Vincent Montana Jr.

Life and career

Montana grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in South Philadelphia. He began playing drums as a child and later took up the glockenspiel and marimba. By the late 1940s, he performed in nightclubs with jazz musicians including Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Clifford Brown, and Red Garland. He then worked in Las Vegas hotels, accompanying and arranging for Harry Belafonte and Louis Prima.

Returning to Philadelphia in the late 1950s, he played vibraphone on Frankie Avalon's 1959 hit 'Venus' and recordings by Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell. He became a regular on The Mike Douglas Show. In 1967, he helped set up Sigma Sound Studios and worked with producers Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell. As a founding member of MFSB, he recorded albums including the Grammy-winning international hit 'TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)' in 1973.

He played on and arranged tracks for many artists, including The Intruders, The Delfonics, The Spinners, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The O'Jays, The Trammps, Eddie Kendricks, William DeVaughn, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, The Stylistics, and Teddy Pendergrass.

Discography

Montana's discography includes recordings where he played as vibraharpist, percussionist, tympanist, marimbist, or on orchestra bells and chimes; arranged compositions and conducted sessions; produced sessions and booked musicians; or wrote and published compositions. In 1959, he played on Frankie Avalon's single 'Venus'. In 1967, he played on Soul Survivors' 'Expressway To Your Heart'. In 1968, he played on Cliff Nobles' instrumental 'The Horse'.

In 1969, he played on Eddie Holman's 'Hey There Lonely Girl', Delfonics' album including 'La La Means I Love You', and The Intruders' albums 'Save The Children', 'Cowboys to Girls', 'The Energy of Love', and 'The Intruders Greatest Hits'. From 1969 to 1972, he played on five Jerry Butler LPs: 'You and Me', 'The Ice Man Cometh', 'Soul Goes On', 'The Spice of Life', and 'Ice on Ice'. For The O'Jays, he played on LPs including 'The O’Jays in Philadelphia', 'Backstabbers', and 'Family Reunion' from 1969 to 1975.

In 1970, he played on Wilson Pickett's 'Wilson Pickett In Philadelphia', Dusty Springfield's 'A Brand New Me', The Assembled Multitude's 'Overture For Tommy', and The Philly Ambassadors' 'The Ambassadors'. He played on and arranged The Electric Indians' LP 'Keem-o-Sabe', which was his first gold single as writer and publisher. In 1971, he played on and arranged Cissy Houston's Janice Records release, and played on The Family's 'Family Affair' LP and The Stylistics' debut LP.

In 1972, he played on The Stylistics' 'Round 2', Joe Simon's 'Drowning in the Sea of Love', and Ronny Dyson's 'One Man Band'. In 1973, he played on Dick Jenson's LP, played on and arranged The True Reflections' 'Where I’m Coming From', and played on Johnny Mathis' 'I’m Coming Home'. From 1972 to 1973, he played on Billy Paul's LPs 'Ebony Woman', 'Going East', 'The 360 Degrees of Billy Paul', and 'Feeling Good at the Cadillac Club'. He played on Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' LPs 'I Miss You', 'All Things Happen in Time', and 'Black and Blue'.

Did You Know?

• The Salsoul Orchestra's 'Christmas Jollies' LP sold over 6 million copies between 1976 and 1997.
• Montana's recording 'Heavy Vibes' reached #59 on the UK singles chart in 1983.