He is often credited as being the first professionally recorded electric bassist! Or the first noted jazz cat to play the instrument, circa 1951 -53 or thereabouts depending on the source. Adapting his upright chops to the electric, William Howard “Monk” Montgomery plied his craft with his right thumb akin to his iconic guitarist brother and colleague Wes.

A solo recording artist, member of The Jazz Crusaders, The Montgomery Brothers, and sideman to artists including Hugh Masekela, Cal Tjader, and Red Norvo, among others, Monk soloed akin to a guitarist, and his grooves were firmly rooted in “doghouse” dogma and modern funk / soul!     

Monk Montgomery Sound & Vision….

“Foxy Gypsy” https://youtu.be/Yc4d1YYOzOM

“Sister Lena” https://youtu.be/-lsg-xRvfd0

With The Montgomery Brothers “California Nights” “Windy” https://youtu.be/QDtHxCRtgHI

“Reality” https://youtu.be/seXDmbF_ILo

“Fuselage” https://youtu.be/ZXVM4LnMnOQ