Coco Montoya
Hard Truth
Coco returns to Alligator with a sparkling new release that reaffirms his place on the top shelf of contemporary rocking bluesmen. From the ecstatic, just-fell-in-love shuffle “I Want To Shout About It” to the scorching “Hard As Hell” to the patented Albert Collins funk of “Moon Is Full,” Coco‘s soul-burning mastery of hard-hitting, long-lasting blues-rock is on full display. Produced by Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Salgado, Taj Mahal) and featuring slide guitar master Leroy Parnell on “Lost In The Bottle.” “Montoya is a show-stopper...Heartfelt singing and merciless guitar with a wicked icy burn...one of the truly gifted blues artists of his generation.” –Living Blues
Coco Montoya: Guitar and Vocals
Mike Finnigan: Keyboards
Billy Watts: Rhythm Guitar (Tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 11)
Johnny Lee Schell: Rhythm Guitar (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10), Slide Guitar (Track 6)
Bob Glaub: Bass
Tony Braunagel: Drums
Lee Roy Parnell: Slide Guitar (Track 3)
Background Vocals by: Teresa James, Deb Ryder and Billy Watts (Track 5)
Teresa James, Deb Ryder, Mike Finnigan and Billy Watts (Track 6)
Mike Finnigan and Billy Watts (Tracks 9, 11)
Produced by Tony Braunagel
Recorded by Johnny Lee Schell at Ultratone Studio, Burbank, CA
Mixed by John Porter at The Old Brewery House, Malmesbury, UK
Lee Roy Parnell Recorded by Alex Jarvis at Casa Del Norte, Nashville, TN
Mastered by Rueben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Burbank, CA
Photos by Yves Bourgardier
Packaging Design by Kevin Niemiec
Coco Montoya thanks: My wife Lenora Montoya, for always trying to keep me moving in a positive direction; my manager John Boncimino, for his guidance and his belief in me; to all at Intrepid Artists booking agency for all the hard work of keeping me on the road; Diane Adams and Cliff Rehrig; Pat McClure; Ken and Sharon Cordray; The Basowski family; Virginia Adams; Marco Sanchez; Danny Cono; Joe, Sarah and Joey Bunetto; Large Al; Tim and Teresa Scalmanini; Roger Naber and all at the LRBC; Eddie "Pickleneck" Phelps; Jasmin Torquato; Donna Silje Skogen; Javier Jimenez; all at Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz, CA; Deb Hopewell; Tom Armstrong and my cousin John Flores for giving me my first experience of making music. A very special thank you to my road band: Nathan Brown, Brant Leeper and Rena Beaver. These wonderful musicians bring 100% to every show. For this I will always be grateful! And to all my fans who have supported and stuck by me throughout the years. "Thank You."
The producer would like to thank all the musicians, singers, songwriters, and engineers for their inspired performances. Tony Braunagel would also like to thank Drum Workshop, Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth, Remo Drumheads, Gon Bops Percussion, Protection Racket and SKB Cases.
