Ricky Montgomery
A contemporary singer/songwriter who earned an audience after becoming a social media sensation, Ricky Montgomery splices mellifluous melodies with emo melodrama, tying it all together with an earnest, quivering voice that's somewhere between Owl City and Morrissey. Montgomery showcased this blend on "Line Without a Hook" and "Mr. Loverman," songs that went viral in 2020, nearly five years after their initial recording. Warner offered Montgomery a contract in the wake of the sudden success of these old tunes, so the singer polished and streamlined his attack on the 2022 EP It's 2016 Somewhere. A series of warmly melodic singles, including the lush "Eraser" and the somber "Black Fins," contributed to his sophomore album, Rick, in late 2023.
A native of Los Angeles, Ricky Montgomery was born on April 3, 1993. He relocated to St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 14. He dealt with the move by diving into music, his listening obsessions spawning his own body of work. Montgomery started to post tracks on a popular video app, punctuating his songs with comedy, a combination that earned him a following.
In 2014, he released his first official EP, Caught on the Moon. Shortly afterward, he returned to his hometown of Los Angeles, releasing Montgomery Ricky in 2016 after getting his bearings. The next year, he played in the Honeysticks with an old friend, releasing an eponymous EP by the group in 2018, then he spent the rest of the year on hiatus. Montgomery tentatively returned to action with "Out Like a Light 2" in 2019, but after releasing "Cars" in 2020, he was uncertain about whether he'd continue to pursue music. That's when the singles "Line Without a Hook" and "Mr. Loverman" became sensations on social media in 2020, four years after their initial appearance on Montgomery Ricky. With a new viral audience in hand, Warner signed him to a recording contract.
"Mr. Loverman," his first single for Warner, appeared in 2021, just after the release of "Line Without a Hook." "Talk to You, "Sorry for Me," and "This December (slow)" all followed by the end of the year. Montgomery began 2022 with "Line Without a Hook (slow)," which was quickly followed by the EP It's 2016 Somewhere, which showcased a slicker, sweeter sensibility. Throughout 2023, the singer offered an array of singles including "Eraser," "Black Fins," and "Boy Toy," all in advance of Rick, his sophomore album and first for Warner. Released in September 2023, Rick reached 22 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Two more singles, "It's OK to Cry" and "Unknown Phantom," appeared in early 2024.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Line Without a Hook (feat. mxmtoon)
Pop - Released by Warner Records on 5 Feb 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Honeysticks
The Honeysticks, Ricky Montgomery
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Honeysticks on 23 Mar 2018
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Out Like a Light 2
The Honeysticks, Ricky Montgomery
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Honeysticks on 15 Feb 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cars
The Honeysticks, Ricky Montgomery
Alternative & Indie - Released by The Honeysticks on 10 Jul 2020
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Nobody Loves Me
mxmtoon, Ricky Montgomery, Cavetown
Pop - Released by mxmtoon on 29 Jun 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It's Ok to Cry
Alternative & Indie - Released by Warner Records on 25 Jan 2024
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Mr Loverman (feat. chloe moriondo)
Pop - Released by Warner Records on 5 Mar 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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This December (holiday version)
Alternative & Indie - Released by Warner Records on 1 Dec 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Caught on the Moon EP
Rock - Released by Election Day Records on 15 Jul 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Don't Say That
Alternative & Indie - Released by Warner Records on 19 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Unknown Phantom
Alternative & Indie - Released by Warner Records on 15 Mar 2024
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo