Ray LaMontagne

from:               Lewiston, ME
website:           www.raylamontagne.com
myspace:         www.myspace.com/raylamontagne

I'm a little torn when it comes to Ray LaMontagne.  The man has an amazing voice, and even more amazing backstory, and that charming guy-with-a-guitar-and-a-beard thing that makes the women go crazy. But he also has a bit of an attitude, as evidenced by his reaction to a disrespectful attendee at a recent show at the Ryman here in Nashville... and well, I voiced my opinion about that over here.  I'll stick to the facts for this preview.

LaMontagne hasn't been in the music business for very long.  Born in New Hampshire, the singer was one of six children, constantly moved around by his mother after his parents split up shortly after he was born.  After graduating, he found a job at a shoe factory, where he worked for several years, until one morning he heard Stephen Stills' "Treetop Flyer" on the radio. Says LaMontagne: "I just sat up in bed and listened. Something about that song hit me. I did not go to work that day; I went to the record store and sought out that album [Stills Alone]. I listened to it, and was transformed."  LaMontagne then quit his job, and began his career as a singer.

The end of August 2006 will mark the release of LaMontagne's second full-length album, 'Till The Sun Turns Black, which is the follow-up to 2004's Trouble.  The singer has a husky, sandpaper voice and writes intensely personal and beautiful songs that are delivered in a subtle, folk-pop style.

"Three More Days" (from 'Till the Sun Turns Black)
"Trouble" (from Trouble)

Comments

[Tommy]

I'm still looking forward to seeing him at ACL! I really would like to know what that guy up front was doing to ellicit such a strong reaction from Ray.