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Monty Waters

1938 – 2008

American jazz musician

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About Monty Waters

Lived 1938 – 2008 (aged 70). Monty Waters was an American jazz musician, saxophonist, composer and musician.

Monville Charles Waters (April 14, 1938 – December 23, 2008), known as Monty Waters, was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist and singer.

Early life Monville Charles Waters was born in Modesto, California. He studied at Modesto High School where he was a member of the American football team and ran hurdles. After graduating from high school in 1956, he attended a year of junior college before moving to Los Angeles.

Career While living in Los Angeles, Waters performed as a backing saxophonist for musicians including B.B. King, James Brown, Little Richard, and Fats Domino. He later moved to San Francisco seeking better opportunities for an R&B career, and started his own big band and quartet.

In 1968, he left California for New York City. He later spoke of his surprise upon seeing the music scene there: "I'd never seen so many talented, hard-working, earnest people in my life. All the best were there. You really got to respect them".

Discography As leader The Black Cat (Whynot, 1975) Hot House: Live in Paris Duc de Lombards Vol. 1 (with Larry Porter, Stafford James, Ronnie Burrage) New York Calling: Live in Paris Vol. 2 (with Larry Porter, Stafford James, Ronnie Burrage, Tom Nicholas) Jazzoetry (with Paulo Cardoso and Tom Nicholas) Monty Waters & Titus Waldenfels: Favourite Things Monty Waters & Titus Waldenfels: Full Blast (with Jürgen Schneider) Monty Waters & L'ubo Samo Quintet: Moonlight in Slovakia (with Titus Waldenfels) Embryo : Turn Peace Götz Tangerding Trio feat. Sheila Jordan : Jazztracks

As sideman With Billy Higgins The Soldier (Red, 1979) With Joe Lee Wilson Shout for Trane (1976) With Sam Rivers Crystals (1974) With Ronnie Boykins The Will Come, Is Now (1975)

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Important facts

People in Monty Waters's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Monty Waters's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Monty Waters?

American jazz musician (1938–2008)

When was Monty Waters born?

Monty Waters was born on 14 April 1938 in Modesto.

When did Monty Waters die?

Monty Waters died on 23 December 2008 in Munich.

What was Monty Waters's occupation?

Monty Waters was a jazz musician, saxophonist, composer and musician.

What nationality was Monty Waters?

Monty Waters was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Monty Waters

· Wikidata: Q1946498

· DBpedia: Monty Waters

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Monty Waters. https://biography.guide/monty-waters/

MLA: "Monty Waters." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/monty-waters/.

Chicago: "Monty Waters." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/monty-waters/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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