He Got Jazz
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Michael Montano
A few years later, I shared my “prodigy” observation with Mike. He didn’t consider himself a natural born musician, despite acknowledging he excelled in piano at six years of age. According to Mike, a musical prodigy “feels” music that is readily played, composed, and arranged. On the other hand, he saw himself as more “studious,” who had to work at his music.
Mike was born on September 13, 1937 in Hawaii, the eldest of three children of Catalino Montano, a Filipino immigrant from the Ilocos, and Hawaii-born Visayan Luminada Encabo. When Mike was a preschooler, the family moved to Palo Alto where his father was employed. The Montano family home was on the grounds of the Magnin estate in Palo Alto where his father worked as gardener. His father also worked as handyman and driver for millionaire Joseph Magnin, owner of I. Magnin, formerly a luxury department store on Union Square in San Francisco. As a youth his father played violin, mandolin, and guitar. However, he rarely performed after the family moved to Stockton in the 1940s; his time was spent operating the family’s successful grocery store. Mike’s stay-at-home mother was also musical — a singer for a local band in Hawaii before marrying. Almost daily until her passing, she sang familiar tunes while accompanying herself on the family piano.
At 13, Mike got bit by the jazz bug. A friend had him listen to pianist Bud Powell and the Count Basie band — the beginning of his lifelong interest in jazz. Soon, he gigged with fellow musicians on the Edison High School band and organized the aforementioned vocal ensemble and jazz combo. On weekends he traveled to San Francisco to catch the jazz scene. He attended the Monterey Jazz Festival and performances of the touring Jazz at the Philharmonic ensemble.
The author (second from left) and his wife Terri with Montano (right)
During each summer, beginning at age 12, Mike went through back-breaking work in the hot fields of the Central Valley — like other Bridge Generation youth of the times. He worked alongside much older, experienced manong farm workers picking tomatoes, pears, and grapes as far away as a hundred miles. Farm work convinced Mike he should go to college.
At the College of Pacific, Mike became more serious about his music. He studied under the professor who taught jazz great Dave Brubeck. He began to learn about the intricacies of composition, arranging, and conducting. He earned a scholarship to attend Sherwood Conservatory in Chicago. But Mike wasn’t sure he could make a living with jazz. In 1958, his bassist pal, Vince Gomez suggested Mike accompany him to Las Vegas. There, he met many professional jazz musicians. He listened. He learned. Mike realized he was not yet as knowledgeable or as proficient as these musicians. He concluded he should complete his musical studies at COP. In 1959 he graduated with a bachelor’s of music degree.
Following college graduation, Mike used earlier San Francisco contacts to gain employment as a solo pianist at various Chinatown nightclubs. He worked the 5-9 p.m. shift at the “Rickshaw,” then rushed off to the nearby “Dragon Lady” club for its late show. Most significant was his tenure at the “Rickshaw.” The club had gained popularity as an after-hours venue for famous entertainers, especially Frank Sinatra who stopped by whenever he played in “The City.” The club also benefited from Herb Caen, whose popular column, “Baghdad by the Bay” in the daily San Francisco Chronicle, regularly included “Rickshaw” happenings. Most important, Mike’s career blossomed. He became respected and recognized in musical circles.
By then Mike had married and was responsible for supporting Donna Muzzio and their daughter, Gabby. For considerably more money than what he received at the two Chinatown clubs, he signed on as pianist on a Matson Lines cruise ship. He sailed to such exotic places as Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii. But he couldn’t wait for his one-year contract to end. Too many days at sea.
“At 13, Mike got bit by the jazz bug. A friend had him listen to pianist Bud Powell and the Count Basie band — the beginning of his lifelong interest in jazz. ”
Mike was now an established jazz pianist. No longer did he have to struggle getting gigs. He always aspired to be an accompanist. Now he was in demand to “comp” such well-known entertainers as Phyllis Diller, Diahann Carroll, and Connie Stevens. He also worked at the popular San Francisco nightclub “Forbidden City” where he renewed acquaintances with singer/dancer Anna Lea Rubio, whom he subsequently married.
In 1966 Mike embarked on a four-year national tour with fast-talking comedian Jack E. Leonard, known for his insulting barbs — the original Don Rickles. Between musical interludes, Mike served as the stone-faced foil to the comedian’s barbs. He owes much to the well-connected comedian who opened many doors for him, especially in Las Vegas. As a result Mike made Las Vegas his permanent home in 1974. For the first time in his musical career, he experienced long-term, steady employment. He worked at the “Flamingo” as musical conductor for eight years and the “Riviera” for another enjoyable 14 years, performed at “Harrahs” and other Las Vegas casinos, and finally worked solo at “Circus, Circus” until he retired.
Montano performing with Jack E. Leonard
Montano’s name on the Harrah’s marquee in Las Vegas
Today, Mike is rehabilitating from kidney disease and regularly undergoes dialysis. Arthritis has limited his piano playing. Through it all, he remains upbeat. He is positive about life, is happy living in Las Vegas with Anna Lea, enjoys frequent contacts with his son, Jason, (from an earlier marriage to Lynda Maghanoy), and reminisces with a legion of friends made through his world travels.
(My sincere thanks to Mike for his interview of December 12 and to Lisa Gioio-Acres for the transcript of her September 18, 2008 interview with Mike.)
Reposted with permission from the author’s blog, peterjamero.net
Peter Jamero was born in Oakdale, California in 1930 and raised on a Filipino farm worker camp in Livingston , California. Recipient of a master’s of social work degree from UCLA, he is a trailblazer having achieved many “Filipino American Firsts” in his professional career. He is the author of Growing Up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino American and Vanishing Filipino Americans: The Bridge Generation. Retired, he lives in Atwater, California.
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