last=Ginsberg|first=Gab|date=February 5, 2021|title=Ricky Montgomery Signs With Warner Records, Debuts 'Line Without a Hook' With Mxmtoon: Exclusive|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9521289/ricky-montgomery-signs-warner-records-line-without-a-hook-mxmtoon/|access-date=June 3, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> He found the site the day after the app had launched from a CNN news article. He saw the site as a potential "springboard for a possible music career."<ref name=":7" /> After finding success with Vine, Montgomery released his first EP, ''Caught on the Moon''.<ref name=":2" /> Soon after, he dropped out of college and returned to Los Angeles to pursue a musical career.<ref name=":1" />
In 2009, Montgomery's father died in Mexico. His father's death was initially thought to be a scuba-diving accident; however, Montgomery later discovered his father committed suicide after finding hand-written letters.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|last=Vigil|first=Dom|date=July 14, 2023|title=Ricky Montgomery Reveals New Single, Black Fins|work=Prelude Press|url=https://preludepress.com/news/2023/07/14/ricky-montgomery-black-fins/|access-date=February 29, 2024}}</ref> In regard to this experience, Montgomery said he initially "didn't talk about it a lot", but in 2023, he released the song "Black Fins", about his father's death.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Montgomery|first=Ricky|title=Black Fins|url=https://www.rickymontgomery.com/blackfins|access-date=February 29, 2024|archive-date=February 29, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229172842/https://www.rickymontgomery.com/blackfins|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Wonderland Staff |date=2023-07-28 |title=Ricky Montgomery Talks About His Forthcoming Album |url=https://mail.wonderlandmagazine.com/2023/07/28/new-noise-ricky-montgomery/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Wonderland |language=en-GB}}</ref>
He has a sister.<ref name=":7" />
==Personal life==
Montgomery is non-binary<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1773045958172938524 |user=rohmontgomery |title=bc i am non binary but i am still a man |first=Ricky |last=Montgomery |date=2024-03-27 |access-date=2024-10-18}}</ref> and uses ''he/they'' pronouns.<ref>{{Cite tweet |title=because i get this question 10,000 times a day: pronouns are he/they. |number=1409633164968960010 |first=Ricky |last=Montgomery |user=rohmontgomery |access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>
Montgomery proposed to his then-girlfriend, writer, journalist, and critic<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jess Joho {{!}} LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-joho/ |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=LinkedIn}}</ref> Jess Joho, in late May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2025 |title="7 months ago, I proposed to @jessjoho..." Ricky Montgomery (@rickymontgomery) {{!}} Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DEicqyBTF5l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Instagram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2024 |title="Today is my birthday, and the day after my mother's passing..." Jess Joho (@jessjoho) {{!}} Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C7hIUq_M1LJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Instagram}}</ref> In January 2025, the pair announced they were officially engaged as of January 5.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2025 |title=ricky montgomery on X: "Got engaged 2 days ago but sat on the info until now bc I didn't want people to think i proposed on january 6th" / X |url=https://x.com/rohmontgomery/status/1876768242137550868 |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=Twitter/X}}</ref> They were legally married in December 2025.<ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=rickymontgomery|postid=DSBa4juAT-F|title=this ain’t my wedding but i sure did get legally married! i love you so much @jessjoho and it meant the world to me to have our families finally get to sit down and meet each other while we went through the legal part of getting married. thank you @morgansung for marrying us, and to @rebeccaroland for making sure we had these images to remember this extremely important day in our lives Jess Joho… it is my deepest honor to include you on my health insurance, and i can’t wait to do the real thing next year 💕|date=8 December 2025}}</ref>
== Career == In LA, he released his first studio album ''Montgomery Ricky'' on April 1, 2016.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Caulfield|first=AJ|date=April 2, 2016|title=Album Review: Ricky Montgomery – "Montgomery Ricky"|url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/review/76086/album-review-ricky-montgomery-montgomery-ricky/|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=The Young Folks}}</ref> Montgomery founded indie band The Honeysticks with a childhood friend of his<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine|last=Crowley|first=Erin|date=February 5, 2021|title=Ricky Montgomery & mxmtoon Team up for New Version of 'Line Without a Hook'|url=https://www.melodicmag.com/2021/02/05/ricky-montgomery-mxmtoon-team-up-for-new-version-of-line-without-a-hook/|magazine=Melodic Magazine|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> to experiment musically, and in 2017, they released their first single: "Out Like a Light".