Ronnie Montrose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ronnie Montrose
Montrose in 1974
Background information
Birth name	Ronald Douglas Montrose
Born	(1947-11-29)November 29, 1947 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	March 3, 2012(2012-03-03) (aged 64) Brisbane, California, U.S.
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal, instrumental rock, jazz fusion, blues rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1969–2012

Ronald Douglas Montrose (born November 29, 1947 – died March 3, 2012) was an American musician and a very talented guitarist. He was famous for starting and leading two rock bands: Montrose and Gamma. Ronnie also played music with many other artists, like Van Morrison, Herbie Hancock, Boz Scaggs, Edgar Winter, and Sammy Hagar.

His first album with the band Montrose, released in 1973, was often called "America's answer to Led Zeppelin". Many people think Ronnie Montrose was one of the most important guitarists in the early days of hard rock music.

The Amazing Guitarist Ronnie Montrose

Montrose in 1978

Ronnie Montrose was born in San Francisco, California. When he was very young, his family moved to Colorado. He spent most of his childhood in Denver. Around age 16, he left home to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He later returned to the San Francisco Bay area, where he lived for most of his life.

Starting His Musical Journey

In 1969, Ronnie began his career in a band called Sawbuck. They signed with a record label and even opened concerts for big music acts. While with Sawbuck, Ronnie got an audition with the famous singer Van Morrison. Morrison needed a new band for his album Tupelo Honey. Ronnie and his bandmate Bill Church left Sawbuck to join Van Morrison. They also played on a song called "Listen to the Lion" for Morrison's next album.

Ronnie then played briefly with Boz Scaggs. After that, in 1972, he joined the Edgar Winter Group. He played electric guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, and mandolin on their third album, They Only Come Out at Night. This album included hit songs like "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride".

Forming His Own Bands

In 1973, Ronnie Montrose decided to form his own band, simply called Montrose. The band's first singer was Sammy Hagar. They released two albums with Warner Bros. Records: Montrose (1973) and Paper Money (1974). After these albums, Sammy Hagar left to start his own solo music career. Ronnie also played guitar on Gary Wright's song "Power of Love" in 1975.

Ronnie continued with the Montrose band, releasing two more albums: Warner Bros. Presents Montrose! (1975) and Jump on It (1976). A new singer named Bob James joined the band, along with keyboard player Jim Alcivar.

Solo Music and Gamma

After his work with the Montrose band, Ronnie changed direction. In 1978, he released his first solo album, Open Fire. This album was special because it was all instrumental, meaning it had no singing, just music.

In 1979, Ronnie started a new band called Gamma. The singer for Gamma was Davey Pattison. Gamma's music had more of a progressive rock sound compared to the Montrose band. They released three albums. The band's members changed over time, with Denny Carmassi on drums and Glenn Letsch on bass joining for Gamma 2.

Later Years and Legacy

Ronnie Montrose continued to make music throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He released more solo albums like The Speed of Sound (1988), Music from Here (1994), and Bearings (2000). He also released another Montrose band album called Mean (1987) and a fourth Gamma album, Gamma 4 (2000).

In 1997, Ronnie Montrose appeared on Sammy Hagar's solo album Marching to Mars. The original Montrose band members, including Sammy Hagar, even reunited for some special concerts in 2004 and 2005. From 2001 to 2011, Ronnie regularly performed with a Montrose lineup that included singer Keith St. John.

In 2011, Ronnie formed the 'Ronnie Montrose Band'. This band played songs from his entire career, including music from both Montrose and Gamma. Their live performance was recorded and released as a DVD called Ronnie Montrose: Live at the Uptown.

During his 2009 tour, Ronnie shared that he had been battling prostate cancer for two years. He said he was healthy again and continued to tour until his passing in 2012.

His Passing

Ronnie Montrose passed away on March 3, 2012. He is remembered by his wife, two children, and five grandchildren. His music continues to inspire many guitarists and rock fans around the world.

Music Albums and Collaborations

Solo Albums

• Open Fire (1978)
• Territory (1986)
• The Speed of Sound (1988)
• Music from Here (1994)
• Bearings (1999)

Montrose Band Albums

• Montrose (1973)
• Paper Money (1974)
• Warner Brothers Presents Montrose! (1975)
• Jump on It (1976)
• Mean (1987)

Gamma Band Albums

• Gamma 1 (1979)
• Gamma 2 (1980)
• Gamma 3 (1982)
• Gamma 4 (2000)

Working with Other Artists

Ronnie Montrose also played on albums for many other musicians, including:

• Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey (1971)
• Edgar Winter Group – They Only Come Out at Night (1972)
• Gary Wright – The Dream Weaver (1975)
• Tony Williams – The Joy of Flying (1978)
• Sammy Hagar – Marching to Mars (1997)

See also

In Spanish: Ronnie Montrose para niños