Chris Montez

b. Christopher Montanez, 17 January 1943, Los Ange

Teenage vocalist Montez was discovered by impresario Jim Lee in 1961. Having joined Lee's Monogram label, the singer enjoyed an international hit the following year with "Let's Dance". This exciting, Lee-penned single, redolent of the Hispanic "Latino-rock" style of Ritchie Valens sold over one million copies and climbed to UK number 2/US number 4. A follow-up, "Some Kinda Fun", reached the UK Top 10 in 1963, but a three-year hiatus ensued before he resurfaced as an easy listening singer on A&M Records in the US, charting with a cover version of "Call Me". The charmingly simple "The More I See You" gave Montez a second UK Top 3 entry in 1966, while minor US successes followed with "There Will Never Be Another You" and "Time After Time". Re-released in the UK in 1972, "Let's Dance" confirmed its timeless appeal by reaching the UK Top 10. Montez subsequently disappeared into obscurity, although he briefly resurfaced with an album on A&M's Spanish language imprint in the mid-80s.

Discography:

Discography:

All-Time Greatest Hits 1991
Let's Dance: The Monogram Sides