I met an old pop star, and he could really play.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Dec 2003 2:27 pm

Last week I was in the vicinity of store called Norm's Rare Guitars (Every musician in L.A. knows the place) where there is always an interesting assortment of vastly overpriced vintage instruments, so I stopped by to take a look at what unaffordable beauties adorned the walls.

There was a guy there wailing away on a blond 175. He was really outstanding, and I was very impressed. I complimented him on his playing. We got to talking, and after a few minutes we exchanged names. It turned out it was 60's, pop star Chris Montez.

For those who don't remember, Chris had a huge hit record in the early 60's entitled "Call Me." (which as I recall, did not have a lot of guitar work on it.) He was a pretty big star at one time and once toured with the Beatles.

Today he's in his 60's, and has accepted that his glory days are long gone, but he is still very much interested in music, and his goal is to be a serious jazz guitarist. On the basis of what I heard, I'd say he is succeeding.

It would not surprise me if he made a comeback, not as a pop singer, but as a jazz player.

erik · Post by **erik** » 21 Dec 2003 2:36 pm

I remember that tune well. It's still played on oldies stations. Isn't it Latin Jazz?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 21 Dec 2003 2:46 pm

That's nice to hear Mike, a couple years ago I re-discovered this tune and have been working on it off and on ever since. It sounds as good to me today as it did 30 some odd years ago. Nice tune.
It does have a Latin feel.

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 21 Dec 2003 2:52 pm

Ah - you young guys! Chris' "Call Me" was a hit in 1966. The first big one was in 1962, and was entitled "Let's Dance".

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Dec 2003 3:08 pm

Sure, I'm an old geezer, so I remember that one!

"Hey baby won' cha take a chance,
an' say you'll let me have this dance
Oh let's dance...let's dance.
We'll do the Twist, the Stomp, the Mashed Potato, too, any ol' dance that you wanna do,
so let's dance!

(Followed by some echoed roller-rink type organ playing.)

Got the '45 around here someplace!

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 21 December 2003 at 03:11 PM.]

frank rogers · Post by **frank rogers** » 21 Dec 2003 4:10 pm

Chris Montez scored another chart hit around the mid 60's with "The More I See You" the old pop tune. It was a bit Bossa Nova with some "Floyd Crameresque" piano which was popular then.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 21 Dec 2003 4:44 pm

Chris is also a heck of a nice guy. He used to come sit in with us in the 80's in bar in Simi Valley. He didn't know much country but he did some Freddy Fender stuff and did it well.

I'd see him now and then at a local gas station and say, "Chris, where the heck have you been lately?" He was usually back from, or going to, an oldies show/tour somewhere. Glad to hear he's still kickin/pickin.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 22 Dec 2003 2:36 am

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 22 Dec 2003 7:03 am

My two favorite versions of "Call Me" were Homer & Jethro's swinging take on the tune and Billy Crystal's acapella version in "When Harry Met Sally".[This message was edited by Andy Volk on 22 December 2003 at 09:53 AM.]

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 22 Dec 2003 8:22 pm

Mike: Good early pic on that cover. Did chris have any gray hairs when you saw him or was he only the barber knows.

Back in my 20's I used to joke about people who worried about having thin hair. "So who needs fat hair?" I would say.

Now I are one.