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify – Web Player |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0uVgXMrOAeEryDca39DJMw |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The band name was derived from a snack Montgomery ate every Saturday morning when he was a kid, made of sticks of honey.<ref name=":7" /> In 2018, he took the year off from making music.<ref name=":1" /> He has started social media marketing companies to earn more money.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Richard Owen Holmes [u/montgomeryricky] |date=2021-02-18 |title=Hello! I am singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery. I wrote Mr Loverman and Line Without a Hook, two of the biggest TikTok songs of the last year. I also do music as a job. AMA! |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/lmrupe/hello_i_am_singersongwriter_ricky_montgomery_i/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=r/Music}}</ref> By 2020, he considered quitting making music entirely.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> However, in mid-2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, his two singles—"Mr. Loverman" and "Line Without a Hook"—went viral on TikTok.<ref name=":1" /> With his explosion in popularity, he was contacted by "virtually every single major label A&R in a matter of months."<ref name=":2" /> In December 2020,<ref name=":2" /> after a large bidding war, Montgomery signed with Warner Records.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Ricky Montgomery - Paradigm Talent Agency|url=https://www.paradigmagency.com/music/ricky-montgomery/|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=Paradigm Talent Agency|archive-date=June 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604021719/https://www.paradigmagency.com/music/ricky-montgomery/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date= |title=Ricky Montgomery Signs With Warner Records, Debuts 'Line Without a Hook' With Mxmtoon: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9521289/ricky-montgomery-signs-warner-records-line-without-a-hook-mxmtoon |access-date=November 12, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |language=en}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=I think because we had a really traumatizing year, these songs kind of found a moment, because they're all, in their own way, about traumas in my life.|author=Ricky Montgomery<ref name=":4" />|source=}} Since then, he has remixed two songs in 2021 from his debut album with fellow artists Chloe Moriondo and mxmtoon respectively.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> Montgomery came in contact with mxmtoon after finding her perform one of his songs on the streaming platform Twitch, learning that she had been a fan of his Vine content before it shut down.<ref name=":2" /> He found Moriondo from a song cover of "Out Like a Light".<ref name=":5">{{Cite magazine|last=March|first=Kim|date=March 5, 2021|title=Ricky Montgomery and chloe moriondo Team Up on a Wistful Remake of "Mr. Loverman"|url=https://floodmagazine.com/85454/listen-ricky-montgomery-chloe-moriondo-mr-loverman/|magazine=Flood Magazine|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
On going viral leading to a record deal, he told ''Vox'' that despite virality in songs or a record deal, artists get stuck on a perpetual treadmill of self-promotion: "Next thing you know, it’s been three years and you’ve spent almost no time on your art. You’re getting worse at it, but you’re becoming a great marketer for a product which is less and less good."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jennings |first=Rebecca |date=February 1, 2024 |title=Everyone's a sellout now |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2024/2/1/24056883/tiktok-self-promotion-artist-career-how-to-build-following |access-date=February 2, 2024 |work=Vox}}</ref>
On October 8, 2024, Montgomery announced the single, "Superfan", and confirmed that he had been dropped as an artist by Warner Records.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montgomery |first=Ricky |date=October 8, 2024 |title=superfan. october 24 |url=https://x.com/rohmontgomery/status/1843698430914507271?s=46 |access-date=October 8, 2024 |website=Twitter}}</ref>
== Discography == === Albums === * ''Montgomery Ricky'' (2016) * ''Rick'' (2023) * ''Rick(y)'' (2024)
=== EPs === * ''Caught on the Moon'' (2014)<ref name=":2" /> * ''The Honeysticks'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Honeysticks EP, by The Honeysticks |url=https://thehoneysticks.bandcamp.com/album/the-honeysticks-ep |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Bandcamp |language=en}}</ref> * ''It's 2016 Somewhere'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krueger |first=Jonah |date=2022-04-15 |title=Ricky Montgomery Shares Origins of It's 2016 Somewhere EP: Exclusive |url=https://consequence.net/2022/04/ricky-montgomery-its-2016-somewhere-ep-origins/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}}</ref> * ''Montgomery Ricky (Plus 3) (2026)''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify – Web Player |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1yBN6eCHN8Iw1mmjsAYwyi |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref>
=== Singles ===
