Two of the many great talents of Nashville are about to embark on their first duo tour of Australia. KEVIN MONTGOMERY and ROBERT REYNOLDS will be performing as a duo for the first time anywhere in a unique series of concerts.

Hot on the heels of fellow Nashvillians, KIERAN KANE and KEVIN WELCH, who have become something of a cult act on the Australian east coast circuit in recent years, Kevin and Robert will fuse two successful careers of great songs into one unique evening of stunning music.

Kevin Montgomery was literally born into the music scene. His father – Bob Montgomery, was a songwriting partner of Buddy Holly, with whom he co-wrote 'Heartbeat' and 'Wishing' and many others. His mother Carol was an in-demand session-singer, whose credits include providing backing vocal for several of Elvis' hits, including 'In the Ghetto', 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Kentucky Rain'.

Kevin's first album was 'FEAR NOTHING' on the mainstream A&M record label. The album included such gems as 'I Won't Close My Eyes', covered by Martina McBride and 'Red-Blooded American Boy', covered by Juice Newton. Having his songs honoured by such revered mainstream artists quickly established Kevin in the Nashville songwriters' scene.

Most recently, Kevin formed his own label, Road Trip Records, to release his acclaimed album, 'ANOTHER LONG STORY', about to be released in Australia by leading independent label SHOCK RECORDS. Several tracks from the album are receiving high-rotation airplay on pay-TV channel, 'Music Country', including the heartland rock and roll song, 'Let's All Go to California' and the title track.

On hearing the new album Paul McCartney invited Kevin as a special guest to his lavish Buddy Holly Birthday Bash last year.

Robert Reynolds is a founding member of the Grammy award-winning band THE MAVERICKS, currently the hottest country/rock group on the planet. While the band take a well-earned break off the road, Robert is pursuing several side projects including the country/rock band PAINT, which also features Kevin and fellow-Maverick, Paul Deakin. Their UK tour of 2000 saw them sharing the bill with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Little Feat.

For their Australian tour, Kevin and Robert will be performing material from their own catalogues as well as songs they've written for Paint, Swag (Robert's former band) and of course, The Mavericks.

Aussie audiences are in for a real treat – great songs, top musicianship and good humour from two of the nicest guys out of Nashville.

ROB HALL PROMOTIONS PTY LTD
PO Box 2105
Ringwood North VICTORIA Australia 3134
Tel & Fax: +61 3 9879 1200 / Mobile: 0412 037 427

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Kevin Montgomery
www.kevinmontgomery.com

Kevin Montgomery is a real child of Nashville. Born of successful musical parents, he was raised on some of music's best traditions.

His father, Bob Montgomery, was Buddy Holly's first musical partner and co-wrote with Holly such classics as Heartbeat and Wishing. Bob later went on to success in Nashville as a songwriter, publisher and producer. Kevin's mum, Carol Montgomery, was a very talented singer in her own right, providing vocals on the classic Everlasting Love as well as singing on Elvis Presley's Kentucky Rain, In the Ghetto and Suspicious Minds.

It was inevitable, with Kevin's proximity to his parents' music, and the very talented company they kept, he would have music in his blood. Though his music began in Nashville, as soon as he was old enough Kevin left for California to pursue his dreams, away from the shadow of his parents.

By 1992 he landed a deal with A&M Records. In 1993 he released the critically acclaimed album, Fear Nothing. He spent the next several years touring, writing songs and calling Los Angeles home.

Having proved to himself that he could do it on his own, he returned to Nashville, where he would continue to write songs including, 'I won't Close My Eyes' on Martina McBride's Evolution album and 'Red Blooded American Boy' which was covered by Juice Newton. In 1994 Kevin also recorded a duet with Mary Chapin Carpenter on the Buddy Holly tribute album, Not Fade Away.

From 1998 to the present, Kevin has developed his solo career, choosing the independent route as an alternative to the struggles with the major labels. Taking matters into his own hands, he has been able to do more for himself in the last year than many of the previous years combined. He has released the critically acclaimed 'Another Long Story', supporting it with three successful European/UK tours. He has co-founded a country/rock band project, Paint, with Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin of The Mavericks, and LA guitar favourite Doug Pettibone. He is currently in preparation for yet another UK tour with steel guitar legend Al Perkins (The Eagles, Gram Parsons, The Rolling Stones).

This will be the first time Kevin and Robert Reynolds will tour together as songwriters in support of each other. They plan on doing material from their own catalogues as well as covers of mutual favourites.

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Robert Reynolds

Robert Reynolds is a founding member of the award-winning country/rock group The Mavericks. Born in Kansas City, he lived in Dallas as a boy, and grew up loving the music of The Beatles and Buddy Holly in particular. To this day he is a self-confessed and self-contained Buddy Holly appreciation society, with a fine collection of Buddy memorabilia.

Robert settled in Miami, where The Mavericks got their start, playing their brand of country rock to the patrons of the alternative clubs and bars.

From 1989-1999, The Mavericks, having relocated to Nashville, released five studio albums, selling over 4 million copies worldwide. Trampoline, the last full studio album and released in 1998, sold nearly 1 million copies in Europe alone, and culminated in six sellout performances at the legendary Royal Albert Hall in London. Along the way, The Mavericks picked up many country music awards and a Grammy as just rewards for their fresh and hard working approach to country-inspired rock & roll.

While touring with The Mavericks in 1998, Robert began a side project with Maverick piano player, Jerry Dale McFadden. The band was dubbed SWAG and rounded out by fellow power pop fans Ken Coomer of Wilco, solo artist Doug Powell and guest appearances by Bill Lloyd and Brad Jones, who also produced the band. Releasing several singles and EPs, the band SWAG hit critical pay-dirt in 2001 with the release of a fully-fledged pop album, 'Catchall', freshly inspired by the new wave of British pop that hit the world during the effervescent '60s.

Since The Mavericks' hiatus began in early 2000, Robert has divided his time between SWAG, another new country/rock project, Paint, and writing music for award-winning animated children's films.

The band Paint began with the friendship between Robert and singer/songwriter Kevin Montgomery. It was their mutual love of country/rock, and more specifically, the early '70s California sound that convinced Robert and Kevin to come together musically. Kevin brought to the band musical partner Doug Pettibone (Jewell, Tracy Chapman, Lucinda Williams), while Robert brought longtime friend and fellow Maverick, Paul Deakin, creating a back-to-basics four-piece group. Paint has released a self-titled four track EP, begun recording their first album and completed two successful tours of the UK and Europe.

For the first time Robert will perform as singer/songwriter in support of Kevin Montgomery. He will be doing songs he has written and/or recorded over the past 10 years, including work with The Mavericks, SWAG and Paint.

For further information about gigs @ The Cornish - info@cornisharms.com.au