Coco Montoya with Sol Roots perform Saturday November 15 at Gypsy Sally’s in Washington DC. Coco Montoya’s explosive guitar playing and soul-driven voice have propelled him to the upper reaches of the blues-rock world. Sol Roots has toured with funk, blues, and roots legends and performs an unique blend of energetic rock, raw blues, and greasy funk- all delivered with deep soul.
COCO MONTOYA
“Smoldering blues and southern-fried rock ‘n’ roll with a master touch and killer soloing” —GuitarOne
“An astounding guitar virtuoso and a forceful singer.” - Billboard
“Awe inspiring” —Village Voice
Guitar One Magazine calls guitarist/vocalist Coco Montoya “the hottest southpaw in the blues” and raves about his “master touch and killer tone.” The Boston Globe succinctly states that Montoya’s music is “hot, blistering soul.” From his early days as a drummer to his current status as one of the top-drawing guitarists and vocalists on the blues-rock scene, Montoya earned his status through years of hard work and constant touring. It all started with a chance meeting in the mid-1970s with legendary bluesman Albert Collins, who offered Montoya a gig as his drummer. Albert took an immediate liking to Montoya, becoming his mentor and teaching his new protégé the secrets of Collins’ “icy hot” style of blues guitar. Five years later, British blues icon John Mayall happened to catch Montoya at a jam session and was blown away. Mayall recruited him as his guitarist in the legendary Bluesbreakers, and Montoya spent the next 10 years touring non-stop, proving himself to be a world-class guitar master in one of the most renowned blues bands in existence. The rest is History!
Montoya is a self taught guitar slinger who plays with an emotional intensity few string benders possess. Playing left-handed and upside down like Albert King, Montoya learned his guitar techniques from his years with Collins. “I never had a lesson in my life. “I would watch other guitar players to catch what they did. I would wait for that one moment when they would do it, and just stare at them and try and remember where their hand was, where their fingers were. “People ask, ‘Did you take lessons from Albert?’ It’s more from just hanging out in the hotel rooms. He would grab his guitar and I would pick up one and we’d play I just learned by listening, all by ear. I just play it the way I hear it. He was always saying, ‘Don’t think about it, just feel it.’ He taught me to tap into an inner strength. I don’t know all the licks in the world, but I know the ones I can express happiness or sadness or emotion.”
From 1976 until 1984, Montoya had lost some of the feel for music and worked bartender jobs to survive. In 1984, his second mentor, John Mayall, was celebrating his birthday in a bar where Montoya was performing. Montoya’s from the hip version of “All Your Love” caught Mayall’s ear and Coco was asked to pack his Strat and follow previous Bluesbreaker guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor in the Bluesbreakers. “I would never be doing what I’m doing now if I hadn’t gotten the phone call from John Mayall.”
After three records with Mayall as a member of the Bluesbreakers, Coco decided in 1993 it was time to take the lessons from his two musical fathers and begin to sculpt a solo career. In the early 1990’s he was signed to Blind Pig Records and released three critically acclaimed discs, Gotta Mind To Travel, Ya Think I’d Know Better, and Just Let Go. In the middle of his Blind Pig days, Coco also received national recognition when he was named the Blues Foundation’s Best New Blue Artist at the 1996 Blues Music Awards. In 2000, Coco took his music up a notch and signed with Alligator Records, the country’s top blues label. In his seven years with Alligator, Coco released three more outstanding records, Suspicion, Can’t Look Back, and 2007’s Dirty Deal.
In 2009, Coco Montoya found a new home in the old world. Germany’s premier blues label, Ruf Records, signed the guitar giant and is poised to bring Coco Montoya’s heart to a world audience. I Want It All Back was the first step in that commitment.
“This is an exciting journey,” said Coco. “To my fans who love my guitar, I say come to me with open ears. The guitar is still there, but it’s not the only voice I have. Listen to me as an artist who is growing and grow with me.” Look for a NEW Live Record to be released on Ruf Records in early 2014.
SOL ROOTS
“A fierce guitarist and soulful singer” —Jambase
“He’s toured the world with some of the biggest names in funk and blues...He’s the fiery guitarist known as Sol, and his influences span the country, and the globe”. —On Tap Magazine
“...The show also highlights the genius of Sol Roots, who has performed throughout the South fronting his own soul and rock bands, while performing with blues legends from Guitar Gabriel to Taj Mahal....” —Washington Examiner
Sol Roots is a world class guitarist, bassist, and soulful singer who has toured the world with many musical pioneers and legends. Sol Roots and his band perform an unique blend of energetic rock, raw blues, and greasy funk- all delivered with deep soul. Sol has performed at premier festivals and venues and have been on bills with Dumpstaphunk, Soulive, The Wood Brothers, Robert Randolph, Booker T Jones, Eric Lindell, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Shemekia Copeland and more.
Sol Roots has performed on stage and in the studio with musical heavyweights Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and with the international guitar hero Cool John Ferguson. Sol has soaked in much from funk, blues, and soul heroes such as Roy Lee Johnson, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, and Ironing Board Sam, while touring and gigging with these artists. Sol also created a buzz with his underground blues hip-hop album entitled “Volume: Blue,” that carried him overseas to perform these sets live.
Paying homage to the greats, Sol seeks to push musical boundaries and bring Roots Music to a new generation of listeners.
Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist. Sol is also a Music Maker Relief Foundation “Younger Generation” artist.
Gypsy Sally’s
3401 K Street NW
Washington, DC, 20007
COCO MONTOYA
“Smoldering blues and southern-fried rock ‘n’ roll with a master touch and killer soloing” —GuitarOne
“An astounding guitar virtuoso and a forceful singer.” - Billboard
“Awe inspiring” —Village Voice
Guitar One Magazine calls guitarist/vocalist Coco Montoya “the hottest southpaw in the blues” and raves about his “master touch and killer tone.” The Boston Globe succinctly states that Montoya’s music is “hot, blistering soul.” From his early days as a drummer to his current status as one of the top-drawing guitarists and vocalists on the blues-rock scene, Montoya earned his status through years of hard work and constant touring. It all started with a chance meeting in the mid-1970s with legendary bluesman Albert Collins, who offered Montoya a gig as his drummer. Albert took an immediate liking to Montoya, becoming his mentor and teaching his new protégé the secrets of Collins’ “icy hot” style of blues guitar. Five years later, British blues icon John Mayall happened to catch Montoya at a jam session and was blown away. Mayall recruited him as his guitarist in the legendary Bluesbreakers, and Montoya spent the next 10 years touring non-stop, proving himself to be a world-class guitar master in one of the most renowned blues bands in existence. The rest is History!
Montoya is a self taught guitar slinger who plays with an emotional intensity few string benders possess. Playing left-handed and upside down like Albert King, Montoya learned his guitar techniques from his years with Collins. “I never had a lesson in my life. “I would watch other guitar players to catch what they did. I would wait for that one moment when they would do it, and just stare at them and try and remember where their hand was, where their fingers were. “People ask, ‘Did you take lessons from Albert?’ It’s more from just hanging out in the hotel rooms. He would grab his guitar and I would pick up one and we’d play I just learned by listening, all by ear. I just play it the way I hear it. He was always saying, ‘Don’t think about it, just feel it.’ He taught me to tap into an inner strength. I don’t know all the licks in the world, but I know the ones I can express happiness or sadness or emotion.”
From 1976 until 1984, Montoya had lost some of the feel for music and worked bartender jobs to survive. In 1984, his second mentor, John Mayall, was celebrating his birthday in a bar where Montoya was performing. Montoya’s from the hip version of “All Your Love” caught Mayall’s ear and Coco was asked to pack his Strat and follow previous Bluesbreaker guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor in the Bluesbreakers. “I would never be doing what I’m doing now if I hadn’t gotten the phone call from John Mayall.”
After three records with Mayall as a member of the Bluesbreakers, Coco decided in 1993 it was time to take the lessons from his two musical fathers and begin to sculpt a solo career. In the early 1990’s he was signed to Blind Pig Records and released three critically acclaimed discs, Gotta Mind To Travel, Ya Think I’d Know Better, and Just Let Go. In the middle of his Blind Pig days, Coco also received national recognition when he was named the Blues Foundation’s Best New Blue Artist at the 1996 Blues Music Awards. In 2000, Coco took his music up a notch and signed with Alligator Records, the country’s top blues label. In his seven years with Alligator, Coco released three more outstanding records, Suspicion, Can’t Look Back, and 2007’s Dirty Deal.
In 2009, Coco Montoya found a new home in the old world. Germany’s premier blues label, Ruf Records, signed the guitar giant and is poised to bring Coco Montoya’s heart to a world audience. I Want It All Back was the first step in that commitment.
“This is an exciting journey,” said Coco. “To my fans who love my guitar, I say come to me with open ears. The guitar is still there, but it’s not the only voice I have. Listen to me as an artist who is growing and grow with me.” Look for a NEW Live Record to be released on Ruf Records in early 2014.
SOL ROOTS
“A fierce guitarist and soulful singer” —Jambase
“He’s toured the world with some of the biggest names in funk and blues...He’s the fiery guitarist known as Sol, and his influences span the country, and the globe”. —On Tap Magazine
“...The show also highlights the genius of Sol Roots, who has performed throughout the South fronting his own soul and rock bands, while performing with blues legends from Guitar Gabriel to Taj Mahal....” —Washington Examiner
Sol Roots is a world class guitarist, bassist, and soulful singer who has toured the world with many musical pioneers and legends. Sol Roots and his band perform an unique blend of energetic rock, raw blues, and greasy funk- all delivered with deep soul. Sol has performed at premier festivals and venues and have been on bills with Dumpstaphunk, Soulive, The Wood Brothers, Robert Randolph, Booker T Jones, Eric Lindell, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Shemekia Copeland and more.
Sol Roots has performed on stage and in the studio with musical heavyweights Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and with the international guitar hero Cool John Ferguson. Sol has soaked in much from funk, blues, and soul heroes such as Roy Lee Johnson, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, and Ironing Board Sam, while touring and gigging with these artists. Sol also created a buzz with his underground blues hip-hop album entitled “Volume: Blue,” that carried him overseas to perform these sets live.
Paying homage to the greats, Sol seeks to push musical boundaries and bring Roots Music to a new generation of listeners.
Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist. Sol is also a Music Maker Relief Foundation “Younger Generation” artist.
Gypsy Sally’s
3401 K Street NW
Washington, DC, 20007
