Coco Montoya

Henry "Coco" Montoya (born October 2, 1951, Santa Monica, California) is an American blues guitarist and singer and former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. He is of Mexican heritage.^[1]

Coco Montoya
Coco Montoya – Live in Concert
Background information
Birth name	Henry Montoya
Born	(1951-10-02) October 2, 1951 (age 73) Santa Monica, California, United States
Genres	Blues, blue-eyed soul, country rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar drums
Years active	1977–present
Website	CocoMontoyaBand.com

Musical career

Montoya's career began in the mid-1970s when Albert Collins asked him to join his band as a drummer. Collins took Montoya under his wing and taught him his "icy hot" guitar style. The two remained friends even after Montoya left Collins' band to start a career of his own.

In the early 1980s John Mayall heard Montoya playing guitar in a Los Angeles bar. Soon after, Mayall asked Montoya to join the newly reformed Bluesbreakers. He remained a member of the band for 10 years.

In 1995 he appeared with the Cate Brothers for the resumption of their recording career on their release, Radioland.^[2] Montoya released his debut solo album that year, and has since recorded several more solo albums.

In 2002, he featured on the Bo Diddley tribute album Hey Bo Diddley – A Tribute!, performing the song "Pills."

His 2019 recording, Coming In Hot, was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic.^[3]

Left-hand style

Montoya is left-handed but plays a left-handed guitar with a right-handed neck (i.e. strings upside down).^[4]

Personal life

Montoya and his longtime girlfriend Lenora married in 2009. He has two daughters: Jasmin (born 1980) and Donna (born 1988).

Discography

• 1995 Gotta Mind To Travel (Silvertone; Blind Pig)
• 1996 Ya Think I'd Know Better (Dixie Frog; Blind Pig)
• 1997 Just Let Go (Blind Pig)
• 2000 Suspicion (Alligator)
• 2002 Can't Look Back (Alligator)
• 2007 Dirty Deal (Alligator)
• 2009 The Essential Coco Montoya (Bling Pig) - compilation
• 2010 I Want It All Back (Ruf)
• 2014 Songs From The Road [live] (Ruf)
• 2017 Hard Truth (Alligator)
• 2019 Coming In Hot (Alligator)
• 2023 Writing On The Wall (Alligator)