Ray LaMontagne - One Lonesome Saddle

Raymond "Ray" Charles Jack LaMontagne (/lɑːmɒnˈteɪn/; born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter. LaMontagne has released four studio albums, Trouble, Till the Sun Turns Black, Gossip in the Grain and God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise. He was born in New Hampshire and was inspired to create music after hearing an album by Stephen Stills. Critics have compared LaMontagne's music to that of The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake, and Tim Buckley. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children.

LaMontagne was inspired to quit his job and begin a career as a singer-songwriter after listening to Stephen Stills' album Manassas.[5][6][7] LaMontagne began performing in 1999, while maintaining a part time job as a tutor.[5] In the summer of 1999, he recorded 10 songs for a demo album that was sent to various local music venues including Maine's Oddfellow Theater, where he was hired as an opening act for John Gorka and Jonathan Edwards. A business executive introduced LaMontagne to Chrysalis Music Publishing and they recorded an album and sold it to RCA Records in the USA and Echo Records in the UK[8]

In 2004 LaMontagne recorded the album Trouble with producer Ethan Johns and it was released on RCA Records. The album featured performances by Sara Watkins and Jennifer Stills, daughter of musician Stephen Stills.[9] The album sold over 250,000 copies in the USA and 500,000 worldwide.[4][10][11] During a 2005 tour, LaMontagne performed on the TV show Austin City Limits.[12]

An EP of LaMontagne's performance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival was released in 2005 and his song "All the Wild Horses" was part of the soundtrack for the TV series Rescue Me and the 2009 film The Boys Are Back. His song "Trouble" appeared in the TV series Alias and his song "Jolene" was heard in the credits of the 2010 film The Town. His song "Hold You in My Arms" was featured in the 2006 movie, She's The Man.[13]

In 2005, he performed at two charity events, a NYC fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and at the "Warren Haynes Christmas Jam".

For his debut album, LaMontagne won four awards, including three Boston Music Awards (Best Male Singer/Songwriter, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year) and an XM Nation Music Award for Acoustic Rock Artist of the Year. LaMontagne has received a nomination from the Pollstar Concert Industry Awards for Best New Touring Artist, the BRIT Awards for International Breakthrough Act, the MOJO Awards for Best New Act, and was given the title of Best Voice in 2006 by Esquire.

In December 2010, LaMontagne received two Grammy nominations and won the award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

LaMontagne at Prospect Park, July 12, 2006
Background information
Birth name Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne
Born June 18, 1973 (age 40)
Nashua, New Hampshire
Genres Folk, folk rock, folk blues
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Labels RCA
Notable instruments
Martin D-35, Bourgeois Guitar Country Boy w/Sitka Top, D-150, Custom DS-260, Victoria Parlor models.[1][2]