
DATE: Thursday, June 12, 1997               TAG: 9706130722

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

SINGER CONTROLS HIS OWN DESTINY

SOUNDS LIKE someone stuck a pin in John Michael Montgomery's rump.

He goes falsetto on ``How Was I To Know?'' released June 2 - another single from his current album, ``What I Do the Best.''

``It has a Roy Orbison kind of sound - a little falsetto. That was Roy's real voice. I never did anything falsetto,'' Montgomery said, during a phone interview from his Nicholasville, Ky., home. ``Singing like that was different for me, but the song is neat, not your everyday thing.''

The song had been in his files for quite a while, but Reba McEntire had another piece out with the same title - thus, the wait.

You won't have to wait long to see Montgomery. He will be at Norfolk's Harbor Park Friday, singing such trademark songs as ``Be My Baby Tonight,'' ``I Swear,'' and ``Sold.''

``I Swear'' was a powerful ballad, and ``Sold'' was one of the best up-tempo songs in a decade. The video version, filmed in a stockyard, displays the dimple-y Montgomery teddy bear personality.

``The director was looking for an old stockyard and couldn't find one,'' he said. ``I grew up next to a wooden stockyard - solid wood, unique.''

So the video was made near Montgomery's old Kentucky home, with lots of old friends appearing and/or watching from behind the cameras.

There is still more biography in Montgomery's current hit, ``I Miss You A Little,'' a song he wrote in tribute to his dad, Harold.

``He built up a regional following and cut some local records,'' Montgomery said. ``He wanted to do what I'm doing now. I watched my dad try to live out his dream. It didn't happen to him.''

It happened to his son and, fortunately, the senior Montgomery lived to see the first waves of success.

Home life was not a success. His dad's drive - ``He played every weekend. We struggled'' - caused his parents' divorce.

``I took over the reins,'' Montgomery said. ``There was a lot of vindication. I wanted to show that an old farm boy's dream could come true.''

Montgomery has become so successful he is now able to control his own destiny, touring when it suits him, recording when he's ready, playing golf whenever he can.

``A lot of entertainers are into it,'' he said. ``A lot of times I get out at 8 a.m., play 36 holes, take a three-hour nap before a concert.''

Montgomery is a regular at celebrity tournaments. On July 14, in Lexington, he will inaugurate the John Michael Montgomery Golf Classic, with proceeds going to the JMM Youth of Kentucky Foundation.

Also in July, the release of ``Warning Signs,'' a duet with Bill ``Here's Your Sign'' Engvall, a best friend since 1944 when the two toured with Reba.

Montgomery's reputation is based on his singing, but he is also one of the smokin'est guitarists you will see on stage.

``I'm going to play on my next album. I was focused on making sure I accomplished my first goal - to be a country singer,'' he said. ``Now, I can take a chance and play some guitar. More and more people are asking me to play more and more guitar.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

JIM McGUIRE

Singer John Michael Montgomery is also a top-notch guitarist.

Graphic

IF YOU GO

Who: John Michael Montgomery with special guest, Kevin Sharp.

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Harbor Park, Norfolk.

How Much: Tickets are $25 and $22.50, available from

Ticketmaster, CI Travel, and the Harbor Park box office.

Call: 622-2222. KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY SINGER