Montoya continues to pay tribute to his mentor

Randy Matin

Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 | 9:41 a.m.

When singer/guitarist Coco Montoya plays the blues what the audience hears is really two people: Montoya and his dad, Albert Collins.

Even with release of "Suspicion" on the highly regarded Alligator Records label, Montoya, who performs Sunday with John Lee Hooker at the Joint at the Hard Rock hotel, carries the spirit of Collins with him wherever he goes. Collins died of cancer in 1993 and was not Montoya's biological father. However, the relationship went far beyond tutoring, says Montoya, who joined Collins' band in 1972, not as a guitar player but as the drummer.

"At times people still say I sound like Albert. I'm sure I do," Montoya says by telephone from his home in Woodland Hills, Calif. "I learned a lot from him. He was an incredible man to have in my life especially in my early 20s. He was there all the time. He was even with me at my own father's funeral helping me through the ordeal. And, everywhere we went, Albert always introduced me as his son."

Toward the end of his life Collins relocated to Las Vegas, where Montoya recalls, "More often than I can count we would play slots in the casinos all night and just talk and talk. We did that so often that now when I come through Las Vegas I take some time and play the slots alone and think of Albert. It is like I can almost make contact with him that way."

In tribute to Collins, Montoya covers "Get Your Business Straight," which originally appeared on Collins' "Tumbleweed" album.

Produced by Jim Gaines (whose collaborators include Luther Allison, Santana and Stevie Ray Vaughn), "Suspicion" also features three Montoya originals co-written with rhythm guitarist Dave Steen, and a number of special guest stars whose names may carry less-than-marquee value but who have helped to shape "Suspicion" into Montoya's best album to date.

"A lot of these guys are friends of mine from years gone by. Chuck Kirkpatrick (who worked on Derek & the Dominoes' "Laya" album) helped with the vocals and harmonies," says Montoya, who barely gives credence to his own vocal talents. "And our bass player, Bob Glaub, has an endless list of credits."

Calling upon old friends for session work is a Montoya tradition that started on his 1995 debut "Gotta Mind To Travel." The album featured guest spots from John Mayall and the extraordinary blues guitarist and Collins alum, Debbie Davies.

The tradition continues on Montoya's follow-up "Ya Think I'd Know Better," where a cover of Collins' "Dyin' Flu" features contributions from the Cate Brothers and blues-man-turned-country-singer Lee Roy Parnell. So it's no surprise that Montoya shares three co-writing credits with his old pal Dave Steen, on the album's closing "Nothing But Love" dedicated to Collins and other friends who died in 1993.

"I was with Albert the day before he died," Montoya says. "And on the way out of the hospital Albert said to me, 'You know what, son? I don't have an enemy in the world. I love everybody. I got nothin' but love in my heart for everyone.'

"Another cool thing that Albert said to me also ended up in the song. He used to say: 'If you throw me a brick, I'll hand you a piece of bread.' I knew what it meant immediately."

Montoya left Collins in the late '80s and spent the next nine years playing with John Mayall.

During that period Montoya met Davies at jam sessions in Los Angeles and fell in love. Montoya estimates they were a couple from 1985-1992 and are still "best of friends" today.

Recalls Montoya, "Debbie was just waiting to happen. I remember doing one of Mayall's albums. There was a part on 'Without Her' where they needed somebody to play a real gritty, Texas thing. None of us were able knock it off. Then Debbie walked in and just nailed it on one pass."

Growing up in Los Angeles in the '50s Montoya, who is of Latino descent, heard a wide variety of music being played at home. His parents listened to big bands while three older siblings listened to everything from Trios Los Ponchos to rock 'n' roll, doo-wop and Eric Clapton.

"Clapton is my idol. He is the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place," Montoya says. "Growing up as a Latino has helped me bring something of my own to the blues. I may not do what Carlos Santana does, but if you listen to me when I play live, there is some stuff that comes from all different places.

"But black, white, whatever, all I know is that all the great bluesmen I've played with from Albert (Collins), to Albert King to B.B. (King) to Big Joe Turner have told me one thing: 'Take the blues, son, and make me proud.' "