When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he "brings it on home."  Whether it's recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority.  While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells - at the legendary "Chessmate."  Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.

Since founding the band in 1970 while a student at B.U., James has recorded six albums.  His first, "First Time Out" has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn.  Others include "James Montgomery Band" on Island Records, which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, "Duck Fever" with members of the David Letterman Band, "Live Trax," with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, "The Oven Is On."

Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller, and others.  He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax."

Montgomery collaborated with the late Alex Taylor to start the "East Coast Funkbusters." Dan Aykroyd and Paul Shaffer hooked up with this band and toured Canada. 

When Aykroyd opened up the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, Montgomery played harmonica in an All-Star Blues Brothers Band, including members of the Letterman Band, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, Albert King, and Sam Moore.

Montgomery was chosen to star in a highly televised national commercial for Dodge which ran during the NFL and NHL playoffs.  He played on the soundtrack with Levon Helm from The Band, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. 

Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld asked Montgomery to put together a band for his Inaugural Ball.  Steven Tyler and Tom Hamilton from Aerosmith joined the Montgomery Band for the night along with the Heavy Metal Horns, Taylor Made, Michelle Wilson, and Susan Tedeschi. 

Montgomery backed up James Taylor at a Martha's Vineyard wedding along with Kate Taylor, Hugh Taylor and Dan Aykroyd. 

Shortly thereafter Montgomery joined Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen as featured frontman for a Pacific Northwest tour.

Recently he and the band, along with Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers), backed up Delbert McClinton at "The House of Blues" in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  On that same day, Montgomery received the first ever Statesman of the Blues award from his blues peers, for his tireless efforts to promote the blues. And, 2000 finds Montgomery busier than ever.

Montgomery is a founding board member of The New England Blues Society, an organization that works toward furthering Blues education throughout New England as well as establishing health benefits for Blues musicians who otherwise could not afford it.  He is also co-founder of ACRC (Aids Camp Relief Coalition), dedicated to sending H.I.V. children to camp. Last year over $100,000 was raised.

Montgomery is now putting his vast knowledge of the Blues to work as host of a radio interview show called "Backstage with the Blues."  His guests have included John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, Otis Clay, Son Seals, Duke Robillard, Rod Piazza, and many more.  The show combines great Blues songs with the stories behind them, told by the musicians themselves, providing a bridge between the listeners and the artists as they reminisce about the history behind the music.

Hollywood has also taken note.  Montgomery and his band played the wrap party for Steven Spielberg's "Amistad" and had the cast on their feet. Montgomery will also appear on screen with a role in "The Wedding Band" starring Dom Deluise.

Recently James was invited by former guitarist Larry Bader and the Uptown Horns to be part of an event at New York's Bottom Line honoring Paul Griffin.  Bader is now Chuck Jackson's music director, and Griffin is a legendary keyboardist and arranger who has worked with everyone from Bob Dylan to Cissy Houston.  Mr. Griffin also arranged and played on James' Duck Fever album.  That night, James was part of a band that included Bader and the Horns along with Richard Crooks, Tony Gonyea, Al Kooper, and Paul Shaffer.  The band backed up stellar performances by Gary U.S. Bonds, Ben E. King, Chuck Jackson, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Cissy Houston, Ashford and Simpson, Isaac Hayes, and Paul Simon.

Just a few days later, Gregg Allman invited James on stage to join him in an encore at Boston's Orpheum Theater.