Montanas, The

Formed in Wolverhampton (England) in 1964, The Montanas never found significant success in their home country but had one moderate hit in the United States.

Signing to Pye Records – with several of their early releases written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent – the group released two singles in 1966, with the second, That’s When Happiness Began receiving extensive radio play. The band’s breakthrough came that year when they became the opening act for the Walker Brothers‘ tour across the UK.

More singles followed with one single – Ciao Baby (March 1967) – selling over 10,000 copies in Britain alone. The band re-released the song in 1969.

You’ve Got to Be Loved (October 1967) reached #58 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 and #41 on Cashbox. Run to Me made it to #121, but the band could not promote the single in the US, so no other national hits followed.

Their lineup changed considerably in 1967 and 1968, and they continued releasing singles that were more radio-friendly than their live sound.

In 1969, the group left Pye, and Terry Rowley and vocalist Johnny Jones quit. The group continued to perform throughout the 1970s, mixing comedy with the music in their performances (Drummer Graham Crew’s PJ Proby impersonations proved particularly popular). They finally broke up in 1978.

Vocalist Ian “Sludge” Lees later found success as a comedian and became a regular member of the Tiswas cast. He died in July 2018, aged 74.

Johnny Jones 
Vocals
Bill Hayward
Guitar
Ralph Oakley
Bass
Terry Rowley
Keyboards, bass
Graham Crew
Drums
Jake Elcock
Bass
Graham Hollis
Drums
Barry Clifft
Drums, vocals
Bob Cross
Guitar, vocals
Pete Mackie
Bass, vocals
Ian “Sludge” Lees
Vocals
George Davies
Vocals
Allen Austin
Guitar, bass, vocals
Brian Eustace
Guitar, vocals