Monty Waters

Monville Charles Waters was born in Modesto, California. He studied at Modesto High School where he was a member of the American football team and ran hurdles. After graduating from high school in 1956, he attended a year of junior college before moving to Los Angeles.

While living in Los Angeles, Waters performed as a backing saxophonist for musicians including B.B. King, James Brown, Little Richard, and Fats Domino. He later moved to San Francisco seeking better opportunities for an R&B career, and started his own big band and quartet. In 1968, he left California for New York City. He later spoke of his surprise upon seeing the music scene there: "I'd never seen so many talented, hard-working, earnest people in my life. All the best were there. You really got to respect them".

• The Black Cat (Whynot, 1975) • Hot House: Live in Paris Duc de Lombards Vol. 1 (with Larry Porter, Stafford James, Ronnie Burrage) • New York Calling: Live in Paris Vol. 2 (with Larry Porter, Stafford James, Ronnie Burrage, Tom Nicholas) • Jazzoetry (with Paulo Cardoso and Tom Nicholas) • Monty Waters & Titus Waldenfels: Favourite Things • Monty Waters & Titus Waldenfels: Full Blast (with Jürgen Schneider) • Monty Waters & L'ubo Samo Quintet: Moonlight in Slovakia (with Titus Waldenfels) • Embryo: Turn Peace • Götz Tangerding Trio feat. Sheila Jordan: Jazztracks

With Billy Higgins • The Soldier (Red, 1979) With Joe Lee Wilson • Shout for Trane (1976) With Sam Rivers • Crystals (1974) With Ronnie Boykins • The Will Come, Is Now (1975)