‘Life’s a Dance’ for John Michael Montgomery

Joe Delaney

Monday, Dec. 1, 1997 | 11:37 a.m.

COUNTRY MUSIC SUPERSTAR John Michael Montgomery will perform in the prestigious Caesars Palace Circus Maximus on Dec. 4-7, a major entertainment attraction at an early age, for this year's National Finals Rodeo.

When Montgomery released his debut single recording, "Life's a Dance," in October 1992, little did he dream he would be including it in a greatest hits album just five years later. More than 10 million albums have been sold to date, yet Montgomery remains focused on his earliest ambitionQsimply making music.

"All my job should be is to make music for the fans to enjoy. It really should be that simple. I should be able to sing a song, the radio stations should be able to play it, and the fans should be able to listen to it. If you worry about anything more than that, you're in the music business for the wrong reason," the singer said.

An earlier Montgomery was content to sing his songs in local nightclubs around his native Lexington, Ken. His goal then: "To be one of the top singers in my state, or at least to be respectable and make a living.

"It seems like yesterday when I turned 21. As soon as I got my record deal with Atlantic and 'Life's a Dance' became a hit, time seemed to fly by," he said. "Now that I'm married and have a little girl, it goes by tremendously fast. I'm trying to stop and make more time at home and enjoy life with my family a little bit more.

"Before, it was music, music, music, bars, clubs, nightclubs and golf in the afternoon to pass the time. That's all I ever did. I'm 32 now, and it's really time to stop and smell the roses, look around and see what's happening. I don't want to pass anything up."

It's obvious that Montgomery is mature well beyond his years and relatively unspoiled by the suddenness and immensity of his success.

Music has been a part of Montgomery's life as long as he can remember. He began singing in his parents' band when he was 5 years old, and was playing in local bands by the time he was 15Qa veteran performer that early.

Montgomery said he still begins each day as he did before it all happened.

"When I get out of bed, the first thing I do is read the newspaper and drink a cup of coffee. I'm thinking, 'What can I do to enjoy this day?' Nothing has changed very much. I have some miserable days just like everyone else," he said.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is definitely not the Montgomery approach to life. He is a constant innovator.

"Success throws a lot of responsibility at you," he said. "The more success you have, the more demanding it is. I get on a lot of my friends' nerves because I don't let this bother me. I just take a different route and figure out a way to make the day more satisfactory for the way I want my career to be. I don't really worry about what other people think.

"Life is not a numbers game. It's about getting onstage and feeling like I've achieved what I wanted to do that day. I enjoy making records and, of course, I enjoy making hits. I know that every record I make is not going to be a No. 1 hit. A lot of people get upset when their record doesn't reach No. 1 or No. 2.

"This is not an issue to me. Just the fact that they are playing my songs - giving them a chance - is enough."

Success has not gone to Montgomery's head, either. He's grounded, content with himself and confident in his ability. "I stay on even keel all of the time."

Easygoing and easy-to-please, Montgomery reflects on his career with great humility.

"I'm pretty simple to figure out. I'm enjoying my life, the ups and the downs, everything."

For some, dreams never come true. For others, once the dream comes true, they move on. For Montgomery, the dream continues. Share this continuance, Dec. 4-7 in Caesars Circus Maximus. Spend an hour or so with one of country music's youngest, happiest and most successful dreamer-doers.