Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate enough to perform live/record with some of the best musical talents to walk the earth. Little did I know that my introduction to the world of performance/session work was given to me by world renown, avant-guarde, Jazz Clarinetist, John Carter (Ornette Coleman, Hampton Hawes, Bobby Bradford, Horace Tapscott, Vinny Golia). Mr. Carter taught me the basics of session work, while I was still a grade schooler: Be Prepared, Be Early & Be Yourself.
I decided that I wanted to become a professional musician while in college. My experience in the UCLA Marching Band had helped my reading skills improve vastly. I moved to NYC to begin my musical career… NYC was a great place to learn the ropes, but I soon returned to LA (NYC Winters are brutal). I found success as a member of local bands Bottom 12, Nameless and IT, and began to establish a reputation of being a solid drummer. Since those days I have played with, and recorded for numerous Indie and Major acts, including:
Sassafras (Death Blues) – Writer, Performer, Session Musician;
The Virginia City Revival (Rock) – Writer, Performer;
The SPONGE BOB BAND (Classic Rock/Kid’s Music)-(Andy Paley) – Performer;
LA RIOT 3 Drum Sample Series (Rock/Funk/Punk/Metal/HipHop) – Session Musician;
Santa Monica Civic Lite Opera – Guy’s and Dolls production 2002 (Jazz/Big Band/Swing) – Performer;
Bottom 12 (Punk/Metal/Experimental Jazz)– Writer, Performer, Session Musician;
Andrew Dorf (Pop/Alt Country)- Performer, US and European tours;
Hyperion Music (Studio) – Session Musician;
Kiyoshi Graves (Pop/Alt Country) – Performer, Session Musician;
Nameless (Rock/Experimental) – Performer;
Year of The Dragon (Metal/Funk/Reggae/Punk/HipHop) – Performer, Session Musician;
IT(Rock/Funk/Instrumental)- Performer, Writer, Session Musician;
Righteous Family (HipHop) – Performer;
The Big Babies (Funk/Rock/Electro) – Performer, Writer, Session Musician;
Bug (Rock) – Session Musician;
Drifted (Dark Rock, Heavy)- Performer, Session Musician;
The Resonant Heads (Garage Rock) – Performer, Session Musician;
Memnoir (Dark Rock) – Session Musician;
Spun Luey (Reggae/Rock)- Performer, Session Musician;
The Insensibles (Alt Rock), Writer, Performer, Session Musician;
Mysticity (Progressive Metal)- Session Performer;
Bellisima, UK – (Funk/Pop) – Session Musician;
Cakecutter (Rock/Punk) – Writer, Performer, Session Musician;
Ben Beauvais – (Film/TV) – Session Musician;
Jessie Voccia (Film/TV) -Session Musician;
Aaron Barhart (Adult Contemporary Rock)- Performer;
Rawtweiller (Dub/Reggae) – Writer, Performer, Session Musician;
The ‘Lil Big Ups (TV) – Session Musician;
Steve O (HipHop/Rock – Jackass,TV) – Writer, Session Musician;
Chris Pontius (Punk/Rock – Jackass, TV) Performer, Session Musician;
Drop – (Pop/Rock/Funk) – Performer, Session Musician;
Gagik (Armenian Pop) – Performer, Session Musician;
The Runts (Punk) – Performer;
Myself (Dub/Reggae/Electro) – Session Musician;
If I’ve left anyone off, please write a comment and remind me! Over the years a few things are forgotten (not intentionally)!
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I currently help my clients to create solid foundations for their recording endeavors. Besides playing a wide range of styles (from Rock to Hip Hop, from Jazz to Metal, from Country to Armenian Pop), I also help to coordinate studio bookings, and musical contracting.
I’m a multi-instramentalist, with experience creating guitar, bass and keyboard arrangements, in addition to playing drums. If you would like to inquire about a session, rates or need samples, feel free to contact me at johnmontgomerydrums@gmail.com.
References available upon request.
