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John Montagna |
Biography |
John Montagna was born on April 18, 1972 in Astoria, New York. He began playing the bass guitar in local bands at age 12 under the influence of Paul McCartney, Sting, Jack Bruce and John Paul Jones.
He attended New York´s "Famed" LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, studying orchestral percussion and playing bass in the jazz program. As a member of LaGuardia´s Jazz Sextet, John performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall. He also studied briefly with bass guitar virtuoso Anthony Jackson, who provided him with insights into the instrument that remain with him to this day.
After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, John performed and recorded with Standing Hamptons, featuring keyboardist Jamie Edwards (Our Lady Peace). Upon returning to New York in 1995, John began a very busy and eclectic freelance career, performing and/or recording with Francis Dunnery (ex-It Bites), Amel Larrieux (ex-Groove Theory), A Girl Called Eddy, Leomoon, and many others.
In 1998 John released a solo album, ENJOY YOUR DESSERT, showcasing his extraordinary talents as a writer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He currently leads four eighteen, the New York - based band centered around John´s fiery bass playing, singing and writing. An EP, yellow, appeared in 1999. A full - length four eighteen CD is planned for a spring 2004 release.
In 2001 John began performing with guitarist and fellow New Yorker Godfrey Townsend. It was Godfrey who brought John into the Alan Parsons Live Project in January of 2003. John was also the bassist for 2003´s WALK DOWN ABBEY ROAD tour, when the Live Project was recruited to back up Alan, Christopher Cross, Joey Molland, Denny Laine, and Todd Rundgren.
In addition to his ongoing roles in the Live Project and four eighteen, John is currently working with New York - based artists Chris Orbach, Amanda Homi, and Eren Cannata. He also performs regularly with BIG BANG, a Beatles tribute group that does not wear wigs and costumes, thank you.
John endorses Spector bass guitars and Elixir strings, and prefers Nemesis/Eden amplification, heavy gague (1.0mm) plectrums, and Pellegrino sparkling water with a piece of lime and no ice.
JOHN MONTAGNA
Selected Discography
| John Montagna Solo Albums | |
|---|---|
| YEAR | ALBUM |
| 1998 | JOHN PAUL MONTAGNA "Enjoy Your Dessert" |
| 1999 | FOUR EIGHTEEN "Yellow" |
| Work With Other Artists | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | ARTIST | ALBUM | |
| 1997 | Daniel Cartier | Avenue A | Bass Guitar |
| 1998 | Francis Dunnery | Let's Go Do What Happens | Bass Guitar, Vocals |
| 1998 | Leomoon | Leomoon | Bass Guitar, Vocals |
| 1999 | Amel Larrieux | Infinite Possibilities | Acoustic Bass |
| 2000 | Amanda Homi | Drumgirls | Vocals |
| 2000 | Mbalafunk | Mbalafunk | Vocals, Co-writer |
| 2001 | A Girl Called Eddy | Tears All Over Town | Bass Guitar, Guitar |
| 2004 | Chris Orbach | Safely Through The Night | Bass Guitar |
| 2004 - Upcoming Releases | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | ARTIST | ALBUM | |
| 2004 | Eren Cannata | TBA | Bass Guitar, Vocals |
| 2004 | Four Eighteen | TBA | |
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