GuitarOne magazine calls guitarist/vocalist Coco Montoya “the hottest southpaw in the blues” and raves about his “master touch and killer tone.” The Boston Globe succinctly states that Montoya’s music is “hot, blistering soul.” From his early days as a drummer to his current status as one of the top-drawing guitarists and vocalists on the blues-rock scene, Montoya earned his status through years of hard work and constant touring. And it all started with a chance meeting in the mid-1970s with legendary bluesman Albert Collins, who offered Montoya a gig as his drummer. Albert took an immediate liking to Montoya, becoming his mentor and teaching his new protégé the secrets of Collins’ “icy hot” style of blues guitar. Five years later, British blues icon John Mayall happened to catch Montoya at a jam session and was blown away. Mayall recruited him as guitarist in the legendary Bluesbreakers, and Montoya spent the next 10 years touring non-stop, proving himself to be a world-class guitar master in one of the most renowned blues bands in existence. ..more on "Dirty Deal" biography >>

The Essential Coco Montoya Out October 20, 2009 - Coco On Tour with Tommy Castro This Fall
September 2009 Rosebud News >>

The Essential Coco Montoya will be released by Blind Pig Records on October 20, 2009. All of the songs were hand picked by Coco and span his first three solo albums from 1995-1997. Mentored by legendary bluesman Albert Collins (a Rosebud artist until his passing in 1993), Coco went on to become the guitarist for John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for ten years before leading his own band. Upon releasing his debut album, he won Best New Blues Artist at the 1996 Blues Music Awards. This fall Coco will embark on a run of tour dates with The Tommy Castro Band as well as dates on his own, please see Tour Dates >>

Coco Montoya's new CD Dirty Deal in stores January 16, 2007
December 2006 Rosebud News >>

Coco Montoya uses blues as a blasting off point for his emotional, soulful music on his new CD Dirty Deal, which will be released on Alligator on January 16, 2007. With his icy-hot guitar playing and his passionate, unaffected vocals, he attacks each of the 11 songs with deep feeling and ferocious energy. Little Feat members Paul Barerre, Kenny Gradney, Richie Hayward and Bill Payne guest. Produced by Barrere and engineer Roger Cole, Dirty Deal is Coco’s rawest, most stripped-down and impassioned recording to date. Coco first met Paul Barerre and Little Feat at a blues festival and according to Barerre, “Coco’s playing was inspirational to me - great tone and attitude.” The band invited Montoya to their annual Feat Festival in Jamaica two years in a row. “Our fans took to him like butter on bread”, recalls Barerre. “He fit in so well with the band that I knew I had to produce him. I really wanted to get that live feel from him on a recording, and that’s just what we did. He rips the guitar solos, and his voice is as strong as three-day-old coffee.” Coco maintains an intense touring schedule including major festivals and headlining dates worldwide. “Montoya is at the forefront of the contemporary blues world” according to Guitar World and will be touring worldwide in support of his new release.