* "Out Like a Light" (2017)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caulfield |first=AJ |date=2017-06-16 |title=Song Review: Ricky Montgomery & The Honeysticks – "Out Like a Light" |url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/music/104845/song-review-ricky-montgomery-the-honeysticks-out-like-a-light/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Out Like a Light 2" (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaut |first=Shu Lan |date=2022-09-23 |title=Ricky Montgomery lives to be live |url=https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2022/09/ricky-montgomery-lives-to-be-live |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=The Daily Cardinal |language=en}}</ref> * "Cars" (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Estrada |first=Sienna |date=2020-07-10 |title=The Honeysticks get experimental on new track "Cars" |url=https://earmilk.com/2020/07/10/the-honeysticks-get-experimental-on-new-track-cars/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Earmilk |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Line Without a Hook" (2021),{{Efn|This is a remake of the song from the album ''Montgomery Ricky'' with singer mxmtoon.}} ARIA: Platinum,<ref name=ARIA24s>{{cite certification|region=Australia|type=single|certyear=2024|access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref> BPI: Silver,<ref name=BPI>{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|artist=Ricky Montgomery|access-date=March 26, 2023}}</ref> RIAA: Platinum,<ref name=RIAA>{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Ricky Montgomery|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref> MC: Platinum<ref name=MC>{{cite certification|region=Canada|artist=Ricky Montgomery|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref> * "Mr. Loverman" (2021),{{Efn|This is a remake of the song from the album ''Montgomery Ricky'' with musician Chloe Moriondo.}}<ref name=":5" /> ARIA: Platinum,<ref name="ARIA24s"/> BPI: Silver,<ref name=BPI/> RIAA: Platinum,<ref name=RIAA/> MC: Platinum<ref name=MC/> * "Talk to You" (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Battoclette |first=Augusta |date=2021-06-25 |title=Ricky Montgomery shares first solo music in five years with "Talk To You" |url=https://www.altpress.com/ricky-montgomery-talk-to-you-music-video/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Alt Press |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Sorry for Me" (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thornton |first=Sierra |title=Ricky Montgomery makes a poetic return with 'Sorry for Me' |url=https://dailycollegian.com/2021/10/ricky-montgomery-makes-a-poetic-return-with-sorry-for-me/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Massachusetts Daily Collegian}}</ref> * "Eraser" (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koh |first=Vanessa |date=April 8, 2023 |title=Ricky Montgomery Returns with New Single "Eraser" |url=https://popnerdlounge.com/read/ricky-montgomery-returns-with-new-single-eraser |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=Pop Nerd Lounge}}</ref> * "Don't Say That" (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vigil |first=Dom |date=2023-05-19 |title=Ricky Montgomery Don't Say That |url=https://preludepress.com/news/2023/05/19/ricky-montgomery-dont-say-that/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Prelude Press |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Nobody Loves Me" (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Sam |date=2023-06-30 |title=mxmtoon, Cavetown and Ricky Montgomery have teamed up for a new single, 'Nobody Loves Me' |url=https://readdork.com/news/mxmtoon-cavetown-ricky-montgomery-single-nobody-loves-me/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Dork |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Black Fins" (2023)<ref name=":8" /> * "Boy Toy" (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vigil |first=Dom |date=2023-08-18 |title=Ricky Montgomery Releases New Single, "Boy Toy" |url=https://preludepress.com/news/2023/08/18/ricky-montgomery-boy-toy/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> * "It's OK to Cry" (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-25 |title=Ricky Montgomery It's Ok To Cry |url=https://preludepress.com/news/2024/01/25/ricky-montgomery-its-ok-to-cry/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Unknown Phantom" (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Ricky Montgomery Unknown Phantom |url=https://preludepress.com/news/2024/03/15/ricky-montgomery-unknown-phantom/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> * "Superfan" (2024)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=Ricky Montgomery Gets Animated For 'Superfan' Video |url=https://www.antimusic.com/p/24/1024ricky_montgomery_gets_animated_for_superfan_video.shtml |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.antimusic.com |language=en}}</ref> * "Oh My My" (2026)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spotify – Web Player |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/724Bj9HBsVxr4ADSfRuwvN |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=Spotify |language=en}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == <references />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, Ricky}} Category:Singers from Los Angeles Category:1993 births Category:American TikTokers Category:Warner Records artists Category:Bedroom pop musicians Category:American indie pop musicians Category:American Vine (service) celebrities Category:Living people Category:American musicians Category:21st-century American musicians Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Non-binary singers Category:Singer-songwriters from California