I wouldn't trade that time for anything" recalls Monte Montgomery, about his tough, but musically enriching early childhood where he first learned to play guitar. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, and relocated to San Antonio at age 13, he played trumpet and piano, later switching to guitar. He spent his formative years in Luckenbach, Texas, living with his mother, Maggie Montgomery, an accomplished country singer/guitarist, and spent much time learning from and playing with musicians who hung out at Hondo Crouch's General Store and Bar. That was then, this is now. "1st and Repair", Monte Montgomery's debut album showcases his incredibly eye-popping fretwork, original songs and stunning vocals. An impressive new talent on the Austin, Texas scene, he and his bandmates Chris Maresh (bass) and Phil Bass (drums) have been performing locally for the past three years. Monte's influences include Mark Knopfler, Bruce Cockburn, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lindsey Buckingham, but his approach and sound are all his own. His scintillating guitar style prompted one critic from the Austin Chronicle to remark "It was just him and his guitar on stage, but the sound was so full, so resonant, that he could have had a thousand guitars up there." "Monte Montgomery gets more sounds out of his acoustic guitar than most artists get out of their whole band." says the Austin American Statesman.That is just one reason why Monte's live performances earned him opening slots for Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, Kenny Loggins, Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton and Robert Earl Keen. The second is his original songs. They range from bluesy slide guitar grooves to intense rockers, hip reggae rhythms to beautiful ballads, all sung with a soft, soulful voice. The pop-rock "Last Goodbye" will be the first single release from "1st and Repair".