Joanne,
Thank you so much for writing. I did not take your writing as an insult to Monte at all. He would be honored that you mentioned him. I am trying to gather information to write a story and eulogy for Monte. No one has written anything, which makes me very sad. But he knew I liked to write and I thought the other day that he would probably tell me "well, why don't you write it" because we used to talk about how much fun it was to work with words. I wrote my first op-ed piece on his little word processor which I have with me and 20 yrs of his writing I have been printing for his kids!!! I would like to write it and maybe you could be a part of it and others if they would like. I would love to write it for him.

Monte was a grandfather too! He has 3 grandchildren , one step-grandchild and another grandchild on the way.
My mom told me when they used to go to Canada to meet Ian and Sylvia, that they visited someone else up there that he knew non-musician-- woman-- wish I knew so I could contact her-- had a horse farm, upper Ontario I think), but she could not remember. I wrote an email to Sylvia, but never heard back. Monte did quite a bit back in those days and continued to do much for many and I wish he was more acknowledged for his efforts, but many folks were not. You dated Monte before he met his now ex-wife Karen Kruse? I am sorry this news upset you, but by the same token I am glad Monte was recognized by someone who knew him. His children and myself, I am sure would love to know anyone who knew him in his early days. You and people like you are bridges to him and to time.

His passing is a very big loss, that few, if any of us, are handling very well. His health had deteriorated over the years and he was not well. I am sure he had a lot of spunk when you met him and dated him. He had one of the most brilliant minds I have known and his creatvity was boundless. I found old paintings he did, his writing, his book collection -- library is unimaginable and he read most of everything, and for the record he played every instrument he could-- he was known for that beautiful Guild guitar which we have both ( acoustic /electric acoustic)-- the acoustic he had when he recorded for Ian and Sylvia we just sent to his oldest daughter which even has his old songlist taped to it. He played the banjo beautifully and mandolin and he had saxophones and also a bass, but his love was those guitars. I have a tape of him from a little concert he did in Coe Park here in Ct that I am trying to convert to a CD for family members. You are welcome to one if I can find someone to tape it. Monte's wonderful humor is on it as well. He would be thrilled you connected with me.
One of the local musicians who played on that gig said that Monte played "Misty" a key lower and the horn section and rest of the musicians were struggling to play it and Monte would not let up or change keys.....(Monte was the lead of course!) and in the end he non-chalantly told them he was sorry but he couldn't sing that high so he had to drop it down an octave or two! My late sister used to sing with him on some gigs and he would change on her too and it drove her nuts! I love the stories, the happy and joyful moments especially with regards to music. He did cut one album with Karen on Cyclone Records. I have a CD if you would like one.

I am glad you thought of him-- no insult at all.   I was so happy to see his name mentioned.

Thank you Joanne-- I am glad you knew him. I wish he had continued with Ian and Sylvia. My mom tells me they made an offer for him to do that, but he moved on after 1965 and recorded with Sonny and Cher, toured with Carolyn Hester and Chad Mitchell, was Musical Director for the Mandrell Singers and recorded with Peter, Paul and Mary, and then came 1966.......with Tim Hardin, Tom Rush, Buffy St. Marie, Peter Walker and Kui Lee and that was just that year....

He contributed much.

I am glad you knew him. If you would like to hear him and what he was doing after all his recordings, let me know. And let me know if you would like to be aprt o fthe story I would like to write. Writers around here would not make the effort to stretch into the past which was very important time. Monte was also teaching a lot and he worked as a music therapist as well. He was quite a man and a very talented and giving one.

Kindest,
Jacquie