THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230029
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
WHISKEY IS bringing John Michael Montgomery to the Tangier Sound Country Music Festival in Crisfield, Md., Saturday, and the Naval Amphibious Base Sunday.
``At first, I didn't know if I wanted a liquor company as a sponsor,'' he said, ``but I'm very big on education.''
Crown Royal donates a portion of the proceeds to Teach for America. ``Which,'' Montgomery said, ``helps pay for teachers to go into impoverished areas, or places where there are not enough teachers.''
Let's drink to that.
And, a toast to Montgomery, one of the most successful country singers in the country.
``Kickin' It Up'' did just that - going triple platinum after debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Country Albums Chart and coming up No. 1. on the magazine's Top Albums Chart.
``I Swear,'' ``Rope the Moon'' and ``Be My Baby'' all wound up in the No. 1 singles spot.
Montgomery's debut album, ``Life's a Dance,'' produced three top-5 hits.
Radio loves him - the public loves him. Some critics do not.
``I get beat up a little by the critics. A lot of times they say - maybe - I'm too simplistic,'' Montgomery said. ``I guess, but I have a huge number of kids that are fans. At least I'm putting out music that's trying to lead them in the right direction.
``I'm not singing about a bunch of other stuff they don't have any business listening to,'' he said, during a phone interview from his old Kentucky home.
Montgomery lives in Nicholasville, was born and raised in Danville, later living in Lexington.
``I'd never been out of that part of the country until I got a record deal,'' he said. ``Now, I've been all over the U.S., and we're working on a European trip for next year.''
He has a lot of friends on the tour.
``My concerts are helping to pay for my four buses and my tractor-trailers,'' Montgomery said. ``I use 'em to haul stuff around - bells, whistles, toys and stuff.''
He is hauling a bunch of copies of his new self-titled album which, among other items, features his fat novelty hit, the bluegrassy ``Sold.''
A novelty is a novelty for Montgomery, best known for ballads and Southern blues rockin'.
``I like to expand,'' he said. ``When I was a kid I enjoyed Buck Owens' `Tiger By the Tail.' These are songs that are fun for radio and the people.''
The fun of performing began when Montgomery was 15, playing acoustic guitar and singing vocal harmony in his parents' band.
Later, he became lead singer - and then a Kentucky star. That led, of course, to national stardom.
Montgomery has done some songwriting, but he relies on anonymous writers to supply him with material.
``I never look at the name of a writer until I've picked the song,'' he said. ``I don't want that name to influence my choice - you know, you see a famous writer. . .
``I grab a tape, throw it in the cassette, push play. I don't know who wrote the song,'' Montgomery said, ``so I can make unprejudiced decisions.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KAREN MILLER/Atlantic Records
John Michael Montgomery's album ``Kickin' It Up'' went triple
platinum after debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's country chart.
by CNB